Next! Bloomfield Looking for Fourth Administrator in 18 Months

The Bloomfield Township Council will hold a special conference meeting on Monday to discuss the status of Yoshi Manale, the township administrator.

The previous administrator, Fred Carr (above), served for 14 months before being asked to resign by the Mayor.r. Five members of the council are reportedly prepared to vote out Me. Manale. No word yet as to who might be considered to be the fourth administrator in less than three years. The meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday at the Law Enforcement Building. It will be followed by more fireworks in Brookdale Park.

UPDATE: After a closed session in Monday's conference meeting,it was announced that the council has unanimously accepted Manale's resignation. It is not yet known when his last day on the job will be.

Unofficial List of Current Developments Underway

At last night's council meeting, Councilman Nick Joanow proposed that a fiscal impact study be completed on the longterm affect of the following developments on Bloomfield residents.
Bloomfield College -- Block 242 – 37-59 Broad St./Franklin St. – 5 story residence hall – 124,000 square foot

Scientific Glass at Liongate -- 104 (52 2-bedrooms 52 3-bedrooms) Hartz Mountain – 395 Units

National Starch & Chemical - 225 Belleville Ave --332 units – 654 parking spaces

Downtown Redevelopment -- Block 228– 224 Apartments – Studio, 1, 2 & 3 Bedroom -

78-80 Locust Ave. Property Auction 7/28/2011 -- 40 Unit For Condos/Apartments

12 Willow St. -12 Units – Condos –

Special Planning Board Mtg Tuesday on 225 Belleville

You'd never know if from the vague language on the township's website, but there's a lot at stake at the extended series of special PB meetings to explore the application for over 332 units at the former Oakes Pond site at 225 Belleville Ave.  Many questions have yet to be answered regarding the viability of the project:


Why is the project only seeking approval for industrial standards of environmental health rather than residential standards?

Will there be any direct oversight by the DEP on the site remediation in view of recent EPA sanctions on negligent developers?

Should the town hire its own LSRP to supervise the project?


Could taxpayers be liable for failures in the remediation process or flood damage?

What will be the impact of hundreds of additional cars on Belleville Avenue traffic patterns?

UPDATE: On Monday morning, the Planning Board posted a revised agenda which spelled out some of the issues regarding the site remediation.
It also added this item regarding other developments waiting to be considered by the Board:
 "Proposal from Richard B. Reading Associates for an evaluation of proposed residential development throughout town."

Tuesday's meeting begins at 7PM in council chambers.

Beat the Heat in Civic Center

Along with being graduation day at BHS (avoid JFK Drive this evening after 5PM), today's heat wave may break all time temperature records for many towns in the northeast. If your A/C is on the blink, the Township of Bloomfield is hosting a Cooling Center at the Civic Center located at 84 Broad Street, Bloomfield.

The Civic Center will be open from 8:30 a.m until 9 p.m. and is open to all who need respite from the heat. The Civil Center is located in the downtown center of Bloomfield and public transportation is available directly in front of the building. To contact the Civic Center directly, call 973-743-9074. The Mayor and Township Council encourage you to use this cooling center should you not have any access to shelter from the heat. The public library next door is open until 5PM today.

Commercial Real Estate Firm Moves Corporate HQ to Bloomfield

Prism Capital Partners, LLC has relocated its headquarters to BroadAcres Office Park from Englewood, N.J., in an expansion move. The commercial real estate owner/operator has maintained its property management operations at 200 Broadacres Drive since 2006, when it purchased the 380,000-square-foot, four-building BroadAcres campus.

The company’s growth and the acceleration of key local projects were catalysts for consolidating their staff into a single location, and that BroadAcres was the logical choice. “We are involved in two major construction projects within 10 minutes of this property,” noted Edwin Cohen, Principal Partner. “It has become increasingly important for our Prism Construction Services, LLC division, especially, to be physically closer to these sites as things progress.

