Another Development Project on Bloomfield's Horizon?
The developer of the apartment project at the former South Junior High School on Franklin Street said he wants construction to begin as soon as possible.
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A long delayed development project of a historic Bloomfield building may be resurrected in the coming months.
Developer Lance Robbins said on Monday he wants to immediately revive the apartment project at the now vacant South Junior High School. The plan for the building at 177 Franklin St. has sat on the shelf for about four years.
Robbins, the owner of Urban Smart Grown and the building, said the project came to a halt in 2008 when the stock market collapsed and he couldn’t secure financing.
“Everything went on hold” after 2008, said Robbins.
But the times are changing, he added.
“People want to build apartment buildings again, and so do we," he said. "We are trying to pull the numbers together and pull the team back together to pick this project up where we left it off when we hit the financial wall.”
Time and a lack of repairs have not been been kind to the former junior high school. The decaying three-story building has sat vacant for more than a decade. In that time, it has become a hot spot for the homeless, graffiti artists, and those looking to explore vacant buildings.
The former school, which has nearly every window boarded up, sits next to Essex County Bloomfield Technical School on Franklin Street, and suburban homes occupy the land behind it.
The original proposal will look to build about 114 studio apartments in the historic building. The studios will be between 800 to 1,000 square feet in size. In addition, about 17 penthouses will be added to the roof of the building which will have a view of the New York City skyline.
However, Robbins said starting construction will depend upon “help” from federal historic tax credits and the township in order to make it a “viable project again.”
“Saving this historic building will really make economic sense if we can get federal historic tax credits,” said Robbins.
To get those federal tax credits, Robbins told the council that the building will need to be redesigned in some areas to comply to federal standards. In addition, he hinted at getting approval from the township on other areas of the building, such as slight reduction in the parking requirements.
The request for changes and the renewed interest in the project after years of silence drew criticisms from some council members.
Councilman Bernard Hamilton questioned whether the project would be a priority for Robbins since it had been shelved for so long. He was also incredulous about Robbins’ request for more help from the township.
“There has been silence since you had come for approval,” said Hamilton. “We [Bloomfield] extended resources [years ago]. Now you are coming back; you are looking for adjustments; you are looking for help, and the township has been waiting."
Councilman Michael J. Venezia agreed with Hamilton.
The building, said Venezia, “has pretty much looked the same way for nine years now, and it’s just gotten worse. Not only do you [Robbins] owe back taxes, you haven’t done anything with the building. Now you are coming asking for help, but what makes us believe you now when you’ve come before us before?”
The property also has about $650,000 in back taxes, which Robbins said would be paid before construction begins.
Robbins said the banking collapse was the reason for the delay, and the project would not have been marketable to anyone four years ago. But the times have changed.
“We are here, we want to do it, we know that the time to do this project is really within the next 12 months,” said Robbins. “... All the stars are aligned at this moment.”
Councilman Carlos Bernard said while he was not immediately in favor of the the developer's suggested changes to the plan, he said something needed to be done to safeguard the building and property.
The developer has boarded up many of the doors and windows, but Bernard noted the building has been a perennial source of concern for the township. He said residents have complained about graffiti and junkies inhabiting the building.
“The concerns that I have is that the junkies go in there and kids,” said Bernard. “Eventually someone is going to get hurt.”
Bernard added that the Bloomfield Police have been instructed not to enter the building because it is “hazardous.”
"I'm not necessarily in favor of the development but I am in favor of having something done ASAP with the building to prevent illegal trespassing as this is a hazard to our community," wrote Bernard in an email.
Any redesigns will require the project plan to get approval from the Bloomfield Planning Board again. Robbins suggested that he hopes to go before the Planning Board in March.
The project has the potential to begin within six months, suggested Robbins. And if all goes according to plan, the rehabilitation of the building would take about 10 to 12 months.
Editor's note [Jan. 16]: The reporter misquoted Councilman Carlos Bernard in the original post, writing he was in favor of the developer's changes to the original site plan. At the council conference, Bernard said he was rather in favor of safeguarding the property.
Bloomfield Guy
11:17 am on Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Hmmmm.....what impact would the redevelopment have on my taxes? Go up, down, remain the same??? I live real close to the building and it has looked pretty bad since I've lived here.
John S Wood
1:19 pm on Wednesday, January 16, 2013
I think the planing board and town council needs to look at the town and all its residents in the present, as in here and now, and not about what presents that it may gain at some future date. Because some people do not care about today or tomorrow, so why would people car about preserving a land mark of yesterday?
Kelly Clarkson
1:19 pm on Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Just what we need another new multi unit apartment building. How about a New Civic Center?
Kelly Clarkson
1:19 pm on Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Oh I guess we missed that chance after spending millions on approvals and lawsuits in order to develop the Center with a parking lot! More opportunities for this section of Essex County's #1 Jobs - Purse Snatching, GPS and Auto Theft!
