Timeline

To catch everyone up to date, here is a timeline of what I have experienced here - some experiences are similar. Some are worse and some are better - but everyone can find something to understand. Try and find something to ignite passion - and stand up to beauracrats and profiteers who don't care about people.

Timeline:

February 2005 - Frequent visits from two representatives of Philips, Press & Shapiro real estate consultants. The whole thing is very vague and frankly very harassing. The two representatives strolled in and tried to strong arm me about the move. It would be happening immediately, I should prepare to go. I should invest resources (time and money) in a search for a space, I will be reimbursed for this as per New Jersey state law.

March 2005 - Approach redevelopment consultants (or whatever it is they think they do, which is represent the interests of the financeers / town) with questions about advertising. What date will I be out? I need to know because I have a huge 1200 square foot space. 500 sf of that is used for retail - the balance was intended for use with classes and massage services. I was told to go ahead and advertise but that May was coming soon, be aware I would be out then. This prevented me from signing advertising contracts. This is the final redevelopment communication on behalf of the town / developers.

April - August 2005 - I invested money, time, energy, and resources into a search. It proved fruitless, with the investment coming up with only spaces that were not an appropriate size or were not an appropriate rent. I never received the real estate broker assistance I was promised. Additionally, I start a petition to inform people in the neighborhood about this tragedy. Most people knew, or were familiar, with this process. I received over 75 signatures in a short time I had it out on the counter. Meanwhile the courts prove to be failures in the support for the community as more and more court rulings (including the supreme court) favor developers over people. Again, money over community. Meanwhile the newspapers provide no accurate representation of the scene down here. I contact the local paper, am promised a voice, and never hear back from them again.

August 2005 - I contact the developers with a formal letter to all representatives I have the contact information for. The letter states that business has suffered greatly over the summer. All businesses have left, the parking situation has been dismantled with changes and meter increases, and my tailor neighbor and I are left to suffer with little no business. Even comparatively speaking, the affects are clear. I contact them for the assistance promised under the New Jersey state law, which I even have spelled out in a letter from the town's lawyers. I never hear back. Meanwhile a county superior court judge does not find it appropriate to condemn the first building - a vacant warehouse. This creates a major stall - if a vacant building is not justified, how will our building be justified? The judge cites things most of us already knew - there are too many vested interests (zoning officials on redevelopment boards) and a lack of support for condemning this area as "in need." The official response is still a go, but the reality is different. They have fallen off the radar.