Redevelopment Haddon Township’s Aging Infrastructure - Mayor Teauge For the past two years, Haddon Township has continued to make significant progress in restoring our aging infrastructure. Th e town’s infrastructure includes streets, water mains, sewer lines, and storm water mains, which were initially installed in the early 1900’s. Much of our infrastructure has deteriorated, and is at the point where it needs to be repaired. In some areas, the entire system is so outdated that it needs to be replaced completely. Haddon Township’s aging infrastructure has been a major focus of our administration. Together, with the Township Engineer,Greg Fusco, we have prioritized the many infrastructure repairs and replacements that are needed throughout our township and have prepared a five-year plan to meet those goals. One of those areas in need is the Bettlewood section of town. The Bettlewood Sewer Rehabilitation project is expected to begin in early June. We were able to use the current economy to the town’s advantage and obtained a price approximately one million dollars less than expected. Bids were received for the Bettlewood Sewer Rehabilitation project in March. The lowest bidder was Underground Utility Corporation of Linden, New Jersey in the amount of $3,639,690.50. The project will include the replacement of sanitary sewer mains, manholes, and sewer laterals that are approximately 90 years old on East Collingswood Avenue, East Greenwood Avenue, East Oaklyn Avenue, and East Ormond Avenue. In addition to the sanitary sewer pipe replacement, it is necessary to construct a separate pipe system to collect and convey storm water fl ow from roof drains and ground water flow from basement sump pumps that have been documented to be connected to the existing sanitary sewer system. The preconstruction meeting was conducted on May 4, 2009 and it is anticipated that work will begin in early June. The excavation and pipe work will take place throughout the summer and fall months and the final roadway restoration is expected in the spring of 2010. Additional information regarding the project will be distributed to the affected residents in the near future. The Bettlewood Sewer Rehabilitation project is just one of the many steps that we are taking to move our township forward as a thriving, prosperous community. We will continue to keep our residents informed of our progress through notices on Channel19, this newsletter and at www.haddontwp.com. Please feel free to contact me at anytime at 856-854-1176 ext. 4111 or at MayorTeague@HaddonTwp.com ----- Westmont Theatre updated 3-1-09: This project is the subject of litigation between the Westmont Development Group (Pang) and the Township. The Township’s position is that the Westmont Development Group breached the Redevelopment Agreement. Westmont Development Group filed suit against Haddon Township. The Township has filed for Summary Judgment to dismiss the case and we are awaiting a decision by the Judge. Not only is the Township not receiving any tax revenue from this property, but as a result of a lease arrangement signed in 1998, Haddon Township pays approximately $65,000 per year for this property. We will continue to provide updates for these projects on our website and the Press. updated 7-9-08: Westmont Theatre: Preliminary Investigation for Determination of Area in Need of Redevelopment and Redevelopment Plan (PDF 3MB) updated 6-5-08: NOTICE TO HADDON TOWNSHIP RESIDENTS: The Board of Commissioners of the Township of Haddon will entertain public discussion on the Requests for Proposals received for the Westmont Theater Redevelopment Project. This public hearing featuring presentations by the bidders will be held on Monday, June 23, 2008 at 7:00 PM in the Auditorium at the Haddon Township High School, Memorial Avenue, Haddon Township, New Jersey. updated 2-2-08: The Township purchased the Westmont Theatre from Posel Haddon Associates in May 1998 for $280,000.00 during the administration of Bill Park, Nick Laurito and Charles DiPietropolo. However, the Township borrowed significantly more than the purchase price. A total of $700,000 was borrowed in Lease Revenue Bonds from the Camden County Improvement Authority (CCIA) for the acquisition. The remaining funds over and above the purchase price were deposited in a construction trust fund with Commerce Bank acting as trustee. Debt Service payments and fees paid to CCIA and Commerce to date is $546,923.64. (This is the amount paid to date by the taxpayers for the Theater.) The Principal balance due on the Outstanding Bonds is $484,000.00, with annual payments of approximately $65,000 which will continue through November 2018. (Approximately $650,000 remains to be paid for the Theater.) Fieldstone Proposal (4.2MB) The Herman Group Proposal (241K) Retzler Group Proposal (1.2 MB)   Dy-Dee Site updated 7-8-09: Elevation of Building #5 (PDF 1MB) Elevation of Building #6 (PDF 1MB) Haddon Ave. Streetscape Elevation (PDF 1MB) updated 6-29-09: Towne Center Site Plans (PDF 4MB) updated 3-1-09: Environmental investigation is currently proceeding at the site, which is being paid for by grants we aggressively pursued from the State. The environmental investigation at the site has revealed that the Dy-Dee property is not the only contaminated property at the site. Several neighboring industrial properties have also been declared contaminated.  Before construction can begin, the extent of contamination of the site must be investigated in order to prepare a plan for cleanup. Once the cleanup plan is approved by the Department of Environmental Protection, cleanup of the contaminated properties can begin.  