Jake Smith
1:19 pm on Wednesday, January 16, 2013
You're taxes will absolutely be going up. Developer is already looking for help from the town as well as historic tax credits. Redevelopment always costs the taxpayers money because this town council just loves to give them all the developers tax abatements. Developers pay less - taxpayers pay more! All the revenue from Bloomfield Center project will be going to pay interest on the $21 million debt the town took on to build a parking garage. The town and BOE get $0. Council doesn't fight for us. They fight for tax abatements for developers.
Bloomfield Guy
1:21 pm on Wednesday, January 16, 2013
....nuts....
Chris
2:56 pm on Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Where are all these people that live in these 114 units going to park???? On Newark Ave in front of my house where I already have trouble parking???
Steve
3:00 pm on Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Damned if you do, damned if you don't...... but not one decent idea. Just complaints.
Kelly Clarkson
3:13 pm on Wednesday, January 16, 2013
New Civic Center complete with gymnasiums, a senior occupational therapy center/day care facility and recreational fields - built with green principals and technologies to minimize operational costs and possibly qualify for goverment subsidy. Let the Developers "Revitilizing" (ha ha) the Center provide bonding/funds as a gift for the hole the town is in for the so called revitilization.
Bob Duthaler
4:52 pm on Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Find out more about this re-development proposal and others throughout Bloomfield, watch the Planning Board Meetings on WBMA-TV, Tuesdays at 8pm (Channel 35 Comcast and Channel 30 FiOS). Or Watch in now by clicking on this link: http://cvp.telvue.com/player?id=T00304&video=140842
Karen Banda
5:07 pm on Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Just what this town needs. More people and children not to mention cars, litter...just wonderful.
John Lee
5:46 pm on Wednesday, January 16, 2013
So a vacant building is being turned into a ratable and this is bad because .... we don't like people?
A
6:00 pm on Wednesday, January 16, 2013
I am so disappointed, No one is talking about our taxes, or our schools what effect will this project have on our children and their education. Berkeley school is ridiculously over crowded. The school is falling apart , I live very close this ugly gem and we already have issues with people parking on our street, blocking our driveways and other issues. We are surrounded by large buildings on each corner, our street is congested enough. I say if you want build, pay for it yourself. Leave our money /taxes alone!!!!!!!
A
6:03 pm on Wednesday, January 16, 2013
It's bad because he is asking the town for money, which in turn we pay from taxes, and the fact that the renters Don't pay property taxes is a huge factor. Not to mention our schools and the effect it will have on our children.
John Lee
6:35 pm on Wednesday, January 16, 2013
The landlord pays property taxes which are passed onto the tenant in the form of rent.
Jon Semcer
6:48 pm on Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Interesting that no one commented on the $650,000.00 in back taxes on this property. Why does the town tax office allow this to happen? Why isn't the owner in court or jail? Bloomfield continues to elect people to the town council who have no vision, no real interest in what the citizens want, no understanding of what is needed to bring Bloomfield back and certainly no real understanding of what it means to serve the people not their political party. This project will kill that part of town forever and we will still have no real advantages that other towns have --- such as a modern civil center and not the dump we have now. Keep electing the same people and this is the type of government you will get--- one that is clueless and will pander to the developer. Bloomfield is on the low road --- schools that are outdated, high taxes, an increase in crime, a lack of decent shopping, streets that remain in disrepair, a government that is unreponsive to the citizens --- sounds like some of our state's urban cities.
DON
7:08 am on Saturday, April 20, 2013
i agree with Jon's comments,if a home owner owed that much money in back taxes your home would be the property of bloomfield township.stop electing the same town council that continues to make this town a third rate town.
Steve
9:50 pm on Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Hate to tell you but Bloomfield is a city. Over 50,000 people on a piece of land 5 miles long by 1/2 mile wide. Its not a "township". A township is a bunch of small towns that share services. How we got township status is beyond me. I guess if you do animal control for one town and building inspections for another you can manipulate the paperwork to reclassify yourself to reap tax breaks but Bloomfield is a city and has the overcrowding and other quality of life problems that accompanies a city.
Marc Santiago
3:53 pm on Friday, January 18, 2013
Take a look at today's Patch. The census officially puts us at 47k. The mayor is calling for a recount... he WANTS us to qualify as a city (and get the relevant state/federal funding). There's no real incentive for him to keep us listed as a township.
Pat Collins
12:21 pm on Thursday, January 17, 2013
i would think that one goal of revitalizing the downtown , and anywhere else in town ,would be to make the area more attractive so that developers will want to build here and the new residents would pay their share of services. I don't know much about this plan, but the tax abatements have got to stop. We do not need more apartments, but if we get them, they must pay their share in taxes. Adding people and no revenue has got to stop.
Also, it might be time to sit back and see what effect the several other developments that are already approved have on our area, resources, and quality of life before slogging ahead.
Elaine Trucksess
6:50 pm on Thursday, January 17, 2013
Well.....you must admit that whatever they call this place, there is certainly no lack of drama and suspense and unending unresponsiveness from the elected and appointed officials who appear to only have an interest in their salaries.
Steve
3:44 pm on Tuesday, January 22, 2013
There was a arson fire there today. Fire was set to the buildings auditorium.
gfj
5:32 am on Tuesday, March 5, 2013
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