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From: Your Name <you@example.com>
To: mayorhealy@jcnj.org,mariano@jcnj.org,brennanp@jcnj.org,floodw@jcnj.org,sottolanom@jcnj.org,spinellom@jcnj.org,bgaughan@hudsoncountynj.org,fulops@jcnj,LipskiS@jcnj.org
Subject: Preserve Jersey City's History -- Support Rational Development
Dear City Council members and Mayor Healy,
I am against the wholesale destruction of the Powerhouse Arts District Redevelopment Plan at the hands of Pennsylvania-based developer Toll Brothers.
Let's be clear here: Toll Brothers, a national developer, is in the business of maximizing profits. In a breathtaking act of hubris, Toll is asking you to amend the existing law so that they can build close to an ADDITIONAL 1,000,000 (one million) square feet, double the square footage that they are allowed to build under current law. Double the square footage = double the profits for Toll. Incredibly, you are on the verge of granting Toll this request. In any other city, Toll Brothers would not have made it in the front door of the Planning Department. Under the the Healy administration, the citizen/voters are ignored and this sort of destruction of our city is rewarded.
No studies have been conducted to review the impact of this oversized development on the existing neighborhood, our roads, our sewer system and our public transportation. Toll never made any effort to follow the underlying law before asking for sweeping changes. Toll has proceeded with no regard to the scale, texture, and viability of the existing neighborhood. In exchange for Toll doubling their profits, what do the citizens of Jersey City get?:
- Destruction of three historic warehouses, warehouses that not only represent the proud industrial history of Jersey City, but also represent the type of building stock in heavy demand.
- Elimination of 24 required affordable housing units in exchange for "ancillary theater space".
- Elimination of a public, historic cobblestone street -- to be appropriated by this private development as part of "their" plaza.
- Reduction of required open space by half.
For the citizens of Jersey City, the numbers just don't add up.
You may be thinking of supporting the Toll Bros scheme because the +/-400 additional apartments will translate into additional "ratables". What does this say about you? It says that in pursuit of a quick buck, you don't care about the quality of life of the neighborhood's current residents. It says that you don't care about the existing physical context in which development occurs. It says that the you don't care about Jersey City's diversity or historic legacy. It says the law has no meaning here.
The Powerhouse Arts District, if allowed to develop as set forth in the pre-Toll redevelopment plan, will raise ratables throughout Jersey City. What Toll is offering - a larger theater and a plaza - will not make up for what they are taking away: sunlight, historic warehouses and the type of living units that attracts vibrancy to a city. I implore you not to throw away such a unique and valuable asset in exchange for yet another gated community in the form of "luxury condo high-rises".
As the ULI report states, "The district represents an opportunity for Jersey City to build on its historical roots, its ethnic and cultural diversity, and the competitive advantages it has over its neighbors to the east."
I strongly urge you to resist the temptations of short-term gain and the pressures of a wealthy out-of-town developer. Stand strong and proud for the benefits that the Powerhouse Arts District, as historic warehouse-based, arts-centric, pedestrian-friendly neighborhood, can bring to all of Jersey City.
Your Name
Your Organization
123 Your St.
Yousville, YO 12345
Phone: (123)456-7890
Fax: (123)456-7890x123
p.s.
Your Personal Statement
--
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Report abuse to abuse@citizenspeak.org [1256]
To: mayorhealy@jcnj.org,mariano@jcnj.org,brennanp@jcnj.org,floodw@jcnj.org,sottolanom@jcnj.org,spinellom@jcnj.org,bgaughan@hudsoncountynj.org,fulops@jcnj,LipskiS@jcnj.org
Subject: Preserve Jersey City's History -- Support Rational Development
Dear City Council members and Mayor Healy,
I am against the wholesale destruction of the Powerhouse Arts District Redevelopment Plan at the hands of Pennsylvania-based developer Toll Brothers.
Let's be clear here: Toll Brothers, a national developer, is in the business of maximizing profits. In a breathtaking act of hubris, Toll is asking you to amend the existing law so that they can build close to an ADDITIONAL 1,000,000 (one million) square feet, double the square footage that they are allowed to build under current law. Double the square footage = double the profits for Toll. Incredibly, you are on the verge of granting Toll this request. In any other city, Toll Brothers would not have made it in the front door of the Planning Department. Under the the Healy administration, the citizen/voters are ignored and this sort of destruction of our city is rewarded.
No studies have been conducted to review the impact of this oversized development on the existing neighborhood, our roads, our sewer system and our public transportation. Toll never made any effort to follow the underlying law before asking for sweeping changes. Toll has proceeded with no regard to the scale, texture, and viability of the existing neighborhood. In exchange for Toll doubling their profits, what do the citizens of Jersey City get?:
- Destruction of three historic warehouses, warehouses that not only represent the proud industrial history of Jersey City, but also represent the type of building stock in heavy demand.
- Elimination of 24 required affordable housing units in exchange for "ancillary theater space".
- Elimination of a public, historic cobblestone street -- to be appropriated by this private development as part of "their" plaza.
- Reduction of required open space by half.
For the citizens of Jersey City, the numbers just don't add up.
You may be thinking of supporting the Toll Bros scheme because the +/-400 additional apartments will translate into additional "ratables". What does this say about you? It says that in pursuit of a quick buck, you don't care about the quality of life of the neighborhood's current residents. It says that you don't care about the existing physical context in which development occurs. It says that the you don't care about Jersey City's diversity or historic legacy. It says the law has no meaning here.
The Powerhouse Arts District, if allowed to develop as set forth in the pre-Toll redevelopment plan, will raise ratables throughout Jersey City. What Toll is offering - a larger theater and a plaza - will not make up for what they are taking away: sunlight, historic warehouses and the type of living units that attracts vibrancy to a city. I implore you not to throw away such a unique and valuable asset in exchange for yet another gated community in the form of "luxury condo high-rises".
As the ULI report states, "The district represents an opportunity for Jersey City to build on its historical roots, its ethnic and cultural diversity, and the competitive advantages it has over its neighbors to the east."
I strongly urge you to resist the temptations of short-term gain and the pressures of a wealthy out-of-town developer. Stand strong and proud for the benefits that the Powerhouse Arts District, as historic warehouse-based, arts-centric, pedestrian-friendly neighborhood, can bring to all of Jersey City.
Your Name
Your Organization
123 Your St.
Yousville, YO 12345
Phone: (123)456-7890
Fax: (123)456-7890x123
p.s.
Your Personal Statement
--
Delivered by CitizenSpeak!
Report abuse to abuse@citizenspeak.org [1256]
