A Fort Lee developer has purchased a strip of land at the site of the famed Sokol Hall in Guttenberg and plans to build an 11-story, 72-unit senior citizen complex at the site. According to records filed at Guttenberg Town Hall, Joseph Alpert, of Alpert & Alpert Developers, Inc., has purchased the land on 70th Street between Broadway and Park Avenue and has submitted an initial plan to build a senior citizen complex there. Alpert & Alpert is a development group that has built several other senior citizen complexes throughout northern New Jersey, including one that was approved in North Bergen two months ago. When reached at his office last week, Alpert refused to comment on either the land purchase or the proposed senior complex. “I won’t comment until at least April, when we get further along in the project,” Alpert said. The proposed complex would feature 71 one-bedroom apartments, one apartment for a live-in building superintendent, a laundry room and a community meeting room. In the building application, Alpert stated that he plans to have “affordable housing units strictly for needy senior citizens.” The initial plans call for the demolition of Sokol Hall, a long-time landmark in Guttenberg that has been the home for countless parties and social gatherings for nearly 70 years. It will also call for the demolition of a two-family home next door to Sokol Hall, which was also purchased by Alpert in the initial deal. According to township records, Alpert bought Sokol Hall for $270,000 and the private home for $180,000. Those contracts are valid until July 31, which means Alpert has until that time to secure the financing and funding needed to build the senior complex. Much like he did with the North Bergen senior complex, which is set to open by July, 2001, Alpert already has secured the services of Fleet Bank as a limited partner and the primary mortgage company. However, Alpert will more than likely approach the state Department of Community Affairs for funding, as well as Hudson County for possible grants to complete the project. Both agencies have come through with money before, giving Alpert the go-ahead to build the North Bergen complex. The project in Guttenberg initially appears to be a financial windfall for the tiny town, which stands to be able to add $9 million in tax ratables by the development. The town has been saddled with higher taxes and no opportunity for new development in recent years. Up in arms However, some of the residents of the area are up in arms about the development, because it appears that it will make a horrible parking situation even worse. “We have no place to park now,” said Anthony Alfieri, a resident for more than 40 years. “It’s going to make it impossible to park. I don’t want to see it happen even if it means more housing for seniors. Most of the seniors in Guttenberg are long-time residents who own their own homes now. Why would we need this?” An elderly woman who didn’t want to give her name echoed Alfieri’s thoughts. “When my son comes home from work at night, he has to drive around and around looking for a parking spot,” said the woman, who said she has lived in the neighborhood of Sokol Hall for 30 years. “He can’t find a place to park. This will make things tougher. I don’t like it. It doesn’t make sense.” Guttenberg Mayor Robert Sabello could not reached for comment. Alpert will appear Wednesday night, March 15, to face questions and comments about the proposed project during the regularly-scheduled meeting of the Planning and Zoning Board at Town Hall, beginning at 7:30 p.m.
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