Council Tuesday: Is South Second Street residential project finally getting under way?

Rendering of the proposed 90-unit apartment building
on South Second Street at Grant Avenue...

...and the site as it looked in 2018. The completed
ABC building is visible in the rear.

City Council's agenda for Tuesday night's combined meeting (Monday is the observance of MLK Day) contains both a resolution (R077-19) and and ordinance (MC 2019-01) relating to the long-dormant residential project on South Second Street and Grant Avenue.

Both call for an amendment to the redevelopment agreement. But the online documentation for both the resolution and the ordinance mentions -- but does NOT include -- the amendment, which is labeled "Exhibit A".

So, we will be left in the dark until the amendment is explained at the City Council meeting -- if someone asks for an explanation.

The recent Courier story on Plainfield redevelopment (see here) mentioned that ground is expected to be broken shortly on the Grant Avenue apartments, and a lengthy quote from developer Patrick Terborg references the project as "forthcoming".

In any event, it will be nice to see work finally beginning on this 4th Ward residential project.

Also on the agenda is the awarding of contracts to law firms for the 2019 calendar year.

In 2018, 19 contracts were approved for a total of $385,000 (ranging from 7 at $5,000 each to a high of 2 at $65,000 each).

In 2019, Tuesday's agenda only contains 10 contracts for a total of $340,000. Gone are the small $5,000 and $10,000 contracts of 2018.

Does this mean that there will be no contracts for those small (mostly solo attorneys) from 2018? Or that they will come later in the year? If they are gone for good, this would amount to a net reduction in legal costs -- something which seems highly unlikely, given the natural inclination of government to grows its expenses.

If, on the other hand, legal costs really are shrinking, the City out to be tooting its horn.

The new Acting Fire Director, Martin J. Mandell, is also on the agenda for the Council's advice and consent as a permanent department head. A residency waiver is being requested. No resume was attached to the online resolution, but a copy can be obtained through OPRA for those who are interested.

City Council meets for a combined agenda and business session at 7:00 PM in the Council Chambers / Courthouse at Watchung Avenue and East 4th Street. Parking available on the street and in the lot across from Police Headquarters.

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  -- Dan Damon [follow]

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