I had that as my first thought - but then I read the Village Green article. There is still some type of annual payment that will be paid instead. I just don't understand if it makes fiscal sense.
At least you are willing to leave open the possibility that it makes fiscal sense, without jumping to uneducated conclusions.
Our town government tends to default to the maximum allowable PILOT, even for very wealthy developers. The TC is not good at negotiating. The developer of the Clarus paid virtually nothing for the property and got a very nice PILOT agreement as well.
Anyone here remembers that pseg site at Boyden and Springfield?…talking about pilots.
Our government in South Orange does a pretty good job with them, I think. Design changes, community spaces, contributions to our affordable housing project, etc. And again, they are not tax free.
PILOTS are a complicated subject. They are intended to promote responsible development that is in the interests of the municipality that might not be financially feasible in their absence.
That said, they need to be negotiated by sophisticated parties. It is possible for either party to be taken advantage of. I feel that happened in the early days of South Orange’s redevelopment, where the village may have been snookered a bit. Could be the same at the Gleason’s site, but I don’t know, and I’m not sure that anyone here has demonstrated that they do either.
The current government in S.O., as Dan says, is doing a “pretty good”, I’d say “pretty great,” job with them.
IMO, the communities should compare notes and take advantage of each others’ experiences.
People are desperately trying to escape from the Midwest and they end up here. Conservatives claim otherwise, but their children leave Smallville as soon as they can.
As someone who's lived in apartment buildings before its something I hope to do never again.
Also, how does the population keep growing so much when people are not having children as often anymore.
"How does the population keep growing so much when people are not having children as often anymore"? The people looking for apartments today were born 30 years ago.
Immigration drives population growth in the United States (something Trump never understood).
The fertility rate in the U.S. was 1.64 births per woman in 2020. A rate of 2.1 births per woman is needed to have a stable population. Immigration fills the gap (and then some).
Immigration drives population growth in the United States (something Trump never understood).
The fertility rate in the U.S. was 1.64 births per woman in 2020. A rate of 2.1 births per woman is needed to have a stable population. Immigration fills the gap (and then some).
...or rather, it used to. According to DHS, immigration fell in 2020 and 2021 (most recent years for which statistics are available) by over 25% from 2019 and over 40% since 2016.
Immigration drives population growth in the United States (something Trump never understood).
The fertility rate in the U.S. was 1.64 births per woman in 2020. A rate of 2.1 births per woman is needed to have a stable population. Immigration fills the gap (and then some).
I think Steve was referring specifically to SOMA, and meant immigration from Brooklyn.
Immigration drives population growth in the United States (something Trump never understood).
The fertility rate in the U.S. was 1.64 births per woman in 2020. A rate of 2.1 births per woman is needed to have a stable population. Immigration fills the gap (and then some).
I think Steve was referring specifically to SOMA, and meant immigration from Brooklyn.
We are working towards it. The FD was a big step. Health department is on its way. I think eventually the biggest challenge will be police departments.
When consolidation was last on the ballot, about 80% of South Orange voters were in favor of consolidating and about 80% of Maplewood voters were opposed. Form of government was not a factor since the consolidation commission, had it been created, would have been charged with determining the form of government for the new entity.
Most maplewoodians want to stay separated from south orange. It’s an identity thing. I’m one of them. And it’s not an old people issue either, I asked my kids, and they said no, unless they incorporate south orange into the township of maplewood. Something about oranges having gone bad over time…
Most maplewoodians want to stay separated from south orange. It’s an identity thing. I’m one of them. And it’s not an old people issue either, I asked my kids, and they said no, unless they incorporate south orange into the township of maplewood. Something about oranges having gone bad over time…
When consolidation was last on the ballot, about 80% of South Orange voters were in favor of consolidating and about 80% of Maplewood voters were opposed. Form of government was not a factor since the consolidation commission, had it been created, would have been charged with determining the form of government for the new entity.
When it was last on the ballot, South Orange town government was a mess. That is no longer the case. If anything, SO folks might be a little leery of Maplewood town government currently.
South Orange and Maplewood are just too different to combine. I have lived in Maplewood all my life and I have seen the changes. South Orange now has so many high-rises and it is a very busy downtown. Maplewood's downtown is hidden and so far hopefully not too many high-rises. It is so nice not to have parking meters. Residents in both towns stick up for their towns. South Orange is special with Seton Hall and 3 large Jewish temples. Maplewood is kind of unique and I hope it stays that way.
I know shared services are underway and that S.O. civil service is an obstacle, but is taking the temperature of citizens being discussed?
This is generally an older crowd, myself included. Entrenched people are generally more resistant to change - tradition and all…
How would you all feel about combining the towns?
Joan? JerseyJack? Others?
I'm all for it. If the name association is the problem, call it "The village of South Maplewood. Yes, the problem with South Orange was that the government was F.U.B.A.R. That seems to have been corrected.
Then, we have the problem with bid rigging in Maplewood. We are catching up with South Orange?
I'm all for it. If the name association is the problem, call it "The village of South Maplewood. Yes, the problem with South Orange was that the government was F.U.B.A.R. That seems to have been corrected.
Then, we have the problem with bid rigging in Maplewood. We are catching up with South Orange?
South Orange and Maplewood are just too different to combine. I have lived in Maplewood all my life and I have seen the changes. South Orange now has so many high-rises and it is a very busy downtown. Maplewood's downtown is hidden and so far hopefully not too many high-rises. It is so nice not to have parking meters. Residents in both towns stick up for their towns. South Orange is special with Seton Hall and 3 large Jewish temples. Maplewood is kind of unique and I hope it stays that way.
Too different? I thought we were all about diversity? Many of us anyway.
We could combine and have one government to deliver services. Two separate post offices and zip codes to maintain identity if that is necessary.
Parsippany-Troy Hills as a government entity comes to mind.
"How does the population keep growing so much when people are not having children as often anymore"? The people looking for apartments today were born 30 years ago.
[Edited to add] Or they're divorced.
Birthrate declined significantly well over 30 yrs ago so those looking for apartments today are a part of the less children trend. Divorce is up so that's a possibility, but you have to consider the declining marriage rates as well.
Too different? I thought we were all about diversity? Many of us anyway.
We could combine and have one government to deliver services. Two separate post offices and zip codes to maintain identity if that is necessary.
Parsippany-Troy Hills as a government entity comes to mind.
Parsippany-Troy Hills wasn't the result of combining two governments. They just adopted that name when that sprawling township was incorporated.
There are a lot of large municipalities in New Jersey with multiple zip codes - and even some where different parts of the municipality are in the zip codes assigned to adjacent towns.
Money to be saved.... One less set of municipal executive offices, tax collectors, public works supervisors, police chiefs, captains, maybe one less lieutenant.
Fewer vehicles to maintain.
C.O.P.s would probably remain at same level.
This would save building upkeep costs, salaries, health insurance and pension costs.
I don't know about reducing the staff. I would feel more comfortable with not replacing staff that quit or retire. I care about employees and their families.
At least you are willing to leave open the possibility that it makes fiscal sense, without jumping to uneducated conclusions.