The New Jersey Schools Construction Corporation, which oversees $8.6 billion in school construction, has been experiencing months of financial troubles. But that didn’t stop the SCC from coming together with Acting Gov. Richard Codey and Union City officials on Monday to break ground on the new Emerson High School/athletic complex at the site of the old Roosevelt Stadium on Kennedy Blvd.
The proposed $136 million structure will contain 66 classrooms, an auditorium, and a parking garage, and will have a football stadium on its roof. It will be one of six “demonstration projects” of school construction going on around the state.
Within the next month, the demolition of Union City’s beloved Roosevelt Stadium will begin to make room for the new Emerson.
“Education without question is the cornerstone of New Jersey’s future, and [through this new facility] students will learn the skills they need, so they will be ready to compete in a global market,” said Codey.
Widely known as the Roosevelt Stadium Demonstration Project, the new facility was to be one of nine new schools mandated for the city of Union City by the state. However, due to the financial woes of the SCC, many of these projects have been put on hold. Still going forth in Union City are Elementary School No. 3, which will replace Columbus School, and another middle school set for parking lot site between 35th and 37th streets. In West New York, none of their projects have started yet, but there are a few on the table.
“This was the most unique proposal of any received, and the best prepared,” said Gerald Murphy, chief operating officer for the SCC. “We knew this was number one, and I’m definitely looking forward to seeing a football field on top of the roof.”
Progress
Present at Monday’s ceremony, besides Codey, were Union City Mayor Brian Stack and the Union City Board of Education; Summit Redevelopers, who are developing the project; and Epic Management, the construction firm who will build the school.
“Roosevelt Stadium has been a tremendous mecca here in the city of Union City, and there are so many different memories that we can reflect on,” said Stanley Sanger, superintendent of schools for Union City. “The Union City Board of Education has also had outstanding progress [in education], and this will take us to another level of excellence in Union City.”
The concept behind Union City’s new schools is to make them more community inclusive, which has been widely demonstrated with the completion of their first construction at Jose Marti Middle School, which opened its doors this past September and became the center for many of the town’s cultural events.
The new athletic complex above Emerson High School is hoped to continue this trait. The facility will be the cornerstone of the revitalization efforts of Union City.
“This school is part of [Union City’s] community redevelopment program, which will serve as an educational, social, and recreation center for this community,” said Codey. “Today we are reinvigorating a whole community, and [this project] will be a symbol of progress and pride here in Union City.”
Local and state support
Gov. Codey himself has strong ties to Union City, whether it was playing basketball with his sons over at St. Michael’s Catholic School, or more recently working alongside with local politicians such as Assemblyman and Mayor Brian Stack on the legislative level in Trenton.
“The governor came in at a tough time, but he made sure that Union City received its funding,” said Stack. “He’s a tremendous advocate for education, and for that we are eternally grateful.”
“I think this particular project is an exciting one because its not just a school; it’s a community center,” said Codey.
The new facility will be approximately 425,000 square feet, which will include a unique 4,000-person capacity rooftop athletic field and bleachers.
The school itself will house between 1,400 and 1,700 high school students in 66 classrooms.
The school building will feature health screening and childcare centers; recreational facilities including a 21,000 square foot gymnasium; a performing arts auditorium that seats about 1,000; a 200-space parking garage; and a 12,000 square foot media center.
“The efforts of local, state and education officials in making this groundbreaking a reality have been tireless,” said Stack. “Their dedication ensures a bright future for the next generation of our city’s leaders.”
Demolition
Next up for the project at hand is demolition, which should begin almost immediately. Stack, along with the Board of Commissioners and Board of Education, will be working on making accommodations for the community during the demolition and construction.
“Measures are being taken to try and have the least amount of negative impact on the community,” said Sanger.
Stack has said that temporary fencing will be set up along the perimeter of the site, and police officers will be assigned to the areas to aid in traffic and pedestrian safety.
In addition, since the site will eliminate street parking spaces, residents will be able to use 90 designated parking spaces over at the 26th Street Parking Garage, with its entrance on the North Bergen city line.
“It’s a pathway to a better future for the children of this city,” said Codey.
According to a press release from the SCC, “New Jersey’s six Demonstration Projects are designed as community development initiatives, with schools serving as a community anchor. State and city agencies work cooperatively to provide children with safe, modern classrooms while maximizing urban renewal efforts.”
The SCC also recently broke ground for the Vineland Demonstration Project in June, and other demonstration projects are set for Camden, Trenton, New Brunswick, and East Orange. The Union City Demonstration Project is anticipated to be completed and fully operational for the fall semester of 2008.