Empty Properties: They're Everywhere

[400SOAVE]

I've been posting here for a long time that there are empty properties all over the place in NJ. Many have been around for years and decades.

This article from today's record details many examples:

http://www.northjersey.com/news/bus...ook-to-reinvent-themselves-1.1440856?page=all

Note that the article states that towns do not want apartment buildings because of the burden it puts on the school budget. That's exactly what I said a few days ago. A dorm for students does not burden the local school budget.

While the properties mentioned in the article are too far away from SHU, there are many others within a very reasonable 15-minute drive from campus. After all, many campuses around the nation are so big, it takes that long to get from your dorm to your class.

A&P is trying to sell it's properties. Two-thirds of the stores did not even get a bidder at an auction earlier this month.

Everything from dorms to indoor practice facilities would enhance the experience for students. I know anybody can post any crazy idea here, but when there's a problem you find a solution. At least it's interesting to discuss.

 

[Pirate64]

Good thinking. Any idea is a good one and it could be a fragment to build on.
A far fetched thought I had a few years back: Move the campus to Ft Monmouth. Mentioned it to Dr E. - obviously it did not go anywhere but the University is open to all ideas.
New thinking is the only way to grow.

 

[SHUisNJsTeam]

Good thinking. Any idea is a good one and it could be a fragment to build on.
A far fetched thought I had a few years back: Move the campus to Ft Monmouth. Mentioned it to Dr E. - obviously it did not go anywhere but the University is open to all ideas.
New thinking is the only way to grow.

Being an archdiocesean university there is really no way in hell the university would pick up and move out of the archdiocese.

 

[SHUisNJsTeam]

I've been posting here for a long time that there are empty properties all over the place in NJ. Many have been around for years and decades.

This article from today's record details many examples:

http://www.northjersey.com/news/bus...ook-to-reinvent-themselves-1.1440856?page=all

Note that the article states that towns do not want apartment buildings because of the burden it puts on the school budget. That's exactly what I said a few days ago. A dorm for students does not burden the local school budget.

While the properties mentioned in the article are too far away from SHU, there are many others within a very reasonable 15-minute drive from campus. After all, many campuses around the nation are so big, it takes that long to get from your dorm to your class.

A&P is trying to sell it's properties. Two-thirds of the stores did not even get a bidder at an auction earlier this month.

Everything from dorms to indoor practice facilities would enhance the experience for students. I know anybody can post any crazy idea here, but when there's a problem you find a solution. At least it's interesting to discuss.

It's really too bad that the village of South Orange does absolutely nothing to embrace the university. I had high hopes with the new village president being a two time alum and former SGA president that things would change for the better for Seton Hall as far as village relations are concerned but that doesn't seem to be the case. The village seemingly wants nothing to do with anything that would benefit the university. As usual, they are only concerned with themselves. It would be great if SHU could acquire land nearby in Newark in order to expand and do what we need to do.

Has the university ever considered giving the village an ultimatum when they don't want to play nice? SHU should really tell them you either let us do what we want or no more pilots will be paid!

 

[400SOAVE]

According to the linked article, SHU voluntarily paid South Orange $428,657.71 in 2014.

Tell SO they will not be getting another cent.

I would look to contract with Newark to use the nearest fire house. I'm sure that fire house can use an extra $100-150K per year to respond the SHU.

Engine 26, Ladder 12 is located one mile (four minutes for a regular vehicle and probably about two-three minutes via lights and sirens) from campus at 420 Sanford Ave.

SHU can use the rest of money to hire extra security to patrol around the school and the perimeter. I'm not sure the local authorities are doing the job. And stop hiring SO cops to work at SHU events.

Somehow, SHU needs to send a message that the school will not be mistreated.

http://villagegreennj.com/schools-kids/number-day-428657-71/

 

[hallgrad80]

In situations like Seton Hall is facing with South Orange, which is not unique by the way, there are generally four options available:
1. Move and the time to do so is long past;
2. Try to reach a fair compromise which doesn't ever seem likely;
3. Maintain the status quo ; or
4. Hire a "junk yard dog" litigator and go to war with South Orange. This option , which is used as a last resort , only works if the facts are in your favor , you're proceeding on sound legal grounds and you have a high probability of prevailing on the merits.

I would only say that SH under Dr.Esteban is experiencing a rebirth and has gained momentum and is moving forward on a number of fronts and to continue to grow it needs to solve the problems that it's facing caused by its lack of space on campus .

 

[Vegas pj]

Being an archdiocesean university there is really no way in heaven the university would pick up and move out of the archdiocese.

I made your post politically correct since you're referring to the church. lol

 

[TrueBlue1989]

Being an archdiocesean university there is really no way in hell the university would pick up and move out of the archdiocese.

There is no way that the University will leave south Orange as the investment in plant must be at least $1B to replicate. The University has spent well over $100mm in the past 5 years just to update its plant.

 

[Shuathelete]

Perhaps we need the hipsters to move in

 

[jcalz88]

Perhaps we need the hipsters to move in

That or Canadians...

 

[400SOAVE]

Just for fun, how much money do you think SHU can get for selling the campus?

Are there any experts out there?

My dream scenario is that a billionaire donates land and $1 billion-plus to SHU, and SHU donates the land for Section 8 housing. You always want to leave a parting gift for your old neighbors.

 

[SHUisNJsTeam]

There is no way that the University will leave south Orange as the investment in plant must be at least $1B to replicate. The University has spent well over $100mm in the past 5 years just to update its plant.

I in no way meant SHU should leave South Orange! Pirate64 suggested that we move the university to the shore and that just ain't happening! Honestly, SHU should buy back all of the property they sold off and then some! Selling all of that land was penny wise and pound foolish. What they should have done back then was put a clause in the deed that said anyone whoever owned the property as long as Seton Hall remained within the borders of South Orange would not be able to dispute any variance sought by the university.

Too bad we can't just become part of Newark. I'm sure they would appreciate the pilots we pay as well! The Village of South Orange hinders their own success. We shouldn't let them hinder ours!

 

[Pirate64]

We once had a campus in Patterson. That is not in the Archdiocese of Newark. My Ft Monmouth idea was just that-I didn't think it would go anywhere but it's idea fragments like this that sometimes spark more feasible ones.
You've got to start "what if" thinking somewhere and then build on it.

 

[TomD82]

The empty building and land in Upper Saddle River, NJ where Pearson Education was located would be perfect. Seriously, does anyone really think the University is going to
relocate to somewhere like Monmouth or Bergen County?

Upper Saddle River does not want apartments on the site above and Felician College purchased the old FDU Rutherford campus where Rutherford did not want housing built there. Lodi and Rutherford makes some sense especially when you are land locked there.

 

[Vegas pj]

I still remember in the fall of 1963 driving by the campus late at night for my campus visit and seeing the lights from the Ivy Hill Apartments. I commented to.my dad that SH had dorms just like the ones I stayed in at Indiana and Nebraska (sporting events during prior summer). To say the least, I was surprised to learn the next day that Boland Hall was the only dorm. Wound up off campus with a family in Maplewood as a frosh, living in the wrestling coaches basement as a soph and 2 years in an apartment on Sanford Ave. Great times!