EDISON – A $29.8 million capital improvement bond ordinance, which included more than $5 million to acquire the Jade Dynasty restaurant property on Amboy Avenue, which is $3 million more than the current property sale price, was scrapped by the Township Council.
No reason was announced for removing the ordinance from the agenda and it's unclear if the bond ordinance, which also includes funding for many other projects, will be introduced at a future meeting.
The council's decision on Wednesday not to introduce the ordinance comes two days after the planned acquisition sparked controversy because the commercial property at 925 Amboy Ave., in the Clara Barton section of town, is listed for sale at $2.2 million. The website The Real Estate Book lists Joseph Coyle, a township councilman, as the property's listing agent.
![https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=02KDQA_0swU1A6P00](https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&url=02KDQA_0swU1A6P00)
Business Administrator Sonia Alves-Viveiros said the 3,500-square-foot building on a .65 acre site with about 50 parking spaces is being considered for conversion into a community center, at residents’ request.
Clara Barton residents have repeatedly called for the town to ban four-story high-density developments along Amboy Avenue, especially on sites like the Jade Dynasty and the former Stewart's restaurant properties near the New Jersey Turnpike. The residents are looking to preserve the existing character of their neighborhood.
Alves-Viveiros said the $5 million was for the acquisition, renovation, furniture and fixtures.
"You're going to buy it for $2 million and then you are going to build something for $2 million. Can you tell me what you have built here in this township for $2 million?" Councilman Richard Brescher asked.
Alves-Viveiros said she understands there would be improvements to the existing building.
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Brescher, who has dined at the restaurant, said you wouldn't be able to play basketball in the existing one-story building, but maybe badminton.
"This is the silliest idea," Brescher said.
On Monday night Alves-Viveiros explained that besides the $5 million for Jade Dynasty property, the $29.8 million bond ordinance also included more than $1 million for various police and public safety equipment and projects such as an addition to the police garage and $1 million for the acquisition of a new fire engine to replace a more than 15-year-old vehicle.
Also included in the bond ordinance was $6.5 million for the engineering department to cover all the township road paving and resurfacing work; $250,000 for drainage and stormwater work as well as more than $500,000 for design, procurement and installation of solar powered feedback signs at Brotherhood, Ethel, Old Post Boulevard and McKinley streets; $250,000 for various road striping projects throughout the township and $150,000 for the design, construction and installation of pedestrian flashing beacon system at Old Post Road and the Boulevard of Eagles.
The bond also included $4.3 million for the public works department to acquire vehicles and equipment such as dump trucks, backhoes, paving and salt spreading equipment, tree removal vehicles, trailers and other mobile equipment. Alves-Viveiros said a lot of the existing equipment is about 20 to 30 years old.
The bond ordinance also included $1.5 million for various building improvements and renovations, construction, repairs, lighting alarm and HVAC systems for various buildings; $5 million for various improvements to the town's 36 parks including renovations and improvements to park facilities and $1.6 million for the installation of fuel tanks and related systems at one of the garages.
There was also $355,000 for the purchase of recreation department vehicles and equipment; $50,000 for the purchase of various equipment in the purchasing department including a new postage machine; $300,000 for the technology department to acquire and install network infrastructure components, switches and upgrade telecommunications systems and $2.1 million for professional services.
If approved the bond ordinance would have added $28 million to the township's nearly $200 million debt, township officials said
The council also removed from the agenda a $1.4 million bond ordinance for improvements to the solid waste collection district.
Email: srussell@gannettnj.com
Suzanne Russell is a breaking news reporter for MyCentralJersey.com covering crime, courts and other mayhem. To get unlimited access, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: Edison looks to purchase commercial property listed by township councilman
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