Among Prism’s larger current projects is Parkway Lofts(top photo), a multi-family adaptive reuse project. The General Electric Company in 1897 built the landmark, six-story warehouse that Prism is redeveloping into 365 loft-style apartments with lifestyle amenities. Upon completion, the property will be transformed into a distinctive residential village also featuring approximately 170 for-sale townhomes and a clubhouse.

Prism also is serving as designated redeveloper for Edison Village, a master-planned mixed-use project in nearby West Orange, N.J. That project’s first phase included the adaptive reuse of the historic Thomas Edison Invention Factory and Commerce Center, including a total renovation and reconstruction of the nearly 100-year-old factory complex.

Arts and Crafts -- and Dogs Galore -- in Brookdale Park

In its 24th year, Spring Fine Art and Crafts at Brookdale Park features over 160 juried professional artists, photographers and craft artisans from throughout the country displaying and selling their hand-crafted work, on Saturday and Sunday from 10am to 5pm rain or shine. 

This free to the public show, co-sponsored by the Essex County Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs and Janet and Howard Rose of Rose Squared Productions,

Bloomfield's Tony

Congratulations to Watsessing's own Michael McGrath for winning his first Tony Award Sunday for best performance by an actor in a featured role in “Nice Work If You Can Get It.” McGrath had been nominated for the same award in 2005 when he appeared in "Spamalot."

Open Houses on Dream Street

Two open houses caught our eye today as they happened to be a block away from each other on the same street. Both colonials were constructed around 1940 and were nearly mirror images in size and layout. 40 Barnett was reduced from 355k to 339k. 7 Barnet had dropped from 229k to 215k. 40 Barnet had been recently updated with a sparkling new kitchen that opened up into the dining room. 7 Barnett need some updating. Also perplexing was that the newly renovated home was taxed at 9914, while the more dated home was taxed at 1188.

Both sellers are motivated so make your offer now! One home is already vacant and the other is occupied by the former head of the Board of Ed. She is reportedly determined that her child not attend BHS this fall.

Bloomfield's New Political Landscape

Yesterday's primaries resulted in one upset that may well signal changes in store for 2013. The mayor lost his county committee seat 45 to 34 to newcomer Michael Cantalupo in the Democrat's Ward 2. County committee members elect the municipal and county chairs, and are also responsible for getting voters to the polls in their respective districts. This inspired an anonymous pundit with the monicker "Bloomfield Politics" to post the following analysis on the NJ/Bloomfield Forum:

Democratic Chairman Peter Strumolo has decided to abandon the man he has supported for over thirteen years and the same person he has told Bloomfield residents would make a great mayor. Strumolo is leading the charge against the man he spent $140,000.00 to get elected in 2010, Mayor Ray McCarthy. According to the rumors in Town Hall Strumolo is pushing strong for one of the sitting councilman to take on the Mayor in 2013. The problem is that if he makes that move he will be fighting a war with Both the Mayor and Republican Chairman Lou Linares who brought the Republican party within 193 votes of beating the Democrats in 2010 when over 11,000 people voted. Linares spent $36,000.00 to Strumolo’s $140,000.00, and almost won, despite having a less then exciting candidate. Strumolo is still according to rumors getting heat from the County party for almost losing in a town that is two to one Democrat. In addition the mayor who is a proven fighter and refuses to ever go down without an all-out fight is preparing to take the Democratic Chairman on in 2013 with or without the party line . Behind all of this craziness is, according to one town hall insider Michael Venezia the Unions personal representative on the council, The very Pro-Union at any cost Venezia is said to be wanting the mayor’s job since he first became councilman. Venezia is waiting for the union bosses to decide what to do. Strumolo is in a interesting position. His only hope is that Linares and the Mayor don’t become temporary friends to fight a common enemy. If this happens Bloomfield will be in the thick of it again 2013 as it was in 2010.

(At right, 225 Belleville Ave site fur Oakes Pond Development.

