Town Hall Meeting Offers Insight into Development Decisions

Bloomfield officials met with business owners and residents at a Bloomfield College lecture hall on Tuesday night to answer questions and provide information on the town center redevelopment project.  

Arranged by Mayor Raymond McCarthy and hosted by the Bloomfield Center Alliance, the event, which featured presentations by Bill Colgan, Managing Partner of Bloomfield Center Urban Renewal, Bloomfield Parking Authority Attorney Joseph Baumann, Jr., George Jacobs, Principal Developer of Jacobs Enterprises and Stuart Koperweis, Executive Director of the Bloomfield Center Alliance.

Colgan provided information and statistics on the development, estimating that 350 construction workers would be employed in the building stage, while 243 permanent employees would be hired to work at the complex once it was up and running.  “In total, it will create 593 jobs,” he said.

Colgan’s presentation also addressed some of the issues addressed in news articles in recent months.

“If anyone has any idea that we’re coming into town, making a ton of money and getting out of town, that’s not what’s happening here,” he said, stressing his commitment to the township.  Colgan is co-owner of Senorita’s, a restaurant in the heart of the development area, as well as other area businesses.

Baumann discussed the key role played by the Parking Authority and the advantages of the new parking deck for the township.  “The Parking Authority has secured some extraordinarily low financing for the garage,” he said.  “In the end, the expenses will cover the costs.”

He noted that though the site was designated as a Transit Village in 2003, grants had not been forthcoming to help pay some of the building costs.

Frequently referring to some of his previous development projects, Jacobs’ presentation included projected photographs of the interior of an upscale Foodtown Supermarket.  “Now doesn’t Bloomfield deserve this?” he asked.

Jacobs offered a glimpse of his selection process regarding leasing decisions.  “Every piece of this projects impacts every other piece of it,” he said, “At the end of the day, we have to rent to someone who will attract customers who will park in the garage.”

Jacobs said he would willingly rent space to establishments like Dunkin Donuts and Subway, despite residents’ often-stated objection to renting to “low-end stores.”  

When objections were raised to nail salons – someone said there were upwards of 30 in town – Jacobs replied that he had rented space to a nail salon in virtually every one of his developments.  “I like nail salons,” he smiled.

He added that he also liked Dollar Stores (“they pay their rent”) but that the township would not be leasing space to a Dollar Store.

Speaking after the meeting, Jacobs was forthright about his role in the selection process.  “[Residents] can’t have a wish list.  Retailers have to survive.  They need a lot of customers to survive.”

Though a pharmacy was being considered for an anchor store in the complex, he noted that only three pharmacy chains were thriving in the present economy and the clothing industry is currently “heavily stressed.”  The solution was to rent space to food-oriented establishments. “Who’s surviving right now?  Dunkin Donuts.  7-Eleven,” he said.

Still, he said, “We’re working on getting some nice restaurants.  I can’t mention who right now, but we’re not going down-market.  We’re aiming for quality, like Senorita’s.”

When asked whether a factor in his decision would be residents’ preferences, he said no. 

“I think a nail shop is very appropriate.  The demographics will dictate who rents the space,” he said.  “My aim is not to change the town center's demographics, it’s to strengthen the economic base of the community.”

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