Help get a great supermarket downtown

This Monday evening, June 18 the planning board may vote to approve the property owner/ developer’s proposed Lackawanna Plaza plan.  Approving a plan because the developer refuses to work  for a better plan and local residents hope to get a supermarket which is years away, a few weeks earlier is irresponsible and a major disservice to the town residents.  This plan includes the demolition of the majority of the atrium housing the train station sheds preserved in the 1980’s when the Pathmark supermarket was built.
 
The developer says no supermarket wants to have train sheds to build around or use.   BUT….. the 1980’s Pathmark designed a store using the sheds.  Supermarket design firms say a supermarket including the sheds offer a unique open air design.  The Philadelphia Redding Market is an excellent example of a market in a train terminal with metal stanchions, such as those in Lackawanna but much closer together at 10-12 feet.

OPEN ILLUSTRATION BELOW OF ORIGINAL TRAIN SHEDS WITHOUT 1980s ATRIUM ENCLOSING THEM.
https://gallery.mailchimp.com/970fb69de4ff36622c2b55fff/_compresseds/14514d67-b6ee-40a6-9287-42ab8e0b35cc.jpg
NOW OPEN TO SEE SUPERMARKET BUILT INTO SHEDS WITH EXISTING SKYLIGHTS FROM 1980s.
https://gallery.mailchimp.com/970fb69de4ff36622c2b55fff/_compresseds/04d9c43f-3582-4026-b838-83bc39b0d70a.jpg

 **Pass this to residents to join to get direct emails at  www.savemontclair.org. Like us on Facebook.

The planning board needs just a few weeks and the Council’s support to insist that the developer maintain the integrity of the station and work the sheds into a plan with our town preservation architects.  The Lackawanna project start date is 4-5 years away according to the developer and the opening of any supermarket coming sometime long after; the planning board is under pressure from the Council’s recent resolution to approve this plan because local residents are angry about not having a supermarket for 2 ½ years.  
…BUT pressuring our planning board is completely misplaced.  
This current and the 3rd proposal for Lackawanna Plaza since 2012 is the first and only widely accepted plan and its review process just started this spring. 
Lackawanna Plaza is the only major opportunity to improve that area and the sheds can beautify this site and create an enhanced shopping experience.  Once the sheds are gone, they are gone.  

Improving the Lackawanna area neighborhood is what all town residents want,its what Council representatives want and especially what local residents want…its not simply to get another supermarket. 

The Planning Board and Historic Preservation Commission are trying to get the best design for the town and the Council should support this effort. Particularly considering the following history of this developer in our town. 

1. Since the Pathmark closed in November, 2015 the developer has refused allow  any temporary market at the site because of insurance and other costs. 
2.The developer, for the last two months has refused to cooperate with the planning board’s directive and sit down with our Historic Preservation Commission to work on a plan maintaining the whole station and use the sheds. In addition, he did not work with the planning board’s preservation architect to design on a plan using the sheds. 
3. This developer said, “ Supermarkets  cannot work with the train sheds”.  The  Pathmark did and a firm specializing in the design of supermarkets say the sheds can be included in a supermarket design. 
4. This developer says he found a historian that says “the train sheds are not historic” although all 3 levels of local, state and national historic authorities have given the station this designation.
5. This developer recently built Valley and Bloom apartments which now have chunks of the façade falling to the sidewalks, just this week.
6.This developer built the Sienna and condo owners litigated leaks for over 10 years while living with empty rooms with hoses directing water to collection buckets.
7. This developer habitually proposes out of character construction, unlike other developers, not respecting the historic nature of Montclair’s neighborhoods.

HOW YOU CAN HELP GET A GREAT SUPERMARKET AND A MORE ATTRACTIVE DOWNTOWN.  “This is the last big development in town and worth the effort.” “Come out and take a stand.”
1.Come to Mondays special planning board meeting with a sign to save the whole station and sheds or speak up at public comments; 205 Claremont Ave, 7:30.
2.Email planning board members and tell them why you want them to maintain the integrity of the station by saving the sheds.
Planning Board
Petto, Graham [email protected]
Rooney, Stephen [email protected]
 Schlager, Robin [email protected]
 Schwartz, Martin [email protected]
 Talley, Janice  [email protected]
 Watkinson, Tom  [email protected]
 Willis, Carole [email protected]
  Tim Barr [email protected]
 Brandon, Craig [email protected]
 Brodock, Keith [email protected]
 Ianuale, Anthony V. [email protected]
 Loughman, Carmel [email protected]
Neiss, Art [email protected]
 Daniel Gilmer  [email protected]

Copy the Mayor and Councilors below on your message to Planning Board.
Baskerville, Renee [email protected]
Hurlock, William [email protected]
Jackson, Mayor [email protected]
McMahon, Rich [email protected]
Robert Russo [email protected] 
Schlager, Robin [email protected] 
Spiller, Sean [email protected]
 
3. Go to www.Planetcivic.com and vote to save the sheds. If there are enough voters, the Council will get the report.
**Pass this to residents to join to get direct emails at  www.savemontclair.org. Like us on Facebook.
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