The Broadway ARTS LLC Group hopes to revitalize
the Broadway corridor. I have been reading so much about this with
very little said about what's really happening.
None of the current owners are being allowed to participate in this plan
and the plan will allow the use of eminent domain, if we do not bow down to the
powers behind it.
In a time when the entire Country is screaming out against eminent domain
abuse, we here in Long Branch keep getting plan after plan all of which at it's
core is the grabbing of land from current owners to give to politically
affiliated friends of the Long Branch Administration.
Mayor Adam Schneider has received the political support of both the Katz
and Pereira families for years now. Mayor Schneider's law offices are in a
building owned by one of Larry Katz's LLC's or property management
companies. One may jokingly say; "They are as thick as
thieves." Only with the lower Broadway plan it's not a funny
_expression_!
As a current owner of property in the targeted area I felt that the stories
left far too much out to be ignored. First of all two accounts said that
Broadway Arts LLC, the developer is Representing a group of long-time
business owners on the block.
When in fact Siperstien's owner Larry Katz and his son Todd are the only
business operators at property on the block in the 2 party
group. None of the other property owners presently on the
two blocks are permitted to be included.
As a matter of fact all of them who approached Todd Katz were sent away
with no hope to participate. He wants to buy us all out for very little.
Most are tired of his arrogant attitude and none of us cares about how
close or beholding the Mayor is to him and his father. Nor do we care how
many appointed official positions he has served in at the bequest of the
Mayor. All we are getting is a forced appraisal and in a short
time a 2 week notice to sell or loose our land through eminent
domain. Just like the MTOTSA home owners.
The City's appraiser, Hugh McGuire is the very same guy who appraised
the ocean front which included Mr. Bruce Mac Cloud's Cooper avenue home.
That appraisal was for $140,000.00, when Mr. Mac Cloud's appraiser came in at
over $600,000.00. So how confident can we, the commercial property owners
be with what is coming.
A good look at lower Broadway does indicate it needs some tender loving
care, no one disputes this. Frankly the buildings that need most of the
work have been used as storage and warehouses as well as industrial
purposes are all owned by Mr. Katz. It's obvious to us who have been
property owners for decades here, feel Mr. Katz served himself by only using his
properties as storage and warehouses. One could easily conclude that he
kept downtown in need of revitalization.
However every property owner who has brought plans to renovate their
buildings to the City were turned away, because apparently this deal between
Mayor Schneider and political supporters Katz & Pereira families has been in
the smoke filled back rooms of political nonsense for as far back as 5
years.
The plan stinks, for it is excluding the present property owners and
stealing away their tenants into his proposed west bank of Lower Broadway.
Besides one of the two buildings Broadway Arts LLC wants to donate to the
City is the old Clem Sommers Building. Guess what, neither Katz nor The
Pereira's own that building. How do you offer in a development proposal
property to a City that you don't even own?
Further more what does the City need with two buildings. Operating
theatres is not a good idea for Municipal Governments. Almost every
theatre company in New Jersey operates at a loss. All of them are
subsidized as much as 50% of their annual budgets. Do the tax payers of
the City of Long Branch need this additional tax burden? I think
not!
Lower Broadway does not need Katz. He wants to close his business on
Lower Broadway and move into the Evicted Bowling Alley he bought across
from Monmouth Race Track on Joline Avenue, that's fine. To expect to use
in his exit plan his political clout with Mayor Schneider to evoke eminent
domain so he could take away all the commercial properties owned by us is
extremely corrupt.
Leave us in Peace and build a bowling alley where your paint store is now,
you owe the City at least that much seeing as you eliminated the only
recreational indoor facility in town with your relocation ideas. You have
plenty of property here so why not add a skating rink as well. That's what
you should do Mr Katz build a recreation facility where your buildings are on
lower Broadway so the children can have a safe place to spend free
time bowling, skating and enjoying movies with their families all good
clean American fun.
Rev. Kevin Brown
Lighthouse Christian Center
162 Broadway, Long Branch, NJ 07740
732.222.6224
732.822.7161
SPONSORED LINKS
