Peyton and Me Meandering Through South Jersey (Gloucester City Chapter V)
Sunday, December 06, 2020
William E. Cleary Sr. | CNBNews
(Gloucester City, NJ)(December 7, 2020)--Peyton and I were cleaning out our photo collection and came upon the one above taken in September at dusk at Freedom Pier. Many people living here today have no idea that this area was once used by the federal government to house immigrants coming into our country in the 1940s and later it was a Coast Guard Base until 1990-91 when it was deeded to the city. A century ago it was the home of Billy Thompson, the Duke of Gloucester.
SOME GOOD NEWS -The Tipster who pointed out the dirty restrooms at the Gloucester City marina stopped back at the site a few days after CNBNews published his photos on November 22. He said the toilet was cleaned but the floor in the men's room still needed scrubbing and the trash cans were still overflowing with debris. Some progress is better than none.
MAYBE WE CARE TOO MUCH--We took the photo of this broken solar panel at Baynes and Sparks Avenues on November 11. As of yesterday, Sunday, December 6 it is still in the same condition. We are afraid that during one of the many wind storms we have been having the panel will either fall on a pedestrian or a car passing by. When we first noticed it in November we thought it would be taken care of right away since two City Councilmen, Baile, and Hutchinson, live within a few feet of this hazard. A phone call from one of them to PSEG should be all that is needed to have it repaired or removed right away. Apparently, we were mistaken. Maybe they didn't see it.
NEW BUSINESS--We have been meaning to mention that Gloucester Kitchen, 738 Market Street has opened. Their hours are 9:30 AM to 9 PM Monday through Saturday, closed on Sunday. Hoagies, burgers, cheesesteaks, wraps, Asian Indian food, salads, milkshakes, and desserts. Give them a try, shop local.
COMMUNITY PRIDE BEGINS WITH THE LITTLE THINGS--Six weeks ago we took this photo of trash piled in front of a garage near the intersection of Mercer and Sussex Streets. You would think after nearly a month the city would have cited the owner or have the Public Words Department removed it and charged the owner. Hopefully, Santa Claus won't trip over it when he is making his rounds on Christmas Eve.
MORE GOOD NEWS-At long last the dilapidated house at 804 Essex Street is moving a step closer to demolition or repair, we hope!. One of the signs on the building says it is unfit for habitation. The other papers are copies of the September 3, 2020, Notice of Condemnation Action of the Superior Court Law Division titled City of Gloucester City v HEZLEP, ET AL. The Declaration of Taking set aside the sum of $15,000 in a Trust Fund vesting the City of Gloucester with the possession of the property. A virtual hearing will be conducted on December 8 by the Condemnation Commissioners to determine the fair market of the property. Located directly across from the Collings Road and Essex Street entrance to our great City the building is slated to be demolished very shortly. See below for papers
WHY DO WE HAVE A STREET SWEEPER?--Gloucester City purchased two street sweepers in recent years for hundreds of thousands of dollars but yet many streets do not get cleaned because of cars blocking the sweeper. For example in the 800 and 900 blocks of Monmouth Street two weeks ago on Tuesday, November 24 at least 20 to 25 cars were parked in those two blocks at 10 AM in direct violation of the sweeper law. Several signs in plain sight read No Parking between the hours of 9:30 AM and 11:30 AM. As Peyton and I walked by the cars we looked for parking tickets on the vehicles but saw none.
In a Jeer in 2007 when we first wrote about the street sweeper the city was realizing annual fines of $156,000 from parking citations compared to the period of 2014 to 2018 when the income of annual fines ranged between a low $1,178 and to a high of $1,506. Either do away with the law or enforce it.
Related: CNBNews Opinion: Save Gloucester City Taxpayers Money, Do Away with the Street Sweepers
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Below is paperwork about 804 Essex Street
Click on images to enlarge (CNBNews photos)
RELATED:
Peyton and Me Meandering Through the Streets of South Jersey (Gloucester City, Chapter I)
Peyton and Me Meandering Through the Streets of South Jersey (Brooklawn Chapter II)
Peyton and Me Meandering Through the Streets of South Jersey (Gloucester City Chapter III)
Peyton and Me Meandering through the streets of South Jersey (Gloucester City Chapter IV)
Part One: What is Being Done about the Blight and Housing in Gloucester City?
published Gloucestercitynews.net | October 28, 2020