NJ DEP concluded its summer dig of an old cemetery in Montclair, and has given the Board of Ed a green light to build a new elementary school on Washington Street.
Months of archaeological investigation on the proposed building site for a 550-student school has had the project on hold. The dig revealed some human remains, bone fragments and artifacts. From The Star Ledger:
The dig at two former church-associated cemeteries, undertaken in June and July, determined that the "archaeological integrity" of the sites had been lost, making them ineligible for historic designation. In short, the long-delayed work could begin.The go-ahead means demolition should begin soon on the circa 1926 YMCA, known as the "colored Y" in the days of segregation, as well as the long-vacant St. Vincent's Nursing Home and Mother Seton Residence.
"We have given the board of education the okay ... provided they take steps to ensure adequate monitoring of the site, archaeological monitoring," said Darlene Yuhas, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Environmental Protection.
Digg
Delicious
StumbleUpon
Facebook
Twitter
Email
Comments (9)
When they were digging, did they find the $1MM insurance rebate check?
Are we now going to be regaled with stories of hauntings and weird happenings in years to come?
Ezekiel cried them dry bones.
Ezekiel cried them dry bones.
Ezekiel cried them dry bones.
Now hear the word of the Lord.
Ezekiel connected them dry bones.
Ezekiel connected them dry bones.
Ezekiel connected them dry bones.
Now hear the word of the Lord.
Your toe bone connected to your foot bone.
Your foot bone connected to your ankle bone.
Your ankle bone connected to your leg bone.
Your leg bone connected to your thigh bone.
Your thigh bone connected to your hip bone.
Your hip bone connected to your back bone.
Your back bone connected to your shoulder bone.
Your shoulder bone connected to your neck bone.
Your neck bone connected to your head bone.
Now hear the word of the Lord.
Them bones gonna walk around.
Them bones gonna walk around.
Them bones gonna walk around.
Now hear the word of the Lord.
Are we now going to be regaled with stories of hauntings and weird happenings in years to come?
I'm sure no one is going to go to a Halloween party at this school!
So the BOE has decided to start this project.
They've been approved $35M in funds for the project. Problem? Frank Alvarez has stated it will take $45M to complete the project.
Any chance they are going to start knowing they don't have the funds to finish and then beg for more to finish the 1/2 completed school? I mean, at that point, what good is a 1/2 completed school?
So more tax $$ out of your pocket, more than what was already set aside, plus the cost to equip the school, hire staff, etc.
15.4% municipal tax increase and 4.7% (maximum allowed by state) BOE tax increase this year. Anyone want to bet the over for next year's increase?
Perhaps the dig will find the final resting place for Jimmy Hoffa!
Perhaps the dig will reveal the Montclair town council's purse strings? Oh wait, they were flushed down the sewer when the Sewer Authority was established.
Only thing ghoulish about this project is the tax impact.
So, they are underfunded by $10 mil. Add on the $1.6 mil (they just added another $500k of emergency funds to the total)for soil remediation for the Woodman fieldhouse and we are up to $11.6 million that needs to be funded. Can you say +20% tax increase in 2008? This is all before the new employees are hired. Their salaries, pensions and benefits have yet to be calculated. yaayyyyyy BOE!