Curiously, the large plot of land on which Plainfield's Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center stands was quietly subdivided a year ago. But why?
Here's what happened.
At Solaris's request, the city granted a subdivision of the large parcel on which Muhlenberg sits. It was divided into three parts: the new nursing school, the dialysis center building at the corner of Park and Randolph, and the hospital property proper.
At the same time, the corporation executed easements granting the use of the parking lots that lie along Park Avenue between the newly subdivided properties to each of the subdivisions.
Why all this maneuvering, you ask? Bothered me, too.
I was told that it was done so quietly because all the parcels met or exceeded zoning requirements and since no use or zoning change was proposed the changes were made without fanfare -- though all was done publicly.
It has been portrayed as a sort of hospital housekeeping matter.
But I wonder if the whole thing wasn't by way of positioning Solaris for a closing of the hospital (expected and planned-for by them more than a year ago, if you take into account how long it took to get the subdivision planned and adopted) AND EVENTUAL SALE OF THE PROPERTIES.
As things stand now, the nursing school can remain a Solaris property, the dialysis center could be sold off or leased, and the main hospital property...?
What do you think?
My Christians heritage offers an image: Roman soldiers at the foot of the cross, rolling dice to divide Jesus' garments.
Except, of course, no dice were involved here.
-- Dan Damon
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3 comments:
I see Muhlenberg condos in our future
Thanks, Dan,
Your insight and the questions you raise are intriguing. Obviously, the subdivisions were meticulously planned for the future closing of Muhlenberg. At that point our Assemblyman (Green) had to be well aware of what was happening and chose not to protest it and allowed it to go forward, or, he simply was not smart enough to see and deal with it. Perhaps it's a lttle of both.
Assemblyman Green obviously wasn't the only politician asleep at the switch. The planning board includes members of the city counsel. I would think that nothing happens in City Hall, especially things involving such a critical employer in our community without the Mayor knowing about it. Were they all asleep or is there a back room Democratic deal going down? Who represented Muhlenberg for the subdivisions? It wasn't some Democratic hack like Lesniak, was it? Did the lawyer, perhaps, have a conflict of interest?
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