BY MICHAEL OLOHAN
OF NORTHERN VALLEY PRESS
ENGLEWOOD, N.J. —– While one councilman leaving office this year charged that the Russell C. Major Liberty School is falling apart and a request for proposals (RFP) to develop the property must be issued soon, a former Englewood mayor and a resident called for preserving the building as an arts and community center at the Oct. 17 City Council meeting.
Third Ward Councilman Eugene Skurnick, leaving office Dec. 31, previously called for the school to be developed into residential housing units earlier this year while in August another ad hoc group called for the city-owned school to be turned into an arts and community center.
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In September, the City Council authorized the Planning Board to look into declaring the property “an area in need of redevelopment.” A consultant was scheduled to update the board at the Oct. 26 meeting, said member David Maron via email Oct. 23.
“This is a building that virtually no one is using. It is falling apart. We need to move on an RFP ASAP. It should not be delayed,” said Skurnick on Oct. 17.
Earlier, in January, Skurnick said he was working with colleagues to prepare a request for proposals to solicit proposals to turn the school into residential housing.
At that time, he indicated the potential for some units reserved for seniors, and basement space for use by seniors or a nursery school. That proposal is on hold.
Meanwhile Mayor Frank Huttle previously proposed turning the school into an age-friendly facility as well as finding a permanent home for the four recreation department employees currently housed there.
Council members have discussed the fate of Liberty School since January when Skurnick proposed housing there. The city purchased the school along with Lincoln School in 2003 for $11.5 million. Liberty School houses the city’s parks and recreation department.
“Liberty School must be redeveloped this year,” said Skurnick, repeating his previous comment to the council made in March 2017 prior to a budget hearing.
However, during the public comment period, Skurnick’s plea to move on an RFP for development of the Liberty School was met with resistance.
“This is not only an architectural gem but it’s going to keep us from all the development we have in the fourth ward,” said Harry Danner, Hillside Avenue. He said one woman has created an online petition that has more than 500 signatures to preserve Liberty School.
“We’ve been building, building, building here and my taxes have never been affected downward because of the ratables,” he said. “We’ve got to get with the program for the Liberty School. We’ve got to save the Liberty School,” said Danner.
Former Mayor Sondra Greenberg said the building should be used for all kinds of arts, cooking, film and drama programs.
“This is the last building that we have and I completely agree that by giving this up and not having it … we will figure out how to get the money. It is about time we have something special going on in this city. I am so tired of looking at residential developments,” said Greenberg.
Skurnick said a study exists to declare Liberty School “an area in need of redevelopment…now it appears all of a suddent there’s a slowdown. That was a requirement before we could issue an RFP for the school,” he said.
“We should authorize the issuance of the framework of an RFP and put in all the little nice things that we want, whether it’s saving a wall or doing whatever, “ he said. “Englewood is in poor financial shape. We are delaying development, we are delaying changes. Our debt service is way too high,” he charged.
He said “developing Liberty School is not going to be the panacea but we are still paying the interest from 2003. It’s 2017, 14 years that that building is done with.”
“We need to get that thing going,” said Skurnick, who urged the council “to move on that RFP and stop obstructing.”
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In mid-August, an ad hoc organization called the Liberty Group, chaired by Michael Shannon, a member of BergenPAC’s board of directors, said it wants to assist the city to find the best use for Liberty School and its property.
Photo courtesy Google Maps/Google Earth