The Weehawken Elks Lodge, located on Boulevard East for more than seven decades, suffered severe water damage due to flooding three months ago, causing the facility to shut its doors to its 250 members for an undetermined amount of time, and forcing officials to wonder about the club’s future.
According to current member and past Exalted Ruler Dominic Facchini, the Elks Club suffered damage due to a broken pipe, a flood that went undetected for several hours, but eventually caused extensive damage to the existing walls, floors and facilities throughout the 70-year-old facility.
"The damage was pretty extensive," Facchini said. "Every ceiling and floor was damaged. To fix all of that and bring it up to the specific codes and standards would be very difficult. We have to be sure to meet those standards."
The three-story structure was so damaged that initial estimates to repair the facility were set at approximately $700,000, a total that the membership doesn’t have. Insurance will cover about $100,000 of the costs for repair.
The club’s finances are a cause for concern among the members, who think the Elks may never open its doors again.
Facchini said that those fears should be alleviated.
"I think there’s a silver lining in every cloud," Facchini said. "Now, we have been given an opportunity to retrofit the building and bring it back better than it ever was. We have the chance to make it even a nicer place."
Some members have suggested the idea of getting a new mortgage on the facility to secure the necessary funding for repairs and open again as soon as possible.
"We had some experts come in to assess the damage and see where we can go," Facchini said. "I can’t speak for all the members, but the past exalted rulers got together and met to discuss the possibilities how to bring it back."
The lodge sits on a prime piece of real estate on Boulevard East, with a fine view of the Manhattan skyline. If the Elks were to close permanently, the estimated real estate value would be $2 to $3 million. A bank would likely give the Elks a mortgage because of the property value.
The township’s Elks have been currently holding their monthly meetings at the Cliffside Park Elks Lodge. At their next meeting Wednesday night, they will discuss further opportunities and options.
"We haven’t been able to have our regular fundraising events," Facchini said. "But we’re trying to get back into the swing of things as best as possible."
One fundraiser will be the Elks’ annual Press Night festivity, which has been tentatively scheduled for Oct. 29 at a location to be determined.
"I think this will eventually bring our members closer together," Facchini said. "We’ll have all our past and future members come back and help out. It will be our way of bringing our brothers back and perhaps make them want to come back."
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