Millville Gardens Demolition Celebration

It was a drizzly day in Millville but Folks were out to celebrate the beginning of the end of Millville Gardens. This event had been a long time coming. This blog has followed the progress of the city’s and neighbors efforts to get rid of this eyesore of the 3rd Ward. The 3rd Ward Neighborhood Group lead the fight to demolish this blight. Don Cossaboon-DeGregorio (aka Big Don the Pirate) made a splash at a City Commission meeting in April 2008. He wore his green Tear Down Millville Gardens t-shirt and brought a large sledgehammer and urged the city to demolish Millville Gardens. The sledgehammer Mayor Shannon used on the sign was the same one Don brought to commission chambers that day in April. I could not be at that meeting since I was at the time campaigning for the Millville School Board. I bought one of my Tear Down Millville Gardens t-shirts Mayor Shannon, Commissioners Derella, Vanaman and Finch all spoke of the common efforts of neighbors, city officials and professionals to get to this point. Bucky and I posed with sledgehammers and our green t-shirts to mark this occasion.

Vote Quinn, Shannon , Derella and Finch

This is the day before election and elections have consequences. I read that the new City Commisson will decide the fate of the Millville Gardens Site. As reported in today's Daily Journal:
"It would be a shame if a future commission decided to go against the desire of the community and all that extra effort" for the plan, he said.

Emil Van Hook, a former commissioner who is among the candidates in Tuesday's election, has stated repeatedly he feels the property could be used best as the site of a new elementary school.

Van Hook said he has not reviewed the full details of BCM's proposal, but a new commission should examine all of its options for the site. That is the commission's right, he said.

"The commission will need time to review in detail and evaluate what kind of benefits to the community this would bring," Van Hook said.

Commissioner Tim Shannon said demolishing the complex and selecting its replacement would be a top goal if he's re-elected. The commissioner said he keeps a sledgehammer that the late Donald Cossaboon-DeGregorio, a neighborhood activist, presented to commissioners last year when he asked them to tear down Millville Gardens.

So it appears the Mr. Van Hook has his OWN agenda for the property!! If he is elected he will most certainly defy the wishes of the neighbors and the property will sit. Why? Building a school will take YEARS between approvals from the school board, state AND most of all the neighbors! Just last April 7th, many 3rd ward neighbors showed up to City Commission chambers to express support for tearing down the complex. Millville First questioned this and if they were in charge, the 3rd ward would STILL have this eyesore.

Remember vote the incumbents Quinn Derella and Shannon. Also vote Dale Finch.They will put the city first!

News of this Week

Since I last posted some news came out that was very interesting. On Wednesday Governor Jon Corzine paid a visit to poor Cumberland County to announce $27 million in road improvements. Most of the $$ is marked for reconstructing the interchange between routes 55 and 49. During the summer season, the interchange quickly backs up with shore-bound traffic.The other project site is the Route 49 and Wade Boulevard intersection. That intersection is west of the highway interchange, but traffic also backs up there. I noticed alone with others that standing with the Governor was Lou Maggazzu and Albert Kelly. I did not see or read that our Assemblymen Albano, Milliam, nor Senator Jeff Van Drew were present. I did just now find where they were as of yesterday, they were in Oklahoma with Corzine. Are they not the folks who complained that Cumberland County received NO federal stimulus monies (the only county in NJ in fact)
I now read that there is to be a protest rally Tuesday April 14 at 7:30AM at the Wawa located at Wade Blvd and Rt. 49, Millville
A group calling itself "Concerned Citizens of Millville" is organizing this event ought to be interesting. Its a concern to many that the quality of life in Millville is being attacked. This concern goes back several years when the housing boom was in full throttle. I plan to stop by and record the proceedings so stop back to this site next week.
I paid a visit to Millville Gardens to see the situation. During the City Commission meeting Dr. Kim Ayers stated that 36 homes are to be built and there was only now one tenant left. I decided to check it out myself and found it empty. You see what I found here and here. I asked a neighbor across the street and she said there was no one living there and she was pleased that the place was closed and that when told the city was building owner occupied homes she expressed approval. They thanked the city and thought I was a representative of the City of Millville. I assured them that I was not but a Board of Education Member till May of this year since I ran for a one year term last year
Today I read that the Millville Development Corporation voted to approve a contract with the arts district's new advertising firm Thursday for a maximum amount of $375,675, marking the end of a process dating back to late last year. Members of the MDC in February, chose Graphicus Communications, a local marketing firm, to handle public relations for the downtown area. The decision was not announced until March 12th The MDC after a drawn out process dropped eight-year mainstay Wyble Advertising. A meeting will be held at the Riverfront Renaissance Center for the Arts, on High Street, at 6 p.m. April 28 to unveil their new marketing campaign for the city.
In other news the Millville Arts District is now on Facebook. Umm.. what took them so long according to the article it appears that they just discovered Facebook. Well its better late then never. Last but not least the minutes from Dec 8 Freeholder meeting will be put up later this week. Today is Friday folks!!!
Well have a happy and safe Easter.

Good Riddence Millville Gardens!

Its going to happen! Millville Gardens is to be emptied and demolished by THIS Spring!! All the work the residents of the 3rd Ward and community activists from across the city have paid off. The city rebounded after the developer Steve Durst of the new mall in Millville promised in May 2007 to buy and build and then bailed out.
After the city filed its claim under the 2004 state Abandoned Property Rehabilitation Act. which allows municipalities to deem a property a "nuisance" if it's dilapidated; plays a role in crime, drug or gang activity; and negatively impacts neighboring property values. There was a City Commission meeting on April 7 2008 to press this issue. Soon after, the owners sold it to the city and the city is doing a nice job of following though with their plan to demolish this eyesore. Congratulations Millville your hard work and persistence has paid off!!
Now lets open the Levoy!!

Special Meeting on Millville Gardens

Last night the Millvlle City Commission held a special meeting concerning Millville Gardens. This complex has been an eye-sore and crime-ridden place for years. As the Daily Journal said

"City officials formally asked commissioners to declare the West Foundry Street complex a "nuisance property" and demolish six of the property's 13 buildings at a special meeting Monday. The six structures encompass 48 of the complex's 102 units. The city filed its claim under the 2004 state Abandoned Property Rehabilitation Act. which allows municipalities to deem a property a "nuisance" if it's dilapidated; plays a role in crime, drug or gang activity; and negatively impacts neighboring property values. The city has cited the complex numerous times and taken the owners to Municipal Court".

The judical hearing was postponed till Monday April 21st at 5:30. Go to http://www.youtube.com/user/mkrull1 tomorrow