A Bounty of Primary Choices at South side of Town

Several candidates are competing for the 10th Congressional District seat left vacant by the death of Democratic Rep. Donald Payne Sr. The candidates include Payne's son, Donald Jr., and and state Senator Nia Gill, Irvington Mayor Wayne Smith, Newark Councilman Ronald Rice, Cathy Wright, and Dennis Flynn of Glen Ridge. The 10th District, which was reconfigured this year following redistricting will encompass parts of Bloomfield, south of Belleville Ave. much of Newark, Maplewood and South Orange, as well as parts of Hudson and Union counties. Thanks to Carl Bergmanson who put this simplified map together.

Purr-fect Yard Sale

A Purrfect World Cat Sanctuary is holding its annual fund raising yard sale this Saturday and Sunday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., at 60 Newark Avenue (corner of Baldwin Avenue),in Bloomfield. At left is Val Slamka, founder of Purrfect World.
The sale features over 2 dozen tables of merchandise, including clothing, bookcases, appliances, and assorted knick knacks. A Purrfect World is a non-profit, 501 C3 organization dedicated to assisting the local shelters and communites in the care and education of stray and unwanted cats.

BOE Discusses Overcrowding Issues and New Adult School

Last night's Board of Education meeting led off with Bloomfield High School teacher Anthony Todaro presentin his framework for for a new adult school utilizing BHS facilities. There was much discussion on how to accomodate the projected increase in the student population in the immediate future. Brookdale has taken a number of school choice transfer students. The BOE approved funds to move their library to create more classroom space.

Benjamin Morse summarized the discussion:

There's no more school choice in Bloomfield. NJ schools are able to opt out of that. Maybe it was a waiver--they are going to use a different standard going forward. There will be no more busing for existing students who moved to different schools. If a child has already moved to a different school, he/she will be allowed to stay but that will not be grounds for allowing siblings to move to the same school.

Brookdale is going to "add" a classroom by redoing an old unused room in the basement of the school. Not sure if it was an old gym or not. There are a number of possibilities on the table for getting more classroom space in the district. The one I liked was possibly leasing space in the Essex County academy acroos from the Bottle King. They would possibly make that a 6tth grade only school and make the middle school just 7 & 8th grade.

Boe President Mary Shaughnessy concluded by encouraging all parents to attend an education town hall and panel discussion on Tuesday, June 12 at 7PM at The BHS auditorium. The forum will examine how the proposed state budget will impact public schools. The panel will feature Senator Ronald Rice, Assembly members Ralph Caputo, Mila Jasey and Cleopatra Tucker, Ray Pinney of the New Jersey School Boards Association, and Julia Sass Rubin of Save Our Schools NJ.

Bicentennial Memorial Parade

Today's Bicentennial Parade was certainly an event for the history books. Along with dozens of photographs of todays events that can be seen on Facebook, video clips are now viewable on YouTube including the dramatic opening of the Bloomfield High's Time Capsule that was buried in 1962. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Un28Z6R5vJY

West Passaic at Day

Bloomfield and The War of 1812

It's time to remember that this is the Bicentennial of one of our country's more forgotten wars -- one that produced it's own crop of veterans. The War of 1812 inspired Francis Scott Key to write "The Star-Spangled Banner" after soldiers at Fort McHenry in Baltimore raised an American flag to mark a victory over the British on Sept. 14, 1814.

It also inspired Revolutionary War veterans such as Governor Joseph Bloomfield to reactivate their active military status to serve in the War of 1812. Govermor Bloomfield was commissioned a Brigadier General in the U.S. Army in the spring of 1812, but it was in his role as governor that he issued orders that activated N.J. militia companies. He left New Jersey to serve in the Army at the Canadian border until after the end of the war in 1815. Sketchy historical records suggest that there were approximately  two dozen Essex County militia companies in Essex County that were activated for this conflict. 

The newly restored cavalry flag (right) was made for Caldwell Troop, Essex Squadron of the 2nd Regiment, N.J. Militia, The flag will be on display for the first time to the public on Memorial Day, May 28, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., at the Crane Homestead, Westville Avenue, West Caldwell. Admission is free. For more information, contact HSWCaldwell@gmail.com or 973-364-0155.

