“I think everybody just has to be a little creative,” says Guttenberg Mayor Gerald Drasheff, sitting in a crowded coffee shop. He knows that in order to increase development in an almost entirely developed dense town, creativity is necessary.
A tough question is weighing on his mind: with few vacant lots and limited resources in a tough economy, how can he encourage further development in Guttenberg?
Anna L. Klein Elementary – the sole grade school in town – is overcrowded, and in need of additional classrooms that could house more children. Meanwhile, the mayor looks to add a recreation center, as well as adding more residences to the jam-packed waterfront municipality.
“We’re a very small town,” said Drasheff. “We’re totally built out. There’s not a lot of room to expand.”
“To me, Bergenline Avenue is a prime area that’s not being fully utilized.” – Gerald Drasheff
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A joint endeavor
Perhaps Drasheff’s most valiant effort is a proposed recreation center on which the town and school board will collaborate. Drasheff says that he has been negotiating with the school board to build it directly behind the Klein school. Three vacant lots currently exist; one is owned by the town, and the others are owned by the school.
“We’ve been working for about five years on that, trying to reach an agreement,” said Drasheff.
According to Drasheff, the building, complete with a gymnasium, would have 13 “community rooms” that would serve as classrooms for the kids when school is in session. After school hours, the building would serve as a recreation and community center.
With new facilities, the existing gymnasium could be converted into a media library with the possibility of adding new offices for the school. This, in turn, would create new classroom space within the school.
“We finally reached an agreement on conceptually how to get it done,” said Drasheff, adding that two agreements were drafted.
Part of the problem, however, is that the town and the Board of Education have larger government agencies overseeing each particular entity.
“We have to make sure that both of those agencies are comfortable with what we’re proposing,” said Drasheff.
Drasheff mentioned that the current plan is for the town to own the building, with the school afforded the right to use it, in its entirety, during the day.
Drasheff said the governor’s office apparently is unsure whether it can give funding – an estimated $3.7 million – toward construction that will be used, but not owned, by the school. On the other hand, if the school were to own the building, the town would be unable to borrow some of the money from the state if the building is not owned by Guttenberg.
“They [the state] generally don’t give school development money for a building that will not owned by the school,” said Drasheff. “It’s a bit frustrating to me as a mayor. When you try to do something like this, you get caught up in the buzzsaw of the bureaucracy of the different state agencies.”
“I operate on the theory that it all comes out of the same wallet,” added Drasheff. “We’re ready to move forward.”
Building up
Drasheff stated that another of his long-term plans is his redevelopment plan.
“It’s another big thing on my radar screen,” said Drasheff. “The east and west borders of the town were rezoned so that you could build midrise buildings between 15 and 20 stories. What I want to do is encourage some developers to come in and take a look at the town.”
In a redevelopment zone, the town can come up with a development plan and request bids, then choose a developer.
Drasheff also said Bergenline Avenue was rezoned to encourage the one-story retail shops to be converted into four or five-story buildings that could house both a shop and several levels of apartments.
“To me, Bergenline Avenue is a prime area that’s not being fully utilized,” said Drasheff, adding that he and the council will attempt to further the redevelopment process over the next year.
“There’s potential in this town,” he said.
Plans for the new year
Separate from the waterfront park and redevelopment, Drasheff said that his plans for the new year focus on both senior citizens and the children of Guttenberg.
Drasheff said the town has been organizing senior trips to winter concerts at Lincoln Harbor in Weehawken.
“It’s a nice day out for everybody,” he adds. “We want to do more of it. We’re looking to do some things in town on a weekend.”
Drasheff mentioned that he is considering holding a weekend social for seniors to enjoy coffee and donuts.
“Right now we don’t have a place to do that,” said Drasheff. “We’d have to come up with one.”
According to Drasheff, the town is also planning to further expand the recreation program. Last year, the girls’ softball team was expanded from four to six teams, and a travel team was added. The Mayor’s Trophy game, a friendly competition between North Bergen and Guttenberg’s teams, was also reinstated after years of dormancy. In 2012, the mayor plans to continue to institute more winter programs for the girls, including a pitching clinic next week in a North Bergen facility.
“We have many weaknesses in our pitching,” said Drasheff. “And in fairness to North Bergen, they’re letting us use their facility even though we compete with them.”
“It’s good sportsmanship on everybody’s part,” added Drasheff.
Drasheff also mentioned that the softball field in North Hudson Braddock Park was also recently renovated.
“Looking forward. I think we’re positioned to do some good things over the next couple of years,” he said. “I think 2012 is going to be especially good as we see the projects we’ve been talking about for a long time start to become something more.”
Stephen LaMarca may be reached at slamarca@hudsonreporter.com.