11/27/1978 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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. He noted the possibility of increased transients using the property if -- it were a park. He said that is occurinq now and because it would become a park it would not change. Regarding another site (the Franz Bread Company site), he said it was acceptable and had been inaccurately represented. In summary, Mr. Billings said the site was too small, too expensive, people in the neighborhood do not want it, and noted the length of time the property had been in the family. He al so noted he had requested an opportunity to appear before Council in February of 1978, and had been denied that opportunity. Whitney Scobert, 440 Blair Boulevard, owner of the property, said he had been living on the property for 60 years. He cited many of the persons who started the proceedings for the park on the site no longer even lived in the area. He does not want to sell the property. He said in two years, not one neighbor had asked him to sell or had expressed a desire for a park there. He asked Council to abondon its plans for a park on this site, as he believed that to be the best interest of the neighborhood and the City. C. Guy Scobert, 190 Thomas Street, Bloomfield, New Jersey, was co-owner of the property with Mr. Whitney Scobert. He said the property is not for sal e. The land had been purchased by his family in 1919 and had been a family home since that time. He fel t it unfair that the City or any person has the right to take this property from Mr. Scobert who makes his home there. Consideration of the length of time the family has owned the property should be given and the amount of money Mr. Scobert might get from the property should be left to him. He - should have the right to determine how he wants to use it. He requested the Council give the appeal a thorough study and arrive at a just decision. Dale Scobert, 440 Blair, said the decision for the park was made by the Whiteaker Community Council, a small group of political activists. He said the people who live in the immediate neighborhood do not want the park. He said it would be necessary, if it were made into a park, for the trees existing on the property to be taken down as they would be too expensive to maintain. Terry Newton, 1100 West 4th, addressed the issue of no other parks being accessible. He said only four blocks east is the Washington/ Jefferson Street park, and noted the Monroe and 9th Street park available for use. Jo Lu Roberts, 267 Polk, said most of the people who live in the neighborhood are older and there are not that many children who would need a park to play in. Those who do live in the area can go to parks already close by. She noted the American dream of an individual to own his own land and to do with it as he wished. She felt it against that dream to have the City take the property away from Mr.Scobert. Bernard Conklin, 2345 North 5th, was a 15-year resident of the area. He was not in favor of the park site and further wanted another e plan to stabilize the neighbohood. 11/27-78--9 ...,5.