Heller Lawsuit Rejected by Courts -- Last Hurdle to Redevelopment

An Essex County Superior Court judge today rejected the lawsuit filed by New Jersey developer Cary Heller. The judge ruled in favor of Bloomfield and gave a green light for the long-delayed Bloomfield Center development project to begin in ernest.

Developer Cary Heller had filed a civil complaint in state Superior Court in Newark in August of last year. He insists he wants to see downtown revitalized but opposes the existing plan passed by the Planning Board.   Heller, whose development company is based in South Orange, owns property in the redevelopment zone and has his own ideas for developing the area.  He has hired traffic engineers to present an alternate plan (right), which would create a round-about at the intersection of Farrand, Washington and Lackawanna.

The mayor and other township officials have characterized the lawsuit as frivolous by Heller who was not selected for other segments of the redevelopment plan. He still could appeal the ruling, but he may not be more aware of his rapidly declining public image. Most residents and shop owners have also been exasperated by the continual legal delays.
Just yesterday,  one frustrated Bloomfielder  issued the following call to action on the NJO Bloomfield forum:

It's time to turn the pitch forks away from each other and go after these b*st*rds. Letters to the editor, letters to legislators, letters to the board of health, pickets in front of their businesses and homes (especially their homes so their neighbors can see them for what they are.) Our terminally inept municipal government can't seem to get a handle on it so it's really up to the people of Bloomfield to send a very strong message to the bully slum lords.

The owner of Anthony's Cheesecake celebrated his shop's 1st anniversary with his own call to action on The Bloomfield Patch:

Join our FB page @ Anthonys Cheesecake and I will post info on how we can all band together if we need to. If Mr Heller does appeal, we will need all the support we can get. We have already started a letter writing campaign in the case of an appeal. We have many, many supporters and any help we get will help to ensure Bloomfield Centers Redevelopment. Spread the word --power in numbers.

Rockwell on Eaton

Rich Rockwell discussed one of dozens of historic Bloomfield photos taken in the 1800's during his presentation on “The Photography of Charles Warren Eaton.” As part of the year long celebration of the Bloomfield Bicentennial, the mix of paintings and photographs were from collection of the Historical Society of Bloomfield

Dog Day Afternoon At Obals

Today was the Fourth Annual Fundraiser for the Bloomfield Animal Shelter! There was food, drink, and prizes for the dogs in attendance (best wag, best costume, prettiest eyes, etc). All proceeds went to benefit the Animal Support Fund of the Bloomfield Animal Shelter. A good time was had by all.

Bay and Broad in Transition

Before the current construction began, Fred the Barber told us the story about a blind customer he recently pointed down the sidewalk on the east side of Broad St. heading toward Clark. The customer later reported that his seeing eye dog stopped abruptly at the corner and refused to turn left as directed. The clearance around the Garden center did not meet the definition of a sidewalk according to his training so he had to find a two legged guide to lead him eastward on Bay. Hopefully, the sight lines will soon improve for both pedestrians and drivers.

"Save Bloomfield Now" Group Alerts Residents to Planning Board Meeting

On Saturday a couple of dozen local residents got together at Bloomfield College to discuss the implications of the 4 largest residential developments that are confronting the Bloomfield planners. In order of magnitude,they are:

 1) 350 Apartments ar Oakes Pond at 225 Belleville Ave.

 2) 315 Apartments at the former Hartz Mountain Factory site.

 3) 215 Apartments as part of the Downtown Redevelopment plans.

 4) 104 Condominiums at the former Scientific Glass site.

The non-partison group plans to continue updating residents on the true impact of planned developments on Bloomfield's quality of life as well as alerting state agencies such as the NJDEP on environmental issues that need to be addressed.
A special Planning Board meeting has been scheduled for Tuesday night to begin a discussion of issues concerning the 225 Belleville site. More info can be found here and on their Facebook Page.