Where were you last night?
Very productive meeting last night. Interesting that the Westside was able
to stop the land grabbing developer. Small groups do make a difference.
The council did a good job, even if calling the meeting was really
the result of a letter they received (dated Feb 9,2005) from one of
the developer who was dropping out of the project, thus giving all of us
the opportunity for input into the future of Springwood Avenue.
The city manager did say he would consider all of the comments, the
majority of which clearly were in favor of mixed commercial and residential
development.
I think Ed Johnson should be thanked for bringing out the best of
what AP has to offer.
He had mentioned something about listening to the voices of neighborhood
residents.
I think he believe that the developer should not be setting the terms of
redeveloping Springwood Ave
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Residents air Springwood Avenue ideas
Business, 2nd-floor apartments high on Asbury Park wish list
Published in the Asbury Park Press 03/11/05
By NANCY SHIELDS
COASTAL
MONMOUTH BUREAU
ASBURY
PARK â Remembering a Springwood Avenue when people had good jobs and homes,
residents told city officials Thursday night they want new businesses and
second-floor apartments rather than 120 affordable and market-rate homes on four
mostly vacant blocks between Memorial Drive and Atkins Avenue.
About 130
people attended a meeting at St. Stephen A.M.E. Zion Church in the heart of 10
acres to be redeveloped. The city had fast-tracked a plan for 50 single-family
and duplex homes, 20 percent of which would be affordable, and 70 affordable
rental units so that a builder could participate in an upcoming state tax-credit
program to finance construction of the rental units.
But when opposition
developed last month, officials decided to hear what residents in the affected
area want. Many of those who spoke last night said that while affordable housing
is needed, they want a mixed use of stores and apartments and light industry to
provide jobs. A few spoke of the need for parkland and a community
center.
"Old Asbury â the stores on the bottom and
apartments on top â needs to be addressed," resident Earl Young said. "We
don't make market wages over here, and that needs to be talked
about."
"This needs to be not just a place to live but a place to make a
living," said George Cook, another resident. "We need to talk about how to make
a living before we build this as a place to live."
City Manager Terence
Reidy said officials will use the residents' views in deciding how to develop
the land. A second meeting is scheduled at the church April 14 to discuss a
possible plan.
The opportunity for the City Council to move forward on
the long-blighted corridor arose out of a settlement offer with area developer
Philip Konvitz, who made a deal with the city in 1990 to build 75 town homes but
ended up building only 15. With the consent of former councils, Konvitz retained
control over the land.
A breakthrough developed last fall after months of
negotiations when a Lakewood developer, Somerset Development LLC, offered to pay
Konvitz $825,000, with $350,000 of that amount to go to the
city.
Somerset planned to build the market-rate housing, and the city
lined up Ingerman Affordable Housing Inc. of Cherry Hill to build 70 affordable
rental units on two of the four Konvitz blocks that would be returned to the
city.
Mayor Kevin Sanders made it clear last month, when officials
decided to find out what residents wanted, that the City Council would explore
other options to get the land back, if the current plan cannot
work.
