FROM THE COURIER NEWS (Gannett Co., Inc.)
September 24, 2006
By CHAD HEMENWAY
Staff Writer
SOUTH BOUND BROOK -- The idea is to be able to eat, run errands and even pay a tax bill all within walking distance.
"Basically, we want people to be able to walk up and down Main Street and be able to get whatever they need while seeing the people who work in town regularly," Borough Administrator Donald Kazar said. "I think it's a great way for everyone to get to know and care about each other and the town."
South Bound Brook's centralized town center concept also includes a new Borough Hall and borough garage. Plans are now being discussed, and space requirements for each borough department are being gathered to draw up the best blueprint, Kazar said.
SSP Architectural Group in Somerville already has given the borough preliminary plans for a borough garage that would house all of South Bound Brook's equipment and vehicles, such as or garbage trucks and street sweepers, under one roof.
"Right now, we have trucks scattered all over town wherever we can find space for them," Kazar said.
The current borough garage is at the end of Washington Street -- in a flood zone. It suffered heavy damage during Hurricane Floyd but, besides that, the building is simply too small and outdated, Kazar said.
"We would rather get them out of the flood zone than keep them there, but it would also be nice just to have them right in the middle of town," Kazar said.
The proposed new location can be seen from Elm Street, behind the Melick-Tully Building on Canal Road. The borough bonded to buy the structure -- that has housed an electric contractor and even a bowling alley -- for $600,000.
Plans are to demolish it and construct a two-story building, Kazar said. The first floor will hold all the trucks and the second will have a 50-by-40-foot community room, a kitchen, offices and bathrooms, Kazar said.
"Getting cost estimates is the next phase," Kazar said.
But plans for the new Borough Hall are still being discussed, though Kazar has a hand-drawn concept that includes much-needed space for borough administrators, offices and police.
Currently, these services are squeezed into a converted Colonial home, which may or may not be demolished if a new Borough Hall is constructed next store. The borough has bonded to buy the building next to the current Borough Hall for another $600,000, Kazar said. The structure currently holds a deli and an automobile repair business, and the owners have been told about the plans, Kazar said.