Recent Developments of great Importance to Plainfield's Historic Preservation

 PRESS RELEASE: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Plainfield, October 21, 2024 

SAVE THE QUEEN CITY CHALLENGING PROPOSED AREA IN NEED OF REDEVELOPMENT FOR PLAINFIELD CITY HALL AND SALVATION ARMY PROPERTIES

CONTINUANCE AGREED AT OCTOBER 17 PLANNING BOARD MEETING

At the City of Plainfield’s Planning Board Meeting on the evening of October 17, 2024, a redevelopment study was presented by Steve Martini of Nishuane Group, LLC, regarding three properties which contain City Hall and the parking lots behind it. City Hall, the green space around it, and a portion of the parking lots are part of the Civic Historic District. It was Mr. Martini’s opinion that the three properties each meet at least one of the criteria of the Local Redevelopment and Housing Law (LRHL) and could be designated as an area in need of redevelopment.

After the chair asked for questions and comments from the Planning Board members, the meeting was opened for public comment. An attorney representing Save the Queen City (STQC) cross examined Mr. Martini and presented his own witness, a licensed planner also hired by STQC, to provide further testimony. During cross examination, it was shown that Mr. Martini’s conclusions were perfunctory and contained significant deficiencies. STQC’s planner then provided the proper statutory standards for designation as an area in need of redevelopment and clearly demonstrated that the facts provided by Mr. Martini did not meet them. At the conclusion of STQC’s planner’s testimony, the city’s redevelopment attorney, who was attending the meeting via phone, requested a continuance, to which the planning board and the STQC’s attorney agreed. This matter will be next discussed at the Planning Board meeting on December 5th, 2024.

STQC’s attorney and planner also prepared arguments regarding the redevelopment study for two additional lots on Watchung Ave, next to City Hall: The Salvation Army and the portion of its property recently taken by the City. However, this was also delayed to the December 5th Planning Board meeting. The attorney offered a copy of the report and the Planning Board accepted it into evidence.

***

About Save the Queen City (STQC): We are a 501(c)3 NJ NONPROFIT CORPORATION, which aims to improve the lives and economic well-being of the residents of the City of Plainfield through the promotion of historic preservation. Our EIN is 92-0371449. Learn more at: Our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/684508926568271/ ; Our website: https://savethequeencity.org/stqc-home; Questions or Comments: email us at savethequeencity@gmail.com;