A photo taken in January 2023 shows the front of the school before a demolition fence was erected around the site.
By DONALD WITTKOWSKI
By the end of January, a construction fence is expected to be erected around Sea Isle City’s former public school.
By early February, demolition crews will descend on the site at 4501 Park Road to begin tearing down the 52-year-old building.
And by March, the old school will be no more.
Sea Isle officials say that is the schedule for demolishing the squat, aesthetically challenged building that served as the city’s public school from 1971 to 2012.
Culminating years of planning and discussion, the city will finally tear down the old school to make way for development of a proposed $20 million community recreation center expected to open in 2025.
As it awaits the wrecking ball, the deteriorated building that features an odd blend of mixed architectural styles remains closed, with “No Trespassing” signs posted at the front entrance.
Katherine Custer, city spokeswoman, said a construction fence is scheduled to be placed around the building on Jan. 31 to seal off access to the site before demolition work begins.
The demolition contractor, R.E. Pierson Construction Co. Inc., of Pilesgrove, N.J., will mobilize its equipment on the site by the end of January and begin to tear down the building in the first week of February.
Then by March, “it should be done,” City Business Administrator George Savastano said.
Savastano announced the timetable for the demolition work during City Council’s meeting on Jan. 10.
The old school remains empty while awaiting demolition.
Sea Isle has awarded R.E. Pierson Construction a $354,900 contract for the job. The company has experience demolishing much larger landmarks, including the Sands Casino Hotel in Atlantic City, Virtua Hospital in Voorhees, N.J., and the Goethals Bridge in Elizabeth, N.J.
For the old school, its demolition will end a half-century of Sea Isle history. The school opened in 1971, but closed in 2012 due to the city’s declining student population.
In its place, the city will build a new two-story community center featuring a glossy facade. Sea Isle officials say the building will include attractive architecture to blend in with the rest of the neighborhood.
The recreation center will occupy the block between Park Road, Central Avenue, 45th Street and 46th Street. The front entrance will overlook Central Avenue.
The building’s proposed design reflects its dual role as a community center and recreation facility. There will be a large gymnasium, indoor walkway and workout space for recreation. The building will also include space that local community groups could use for meetings, events and other activities.
Savastano explained that the project will be done in two phases. First, mounds of dirt will be piled on the site for a few months to go through a process known as “surcharging,” which will allow the soil to become compact enough for the community center to be built on top of it without settling.
The second phase will consist of constructing the community center itself. Savastano anticipates construction will begin by late spring or early summer.
Construction is expected to take about 20 months to complete, a schedule that would put the grand opening in early 2025.
An artist's rendering depicts the community recreation center. (Courtesy of Sea Isle City)
