Another Cocoa Puffs fueled City "Planning" fail

Johnny doesn't just suggest the people at Jersey City "Planning" eat Cocoa Puffs all morning then run around making a complete hash of Jersey City without reasons. We have pointed out some of Bob Cotter's prominent failures at City "Planning" in the past, here friends is yet another that'll cost you and Johnny money in the long run.

There is an old abandoned warehouse at the corner of Second St. and Warren. Public Storage, a company we're all familiar with if you've ever taken a train or driven down a highway and seen their statement-colored units, bought the warehouse on Warren and are in the process of converting it. Bob Cotter's City "Planning" gave them the go ahead with the variances necessary, then city council gave the final OK. Trouble is City "Planning" didn't read the PADNA redev plan apparently and they've had a hand in writing it. See our City "planners", all hopped up on chocolaty cereal no doubt, missed the part where according to the PADNA website:

The J.C. Planning Department has been sued by two other Jersey City self storage space businesses (Keepers and Liberty) stating that is illegal for Public Storage to be a storage space operator in our neighborhood – it is to house an arts-related gallery and work/live lofts as written into PAD Redevelopment Plan.

It continues: Keepers and Liberty Self-Storage feel that the variances Planning and Zoning approved are illegal and then later approved by city council – And they won; city planning department lost.

So the folks at 150 Bay St. (ie Keepers and Liberty) won the case in court because City "Planning" wasn't paying attention. Know what this does? It opens up a lawsuit against the city by Public Storage who have sunk an awful lot of time and cash into the rehab already. City Council said go and they went.

Who do you think is going to pay for the coming litigation over this? Steve Fulop? Bob Cotter? Oh no, it'll be you and Johnny getting soaked extra because Jersey City's "Planning" Department is such an abject failure.

Confirmed: Warehouse demo starts tomorrow

Now, it may just be the boxy portion AT Morgan and Warren (Avoid this area tomorrow drivers) and not the taller well-graffitied warehouse but Johnny confirmed in talking with three guys tasked with taking it down that tomorrow it is. Johnny also hipped them to the fact the small building has no structural integrity as portions of the roof have caved in (looking back in the pictures Johnny took from a friend's place when about 15 "interesting characters" got inside those warehouses and half the Jersey City PD turned out to arrest them, you can see the open roof areas).

This particular building would have most likely had to go but losing a city's history and old warehouses that could have been saved (Like Mill Creek is doing) if the city planning commission had even tried to get the paperwork designating the Powerhouse Arts District a historical district in on time. Inept? Paid off? You tell us, the fact is we lose a lot while the Jersey City planning commission is asleep at the switch.

The shame of Jersey City -- city machinations that screw residents in favor of builders

City machinations being what they are have rolled over on local taxpayers again, as well as people who pay our fair city for parking passes. Johnny noticed his email start to take on an ugly tone from a few people living in the Powerhouse Arts District while he was away, and this morning he went to check out the complaints. Yes, whether it be city planners or public works the city once again capitulated and let the bags of crap at Toll Brothers simply take away a block of parking and close a street so they can have more "staging area" for their trucks (read they want more free parking for employees and since ONLY city residents were using those spots Toll Brothers will be taking those now) to further destroy roads not able to handle giant truck traffic to begin with. One main theme from the emails is rep Candice Osborne is doing all she can and Mayor Stevie Pullups (came up with that one on the trip, score!) won't answer emails or phone calls on the matter (and we've said before, don't expect the Jersey City mayor to give two-shits about your problems taxpayers, the Goldman Sachs alum is too busy catering openly to businesses and thinking about a top job in Trenton).

Saying city planners in Jersey City are remedials when it comes to protecting taxpayers and local residents vs. builders would be an insult to those with disabilities who know compassion. Yessir Mr. Builder. Anything you want Mr. Builder. No, screw those taxpayers, we work for YOU (imagine hearts and flowers bubbling off the page).

So yes, friends who emailed Johnny, Toll Brothers did exactly what they wanted and the city didn't even ask to be kissed when it happened. Despite the mayor's talk about a new Jersey City rising from the old administration's contempt for taxpayers and a new focus on YOU the Jersey City resident, we're pretty certain the way business is being done in downtown that was just a campaign promise and it might as well have come from the last guy.