TOD focuses on areas near train stations.
Things probably couldn't be worse for Plainfield and other towns looking at 'transit-oriented development' (TOD) and that is precisely the reason NOW is the best time to plan for the recovery that is inevitable.
A story in Sunday's New York Times (see here) details the difficulties New Jersey developers are facing in this very down market -- in particular highlighting Somerville's woes in seeing two big projects planned for years fall through because financing cannot be found. (With a hint of New York chauvinism, the Times' editors insist on 'cities' instead of 'villages' in the headline. Sigh.)
Instead of waiting around for the cycle's upswing and then having to play catch-up, it would benefit Plainfield enormously if the Administration got its act together now and put plans in place that would benefit transit-oriented development in Plainfield.
What is to be done?
1. Get focused.
It would mean getting focused -- it's called TOD for a reason, it's supposed to be transit-oriented, within a quarter mile of a train station. Robinson-Briggs' first four years were wasted on pie-in-the-sky schemes like the East 2nd/Richmond concept (which blew up in her face and coincidentally prevented the PMUA from redeveloping the area) and plans for luxury housing behind the Neighborhood Health Center (wetlands, contamination, and close to WHAT train station?)2. Get designated a 'Transit Village' community.
Mayor Robinson-Briggs should fire up efforts to get the state's Transit Village designation. This would have to involve some serious, hard work by DPUW Director Jennifer Wenson-Maier. That would be a good thing.3. Get developers to develop.
So far, there are a multitude of plans but very little concrete action. (The only project to come to fruition is the new Senior Center/condos, which does not meet TOD criteria for distance from a train station.) Beware press release puffery that includes the phrase 'expected to get under way later this year'. And adhere to some sort of plan -- if the North Avenue redevelopment plan calls for new mid-rise condos facing East Second Street and behind the historic North Avenue facades, why is work proceeding on the old Miron's warehouse?4. And plan.
Speaking of plans, the Robinson-Briggs administration should stop putting up roadblocks in the way of Councilor Storch's proposal to fund a joint study by Rutgers and NJIT to develop a transit-oriented plan for Plainfield's future. Which sort of brings us back to point 1, doesn't it.As one of my detractors likes to say, in prefacing his/her anonymous comments, 'It's time to wake up, Plainfield!'
Couldn't have said it better myself.
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8 comments:
While I would love for Plainfield to have a transit village, I cannot imagine it would successful. Let's get real. The downtown section is the least desirable area of the Queen City. I would never recommend that any friends or family move there. In fact, I dislike the Plainfield Station so much that I drive out of my way to take alternate train stations when travelling NJ Transit.
First impression is a lasting impression. The first thing you see is the Plainfield Station, which is very unattractive. According to the Transit Oriented Development, the Train Station is the prominent feature. The train station needs more parking as well. Another key criteria. Just because you put a rose on a catus. It is still a catus. Plainfield would need a complete revamp to even consider the Plainfield Station as a Transit Village Designation as a viable option.
I would like to see a combined effort to create a transit village and an arts center. Then, there would be a reason for people to want to move here! For years, people have talked about highlighting local artists and creating arts studios in the downtown area. Why not do both efforts at the same time?
Does anyone have a piece of paper from NJ Transit that saids there is ANY possibility of reopening the Grant Ave station ??? Atleast that should be a first step.
it would be nice,if the loiteres would not be hanging out on the benches at the train station.otherwise i see nothing wrong with it.more police presence(transit police) that is.we can complain about so many things in this town.maybe just maybe,if we all stick together things might change?
While the comment at 6:57 may be accurate for many people, you do have to start somewhere. What better place that at the train station. Vacate all the buildings at the immediate North Ave area, preserve the facades and demolish what is behind them to make way for the "New Plainfield". If you build it, they will come. A mix of 1 & 2 bedroom luxury, repeat, luxury, and 1 more time...LUXURY! apartments for those that already live here and would consider staying with the right type of housing. Newport City started out worse than Plainfield and look at it today. Major changes in 20 years. This can be done by letting the "real developers" come in to do what needs to be done. I am not talking about Connoly or Paramount or Landmark. I am talking Tolld Bros, KHov, GHM, etc.
It's sad that the Mayor can't simply look at what you just wrote...do what is suggested and take credit for having delivered us a successful downtown region upon the INEVITABLE economic upswing.STEAL DAN'S IDEA MAYOR !! We all know you and your followers read this...JUST STEAL THIS ONE IDEA AND YOU WILL BE light years ahead of where you are now.When she was proposing another train station / stop in Plainfield the first thing I thought was -- WTF ??? We have 2 that aren't even well maintained and the area around the downtown one -- 1 block from the Police Station and 3 blocks from city halls looks and smells like a toliet. I would love to ride my bike to that train station -- NO WAY IN HELL I WOULD BE STUPID ENOUGH TO LEAVE IT THERE AND HOP on a train for the day. Impress all of us Mayor -- Since we know you will be reelected since you are a democrat picked by Jerry to run ... STEAL THE IDEA FOR TRANSIT VILLAGE STATUS and make downtown a place someone would want to be -- Your tax base will increase ( more no show patronage jobs for you to give out helping you with the local Union County bosses !! ) , the downtown will look better ( people will love you for it and not mind your Cheshire Cat smile so much ) and you might actually be reelected again ( base one something you did that was positive instead of Jerry telling everyone to vote for you )which means then you could make your own decisions instead of waiting until Jerry tells you what to do...Simple enough for me and I am not even on Jerry's puppet strings.
one thing the city administration and planning board must keep in mind that politics should be kept out of the developement of a cities future. Therefore a resolution should be passed not allowing developers who have donated to any poltical parties whether gop or dem in the last 2-3 years. This would then allow any projects to stand on their own merits to avoid partiality if say a planning board was made up of appointees that just may be political. Model resolutions are out there from the various civic oriented sites. we all must be careful since there is a history in NJ of corruption and land, big bucks in land deveopements and of course the politicians know this and many times abuse it to their advantage.
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