Mayor: Union lost in ruling to nix center plan
By Jackeline Leon, Staff Writer
UNION, NJ - The redevelopment plan for Union Center will not go forward, Superior Court Judge Walter Barisonek ruled a week ago.
The embattled proposal from the Jersey City-based Metro Company LLC, which consulted with the governing body on the project, focused on the land between Lentz Avenue and Vauxhall Road on Stuyvesant Avenue and called for a mixed-use development. It is not known how much the plan might have cost to implement, as it was in the early stages.
Union Center, considered by many to be the heart of the Union, was the first section in town outlined in the proposed plan. Other areas had been eyed by officials as possible locations for similar revitalizing efforts in the future, including the Five Points and Morris Avenue areas.
The governing body’s support of the Union Center plan was met with jeers from businesses owners along Stuyvesant Avenue who feared their properties would be seized through eminent domain. Last year, that fear resulted in the formation of the watchdog group, Citizens for United Union. The group filed a lawsuit against the township to block the plan in January 2007.
Franco DiPaolo, owner of DiPaolo & Son Bakery on Stuyvesant Avenue for more than 20 years, said the court decision was fair. “I lost a lot of sleep over this because my business is my livelihood and everything I have is here. Instead of spending so much money on planners, officials could’ve spent it on paving the roads in town,” DiPaolo said.
In a press release issued Friday, the governing body blasted residents who opposed the revitalizing plan.
“The committee made a strategic investment in pursuing the redevelopment of Union Center for the future of this township,” Mayor Cliff People Jr. said. “A limited number of landlords/property owners may have won this case, but all of the residents of Union lost.”
According to township officials, some businesses have left the Stuyvesant Avenue area due to a lack of foot traffic and parking options, which they say could have been remedied by the proposed plan.
“In these horrible economic times, developments like these could very well have stimulated a redevelopment rush in and around Union Center,” township attorney Daniel Antonelli said.
If the project had moved forward, the ground floor level would have featured retail stores and the upper levels would have had townhome-style apartments with parking in the rear.
Township officials noted the matter had nothing to do with eminent domain and had in fact passed a resolution against eminent domain in December.
“This is on blight distinction, it has nothing to do with eminent domain,” township spokesperson Geri Durso said.
She explained the center has the highest vacancy rate in 15 years and the proposed plan was meant to address that issue. “Justice prevailed,” CUU member and owner of Metta Realty on Stuyvesant Avenue Fran Metta said.
According to Metta, property owners were concerned they were being excluded from the planning efforts.”I do think the center needs help, but I think we should all participate and make it a township effort,” she said.
Committee member Anthony Terrezza said cooperation with the property owners is essential and is being sought by township officials who now hope to hold a forum where members of the community can share their ideas.
“We implore these landlords, many who live outside of the Township of Union and outside the State of New Jersey, to sit down with us to find a solution that will give our residents what they want and deserve,” Terrezza said.
Jackeline Leon can be reached at 908-686-7700, ext. 126, or editorial@thelocalsource.com.
http://localsource.com/articles/2008/10/22/union/news/local_news/doc48ff538753ed1208639321.txt