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Health & Fitness

Post Office Construction-De Luca has it right

Get ready Maplewood, your village is changing. The Post Office is moving and the building is coming down to make way for a new complex, one that could include a larger Kings Supermarket and high end Apartment rentals.

All this has been in the works for decades, beginning in the late 1980's, when the township determined that in order for the village to grow the post office would have to relocate elsewhere when its lease finally expired in 2013.

Engage Maplewood, a local activist group has been out there warning residents that the current Township Committee is perhaps rushing a new project along for reasons other than Maplewood's best interest. An opinion they're entitled to hold but I do not believe their position is completely accurate.

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Mayor Vic De Luca who I believe tends to run the TC like a dictator is making all the final decisions and while this may frighten some, in the case of the post office development, the Mayor is doing it right and that means construction is on its way, perhaps in as little as six months.

I applaud his decision to first and foremost offer kings a larger location, with better loading docks and more warehouse space. The grocery chain has often spoken of a desire to grow from its current Maplewood location. Now, the company will finally get its chance.  I also view the new residents who will rent apartments as a boon for the local village businesses from restaurants to retail. If you think it's tough getting into Arturos now, just wait. It may soon be just about impossible! Also, the current Kings location can hopefully be leased to maybe a CVS. I know I for one would love to see a pharmacy once again in town. Finally, one would imagine a small post office location could take up some space in the former Kings as well, assuming the Post Office is game. 

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There are some negatives of course too, namely the construction issues that will likely make the village an unpleasant, perhaps even an abhorrent  destination for perhaps a year or two but long term I do believe the inconvenience will have been worth it.

Good job sticking to your guns, Mayor De Luca. Let the construction begin!

 

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