Public Forum to Focus on Proposed Community Rec Center

By DONALD WITTKOWSKI Hoping to recover from a rare setback dealt to him by City Council, Mayor Leonard Desiderio will hold a public forum in December to outline his plans for a $20 million community recreation center that is now in limbo. Balking at the cost, Council split 2-2 in October on a vote for a bond ordinance to finance the proposed project. It was far short of the “super majority” of four affirmative votes required to authorize a bond ordinance for the funding package. Council members Jack Gibson and Mary Tighe voted no, while William Kehner and J.B. Feeley supported the proposal. Councilman Frank Edwardi did not attend the meeting, but has since said he supports the plan would have voted yes on the bond ordinance if he had been there. It was one of the few times in recent years that Desiderio was not backed by a unanimous vote by the governing body for one of his projects. In a sign that he is not giving up, Desiderio announced during Tuesday’s Council meeting that the city will hold a community forum to discuss the proposed recreation center in detail with the public. It is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 4, at 10 a.m. at the Sea Isle City Community Lodge “As we’ve done with this project every step of the way, we’ll have the public closely involved,” Desiderio said. For the last two years, city officials have been discussing plans to demolish the former Sea Isle public school at 4501 Park Road to make room for a community recreation center. The deteriorated old school, built in 1971 and closed since 2012, occupies the entire block bordered by Park Road, Central Avenue, 45th Street and 46th Street. The former public school will be demolished to make room for construction of the community recreation center, according to plans. Gibson and Tighe said they support the concept of a new community recreation center at the old school site, but raised objections about the proposed cost. They noted that the estimated price tag had climbed from $15 million to $20 million this year alone. The price increase has been blamed on the rising cost of construction materials during the pandemic. “People are scared of the $20 million price tag,” Tighe said during the October Council meeting. Indicating that he would be willing to reconsider the project at a lower cost, Gibson urged Desiderio in October to revise the plans and return to Council at a later time. Gibson said he wants to see a project that would cost “considerably less than $20 million.” The community forum will go into detail about the proposed cost as well as the tax implications for local homeowners, Desiderio said. Previously, he and senior members of his administration have said the impact on the tax rate from the project is expected to be “minimal.” Plans have been moving slowly in the past two years while Desiderio’s administration worked with an architect to design the project amid questions about the proposed cost, the impact on the tax rate and how much the recreation center would be used by local residents in a town that has a year-round population of about 2,100. Desiderio has repeatedly characterized the project as a much-needed amenity that has broad community support and will serve as one of the city’s centerpieces for decades to come. “At this time, we’re not changing a thing,” he said in an interview Tuesday when asked whether he would consider revising the project in response to Council’s concerns about the cost. Mayor Leonard Desiderio says the project is moving along in "small steps." Desiderio, though, indicated he is willing to work with Council to get the project done. At this time, there is no timetable for construction. “I think we’ll take it one step at a time. We’re taking small steps now,” Desiderio said of moving forward with the project. The building’s proposed design reflects its dual role as a community center and recreation facility. There would be a large gymnasium, indoor walkway and workout space for recreation. The building would also include space that local community groups could use for meetings, events and other activities. Parking would be built underneath the recreation center. The two-story building itself would be constructed above flood levels. The front entrance would face Central Avenue. Kehner suggested that there could be cosmetic changes to the building’s design to make it more palatable to the public. For instance, he would like to see the designs for the back of the building changed from what would essentially be a blank wall overlooking Park Road to something more attractive. “As I’ve said, I’ve had concerns with Park Road having a blank wall. The poor people on Park Road will be looking at a blank wall,” Kehner said in an interview. He said one solution might be to add “false windows” to the building’s Park Road side to break up the blank wall appearance. He also believes that the facade could perhaps have a “V-type” feature incorporated into it to make it more attractive instead of having a square or rectangular design. Some of the windows appear to be damaged on the 46th Street side of the deteriorated school building. In the meantime, the old school building continues to deteriorate while plans are debated for the property. There have been problems with the heating and air-conditioning systems, among other issues. Some of the windows on the 46th Street side appear to be damaged. The school closed in 2012 due to Sea Isle’s declining student population. Desiderio said the old school building currently is not being used. Gibson suggested in October that the city should explore the possibility of refurbishing the old building and using it as a community recreation center. He noted that the old school has never been flooded. However, Desiderio is adamantly opposed to saving the old school. He said the community has been united in wanting to see the school demolished and a new community recreation center built in its place. “That building cannot be renovated. It’s below flood level,” Desiderio said.