What can we do ?     E-mail these people and let them know how you feel

The City’s web site says, "In 1994 a group of Ventnor residents living in the northeast section of Ventnor City requested that the City Administration respond to their request in regards to quality of life issues that had impacted their neighborhood.

By their own admission it took the Commissioner until 1998, 4 years later before they acted on that request. In July of 1999 Ventnor’s Town Fathers sent there one and only letter to the residents of a 26 block area from Littlerock to Jackson Avenue indicating that they were going to introduce a study completed by Metro Associates on July 22^nd which would prove that area should be declared an area in need of redevelopment.

As I sat in the audience that evening it reminded me of story that a dear friend once told me, "A planner is the guy you give your watch to and he tells you what time it is". That planner clearly told us that the area was too densely populated, there was no air wind and light between the houses and that code enforcement had obviously failed.

Fast forward to July 2001 when a second study and plan was completed by Schoor DePalma and presented to the general public for review and comments. The City points out that in an attempt to further gather input on this redevelopment area, the City of Ventnor formed a group of residents in the area to review the findings of the 2 studies, and offer comments, suggestions, and criticisms of the plan. Not one Commissioner, Planning or Zoning Board member lives in the area. Who better to seek advice from then the residents that actually live there? Unfortunately the planner and Planning Board totally ignored those suggestions from the residents committee.

On September 6^th, 2001 the final plan was presented and passed by the Mayor Kreischer and Commissioners Schaffer and Vesepertinio to an objecting overflow crowd. Many residents walked out of that meeting feeling very uncomfortable with the vision of City officials knocking on their door saying, "Hi, I am from the government and I am here to help you". They felt worse knowing that they stood to lose their homes. Many had lived there for 10, 20, 30 and even one family for over 60 years. And of course the Mayor’s reassuring statement that "We will only use Eminent Domain as a last resort" was anything but assuring.

We learned that evening that there were 17 targeted parcels with over 110 properties and by the planners own admission over 325 families that would be displaced. With only one small possible exception all of those parcels clearly were designated to be torn down, removed or demolished. Rehabilitation had curiously been omitted. Initially many of the residents tried to embrace the idea of redevelopment as something that could be good for the area until it was confirmed that evening that rehabilitation was simply not an option. In very simple language, you will lose your home even if your home is in perfect condition. Too bad, you can’t live there any more but someone else can.

First the residents were introduced to the Alliance Corporation. They were the winning applicant out of a whopping three that showed interest in the redevelopment project as advertised by the City. They started acquiring properties on the open market and then all of a sudden something went radically wrong. Alliance began to renege on contracts with sellers and they failed to pay Real Estate taxes on properties that they had purchased. A number of which were actually sold at tax sale. Since the City leaders became mute on the issue the rumor mill started circulating such as Alliance ran out of money and that the Commissioners started losing faith that Alliance could complete the project alone. Realty showed that properties purchased by Alliance and the City were neglected and one by one became eyesores in the neighborhood. Ultimately some needed to be boarded up as vagrants and druggies started setting up homestead in the vacant buildings. The police had to be called so that the properties could be secured so neighbors did not have to worry about fires being started.

Enter Pulte Homes from Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. Billion dollar builder who was to become the savior of the faltering project. That was June 2004 when Pulte and Alliance held a combined rah rah horse and buggy show in City Hall making everyone feel like "Happy Days Were Here Again" in Ventnor. Redevelopment was here to stay!

That was 16 months ago bringing us to November 2005. The residents in the targeted parcels have not received one single notice of what is happening since June 2004. Not one letter sent since the very legal obligatory first letter that was sent in July 1999. Only rumors continuing to fly, yet still no contract signed with Pulte Homes. From one day till the next we our leaders are quoted in the newspaper as saying the residents will have to fund some of the project, the next day they change and say they won’t. A week passes and the tax payer is once again told via the media that they will have to contribute.

IS THE NORTH EAST SECTION OF VENTNOR REALLY AN AREA IN NEED OF REDEVELOPMENT?

We do not think so! This is not the typical blighted area used to declare an area in need of redevelopment. These homes are not more then a block away from either the Atlantic Ocean or the Bay. The houses that were initially targeted for demolition are now selling for $275,000 to $500,000. Some even higher. Does that really sound like an area in need of redevelopment? Do some of the properties need a little tweaking? Surely some do, but no different then in some other areas of Ventnor. There is nothing that could not be fixed if the Town leaders allowed the owners to participate. When the area was originally declared an area in need of redevelopment there were 3 boarded up vacant buildings. I have lost count now primarily because of the Alliance Corporation and City owned properties. Is the density alleged in this area going to be relieved by 375 condos? Will those 4 or 5 story high condos help with the lack of air, wind and light? Do the long time residents who call this area home need to make way for families that will buy these $400,000 to $500,000 condos? We think not!