The Township is currently in the investigation phase of this process. We have been successful in receiving in excess of $1.4 million to pay for the environmental investigation activities at the site.  In addition, the recent Brownfields Development Area (BDA) designation provides the Township access to up to 75% in grants for the cleanup of the property. The developer will pay the remaining 25% of costs. In the planning stages, Towne Center at Haddon (the project’s formal name) has been recognized as a model for transit village redevelopment by the independent Delaware Valley Smart Growth Alliance. Towne Center has been deemed consistent with New Jersey’s environmental policies and has been designated as a Brownfields Development Area by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. Fifteen of the sixteen properties that make up the site have either been acquired or are under agreement to be acquired.  The only remaining property is located in the center of the site, The property has two tenants, a retail insurance agency and an industrial business which uses the property to park trucks and store materials and equipment for environmental investigations. There is no residential use at this property.      The Township and Fieldstone have offered the tenants the following options to ease this transition: Offered to relocate their offices into the new Towne Center development including special project designs to meet their needs and a phasing plan to avoid disruption of their businesses. Provided opportunities to purchase or lease office space with a similar market value to their existing offices Presented a cash offer of up to $850,000. This figure is almost 60% in excess of the appraised value at that time of $540,000. Unfortunately, these negotiations have not been successful to date. With all but this one property either under agreement or acquired, and almost all of the buildings demolished, Towne Center at Haddon is poised to move forward.  Indeed, many residents have expressed their pleasure at the demolition of the Dy-Dee building and the adjacent properties as they see the longstanding eyesores disappear. Towne Center at Haddon updated 10-07-08: Dy-Dee Project Highlights (PDF 41K) updated 7-23-08: Dy-Dee Wash Redevelopment Study (PDF 8MB) updated 8-1-08: Progress continues on Fieldstone’s Towne Center at Haddon Redevelopment Project. All but one of the parcels required for the project have been acquired through negotiation or are in the final stage of a negotiated purchase. Most recently, agreements were reached on the Ruediger and Hubbard properties. Work continues to acquire the final property. The original Dy-Dee building and three additional buildings have been demolished and additional demolitions are forthcoming. Environmental testing is underway. Once the testing is completed and the extent of contamination is delineated, a Remedial Action Workplan (RAW) will be submitted to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) for their approval. Once the RAW is approved by DEP, the environmental clean-up will begin. A number of the properties within the site are contaminated. The clean-up will take approximately one to two years, then construction will begin. Fieldstone has submitted a site plan for the site, which is currently under engineering review. Fieldstone is expected to present their site plan to the Planning Board within the next couple of months.   Russel Cast Stone Site  updated 3-1-09: The Russell Cast Stone site is located on West Albertson Avenue just off of Haddon Avenue. This former cement facility has been vacant for over ten years. After much discussion with the owners of the site, the Walters Group, a site concept plan was created for approximately eighty-one townhouse style apartments. There will be no eminent domain for this project as the Walters Group owns the entire tract. The Planning Board unanimously approved the Redevelopment Plan for the site and the Mayor and Commissioners adopted the plan this past January. The Walters Group is working on the site-plan for Albertson Village (official name for the project), which is expected to be presented to the Planning Board in the next couple of months. Construction is expected to begin by the end of the year barring any unforeseen circumstances. The project will be constructed utilizing various types of environmentally friendly “green” technologies. Albertson Village updated 7-9-08: Russel Stone Site: Preliminary Investigation for Determination of Area in Need of Redevelopment and Redevelopment Plan (PDF 1MB) updated 2-2-08: The owners of the site, Walters Group,  will be developing a Concept Plan for the site within the next month.    The Pool House/Community Center  updated 6-17-08: Project 540 was a survey completed during the 2002 - 2003 school year by Haddon Township High School students who had a desire to spark improvement in their school and local community. Over 96% of the 640 people surveyed expressed the desire for the township to provide a community center. Students also surveyed suggested locations, populations to serve, and types of activity programming. Additionally they projected building costs and suggestions for revenue through rental. While this study is far from conclusive and may not reflect our present needs, it offers us a starting point for further discussion and investigation. If you have any questions on this project, feel free to contact Mayor Teague at MayorTeague@HaddonTwp.com. Click here to view Powerpoint Presentation of Project 540.