By DONALD WITTKOWSKI
Sea Isle City has taken the first step for the demolition of the former public school building that has been part of the community for the past 50 years.
As a prelude to demolition, the city is seeking bids from contractors to remove the asbestos insulation used in the building’s construction in 1971. In the 1970s, asbestos was a common construction material before it was widely known to cause cancer.
The former school site at 4105 Park Road will be redeveloped for the city’s proposed $20 million community recreation center, a project that is expected to be a public centerpiece in Sea Isle for decades to come.
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.
“The city is looking forward to all of the events and programs we plan to have in this project,” Sea Isle spokeswoman Katherine Custer said.
Parking will be built both underneath the community center and next to it at ground level. The building itself will be constructed above flood levels to protect it from coastal storms.
The community center will occupy the block bordered by Park Road, Central Avenue, 45th Street and 46th Street. But first, asbestos must be removed from the old school to allow the building to be torn down. City Council authorized going out to bid for the asbestos work during its meeting on May 24.
“This is the first step in the ultimate demolition of that building, in advance of construction of the new community center,” Mayor Leonard Desiderio said in a statement.
The school closed in 2012 due to Sea Isle’s declining student population and is currently not being used. It is showing signs of deterioration.
It is not yet clear how long it will take to complete the asbestos removal. The city still must award the contract before it consults with the asbestos removal company about the timetable for the work.
“When the bid is awarded for asbestos abatement, we will know then how long it will take to complete that part of the project,” Custer said in an interview Friday.
In the latest tentative timetable for the project, the city hopes to demolish the old school and start construction on the community center in the fall, Custer said.
Construction is expected to take about 18 months to 24 months to complete, which would put the grand opening sometime in 2024.
“We want to keep this project moving. We are excited about the future of this project,” Custer said. “As time passes, the excitement level seems to be increasing. Many people have told me how excited they are to see this project come to fruition.”
At the same time, the city does not want to rush its plans for the community center, Custer noted. She said the mayor has been methodical in his approach toward the project to make sure “it is done properly.
City Council gave its approval for the community center by approving the funding for the project earlier in the year. Public bonds will pay for the demolition of the old school and construction of the community center.
City officials say the community center would have only a “minimal impact” on local taxes. Leon Costello, the city auditor, has estimated the project would cause local taxes to increase about $90 annually on a home assessed at $1 million.
The city’s architect and engineer are working on the final designs for the project. Preliminary architectural renderings unveiled last year depict a two-story building dominated by a glossy facade and accented by plenty of landscaping. The front entrance will overlook Central Avenue.
City officials say they want to have an attractive building that blends into the neighborhood and does not look “institutional.”
