A lot to unpack here on the Lareine church, so I will try to keep it simple.
Opening up with my opinion on this topic. I believe the Mayor is hastily moving on this church sale without anything that was agreed upon (deed restrictions of subdivided lots). Based on experience, and how this just appears at the bottom of the agenda, I have no doubt, he will turn to the newspapers or his mighty newsletter to blame the council for stalling on the church. Similar to the prosecutor's report on the police chief, are we, along with the council, being deceived once again?
Residents and council members have been asking Mayor Fox and Acting BA Meredith DeMarco about this property since it was workshopped in October. Fox and DeMarco have stalled the sale of this property and on answering any questions until about a month or two ago. Even in the past two months, the residents along with the council members, who have asked questions publicly, have been met with answers stating that they, Fox and Demarco, are working through some RFP's (Request for Proposals), but to date have not answered any details to the public or the council members in regards to what is included in these proposal requests.
Ask yourself, who would Fox and DeMarco be discussing RFP's with? DEVELOPERS?? mmhmmm
See link here of DeMarco mentioning the developers:
NOW WE ARE MET WITH A MEETING AGENDA (without any prior updates) FOR THE COUNCIL TO VOTE ON THE SALE OF THE PROPERTY WITHOUT DEED RESTRICTIONS.
See link of Mayor Fox saying the RFP's would be made public!! YET THEY HAVE NOT BEEN!
I saw this item listed on the agenda for this coming Wednesday:
Here is the file of the resolution description which does not include ANY deed restriction in the sale of the property:
I reached out to the council members asking how there can be a vote on this without any deed restriction for subdivided lots, which is what the Mayor and Council workshopped back in October. It was so refreshing, back at that October meeting, with finally seeing agreements on making major progress in discussions of auctioning the church property with deed restrictions.
Click this link for a clip from the October meeting of Borough attorney Mr. Cannon explaining:
One of the conditions stated, on the sale of this property (on this week's agenda):
B. The resulting vacant property shall be subdivided into 3 market rate lots and one affordable housing lot able to have up to two (2) affordable dwelling units situated thereon in accordance with the Major Subdivision Plat prepared by CME Associates, dated 04/18/2023.
-WHY ON EARTH WOULD AFFORDABLE HOUSING BE PUT ON THE BACKS OF THE TAXPAYERS WHO OWN THIS PROPERTY?
-WHY DID MAYOR FOX PREVIOUSLY SUGGEST THE PARSONAGE (APPROXIMATELY $1 MIL PROPERTY) TO BE GIVEN AWAY FOR FREE TO HABITAT FOR HUMANITY?
-WHY WOULD AFFORDABLE HOUSING BE PUT ON A SINGLE FAMILY LOT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TOWN AND NOT ON MAIN ST. WHERE IT IS NORMALLY DESIGNED TO BE? (USUALLY IN MAIN ST. APARTMENT STYLE BUILDINGS)
Here are some other questions that I have????
-Does 301 Main (the new black and white apartment building) offer any affordable housing?
-Do the red apartments near Borough Hall offer any affordable housing?
-Are there any single family properties on Main St. that are considered affordable housing?
How much more will we endure in Larry Fox's last year?
See you in the sand...where you may find a Fox crony.
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