Can PMUA space costs be reduced?

2006 plan KO'ed planned PMUA moves.

Plainfield resident and DumpPMUA activist Bill Kruse has a letter in today's Courier concerning the PMUA's space costs and citizen proposals for cost savings (see letter here).

The fact is that Mayor Robinson-Briggs' muddled redevelopment plans upended the PMUA's carefully crafted and implemented strategy for dealing with just these issues way back in 2006.

While it is commendable that citizens are pointing out less expensive alternatives to the PMUA (would it be of interest to know who the landlord is that is benefiting from the current arrangement?), perhaps it is time to revisit the PMUA's ORIGINAL PLANS and see whether there is anything that can be salvaged from them (for background, see my 2006 posts on the situation here, and here).

PMUA plans were completely run off the rails by the overly swift (some have even said 'illegal') creation of the East 3rd Street/Richmond Street/Cottage Place Redevelopment Area, handcrafted to suit the needs of the Capodagli Property Company of Pompton Plains (see here, with links to Bernice's prior coverage of the Capodagli application.

Could the PMUA get back on track with its strategic plan of consolidating its administrative operations in a new facility in the Cottage Place area?

Yes, but.

To ensure the viability of the PMUA's plans, the redevelopment area designation would have to be rescinded. Could it be? It's within the Council's purview to do so. Will it? The question hasn't even been addressed.

Meanwhile, should the PMUA consider buying larger quarters elsewhere and relocating?

That option ought to be on the table.

And, while we're at it, there should be a discussion about whether any new headquarters should be located downtown or elsewhere.

My personal opinion is that the City should formally adopt the attitude that attracting workers to the downtown area is a positive goal and work to help the PMUA secure adequate facilities downtown.

---

• Courier: "PMUA needs new, cheaper offices" -- Letter, William Kruse.
  
• Plainfield Today --
• August 24, 2006: "Problems with the Cottage Place study area"
• September 27, 2006: "Westward ho! for the PMUA?"
• October 26, 2006: "Development as Russian roulette?"
  

-- Dan Damon [follow]

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