THE PERCEPTION OF REDEVELOPMENT

Of course there were mixed emotions within the Community when Redevelopment was first passed but they were pretty much divided by one simple factor, were you going to lose your home or not. Obviously if it was your home being taken then Redevelopment was not a very good idea. Fortunately as time passed and the abuse of Eminent Domain has become a nation wide epidemic the perception has changed. The June 24^th 2005 United States Supreme Court decision opposing homeowners in New London, Connecticut versus Kelo case made everyone realize that anyone can lose their home. Even you!! Blight no longer ruled. Almost any reason could be used. That Supreme Court decision has awakened a sleeping giant, the public. And to many a surprise that it has even awakened our Legislators who realize they need to stop this "Run Away Eminent Domain Train". In the most recent CNN polls showed 95% if the people opposed the use of Eminent Domain for private gain. The people in that 5% are the developers, their lawyers and many local politicians.

WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS PLAN AND WHY DID WE OPPOSE THIS?

Taking peoples homes is WRONG! Period! Rehabilitation was not ever a part of the plan. Demolish and tear down was. Wholesale demolition has never worked. You are tearing the fabric from the heart of the community.

Why couldn’t Ventnor do as the Margate leaders have done? Margate has experienced a boom simply through supply and demand. They used Eminent Domain only one time on a tiny little waterfront parcel. No one was forced to lose their home so some fat cat developer could come to town and make more money at the expense of the residents.

Not one home in the 26 block redevelopment area has been torn down and had a new home built in its place, yet it happens throughout the rest of Ventnor and the rest of the Island. The private marketplace has not been allowed to take part in the redevelopment area.

Our leaders became pigs; they wanted it all their way or nothing. They forgot that there are everyday human beings that live in the homes that they wish to tear down. There are Asians, Hispanics, Indians, Caucasians and African Americans. The typical melting pot our Country was founded on. Have we not forgotten that all of our families have come to this country as immigrants?    

IN CLOSING AND WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT?

Do you remember where you were when the World Trade Center was attacked on 9/11? There is not a doubt in my mind where ever you were you felt the same as most Americans did. You wanted to be with your family, inside the safety and comfort of your own "HOME". It did not matter if your home was worth $75,000 or $400,000 dollars. It was still your "HOME" and you felt safe and secure there. No one and I mean no one should ever be able to take your "HOME" from you. Not the Commissioners nor the Mayor, and especially not some billion dollar developer.

Bottom line, "ABUSE of POWER COMES AS NO SURPRISE" and the Ventnor officials continue to ignore the will of the people. The residents in our Country have been incensed by the audacity of local officials who decide to unilaterally take peoples homes. Terrorism and Weapons of Mass Destruction pale in comparison to the fears residents have of their very own elected officials holding a gun to their heads. What is wrong with this picture? Using Eminent Domain to take peoples homes to give to a developer who will profit through your misfortune is WRONG, WRONG, WRONG.  Can this really happen in AMERICA? The land of the free?

FYI - First,  I trust Richard will not object to my utilizing his redevelopment distribution list. As you may well know, Ventnor's leaders trying to hype their Redevelopment Plan and defend their planned use of Eminent Domain.

Anyhow, after hearing several of them on the various talk shows and hearing of the City-Pulte rally at the Log Cabin, I went back and re-reviewed the originally two documents used to justify the Redevelopment (dated July 1999 and July 2001) and as well the very "limited detail" shown in the Pulte Plan dated 4/23/04. The results and analysis is shown in the attachment (Review of Ventnor Redevelopment Plan V1.1 dated 9-21-05). In addition to the plan review the report suggests several questions Ventnor's leaders should address as well as some minimum requirements for the NJ Legislature to address.

Basically if the City truly felt the goals as originally stated to justify the redevelopment were real and necessary, then the proposed plan would be rejected as it "fails" in meeting almost every goal. Yes there are some 10-15 buildings that cause trouble in this region of Ventnor. Rather than tear down the complete area why do our leaders fail to recognize the fantastic "private" redevelopment already accomplished in Margate without major tear downs and without Margate abandoning its existing zoning codes (Ventnor's plan requires massive zoning changes)? To incent these developers into doing their same magic in Ventnor, the City could provide low interest financing to assist them in privately acquiring the 10-15 buildings needing repair/replacement.

Ventnor Resident