Gloucester Twp. Approves $30K Purchase Of GTEMS Alliance Building

GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ — Gloucester Township is moving forward with the $30,000 purchase of the building last owned by the Gloucester Township EMS Alliance.

Council unanimously approved a proposed ordinance to purchase the building at 236 Taylor Avenue at its meeting Monday night at the municipal building.

There is an outstanding balance of $37,000 and a $9,000 tax lien against the property that will be paid by the GTEMS Alliance, in part using money from the sale of the building to the township.

The township administration has noted it would like to dedicate the building for a non-profit group, but members of council said they would ask the mayor’s office if it would be open to exploring other options.

The assessed value of the property was about $794,000 last year before it dropped to $185,000, and the township was able to acquire the property for $30,000.

The property is surrounded by homes, and Township Solicitor David Carlamere said he doesn’t believe commercial businesses would want to set up in that environment. He also doesn’t think residents would want businesses that close to their homes.

Officials said the purchase of the property could be a preventative measure to prevent it from becoming a blight. It was previously used by the Glendora Rescue Squad before GTEMS Alliance took hold of the property. It has been empty since the GTEMS Alliance suddenly folded in late 2018.

“They (the mortgage holder) won’t recover anything from the property, and they don’t want it to just sit there,” Township Solicitor David Carlamere said.

He did say that the building has value, though, and that getting it was an advantage for the residents.

Some residents questioned how much work and money the township will have to put into the building once the purchase is finalized.

“What’s the ongoing cost of ownership?” resident Pete Heinbaugh asked, referring to rehabilitation of the property and running the utilities. “There’s no tax revenue coming since the township is going to own it.”

Council President Orlando Mercado said the township will asses the building to see what will be needed to maintain it.

“Can we sell the property? Is there something wrong with the land?” resident Sam Sweet asked. “What does the upkeep look like? If we don’t know that, then we should.”

“Everything is on the table,” Councilman Dan Hutchison said. “We have many different options. Maybe we’ll repair and use it, maybe we’ll sell it. We’ll need the revenue the next couple of years. Things are going to be very difficult.”

Hutchison said a number of questions could be asked about the property, but the bottom line is that the administration came to council and said it was a good investment.

“I’m convinced that this is a good investment,” Hutchison said.

“I’d rather see something there than see it all boarded up,” Carlamere said.

Read more here: Gloucester Twp. Set For $30K Purchase Of GTEMS Alliance Building