Delayed: South Park Street Redevelopment

In January, the Capital Finance Committee recommended that the  township council approve the South Park Street redevelopment project — and soon — so that the work could largely be completed before Oct. 1, 2011.

Then, in April, the township council gave a green light to the project—a plan designed to extend the "village feel" of Church Street around the corner to Bloomfield Avenue.

Now the project has started—but it's not clear how much progress has been made.

Finally, on Tuesday, Township Manager Marc Dashield will give an update on the project to the township council at its regularly scheduled meeting.

"Bottom line is that it will get done in late winter or early spring ... either a scaled-back plan or one which leaves some amenities for future budgets or supplemental support from local businesses (through the Business Improvement District or as named sponsors)," said Mayor Jerry Fried on Sunday.

Deputy Mayor Kathryn Weller-Demming said the project definitely will be delayed until spring as bids all came in over budget.

"We're taking the time to figure out how we can afford to do a high quality project," she said.

Weller-Demming said the town would be able to keep the no-interest loan it obtained.

"I'm trying to work out a public art project with the BID and some kids so that the street looks a little better aesthetically for the next few months and also less abandoned in the middle of the work," she said.

Councilor Cary Africk said Sunday that the original aim was to have the project completed by Oct. 1 to take advantage of the increased value of the property in the town-wide assessment currently underway.

"We also wanted to make sure it didn't go beyond the beginning of November because it would affect parking and shopping for the holidays," he said. "A delay would simply mean a delay in anticipated increased assessments and revenue."

Africk said Sunday that municipal projects, at least in Montclair, seem to travel a circuitous route. This project was started by Eric Maran of Smith Maran, but the actual implementation work was then handed off to the township's engineering department. They then gave a subcontract for engineering drawings to another firm, and in the end others were involved, including an electrical consultant. There was also some delay in choosing the appropriate "green" lighting. But ultimately this particular project has been delayed because of cost estimates that are so "way off."

He said that the administration originally affirmed a price tag of $750,000, and had re-affirmed that number shortly before the bid request went out, but that the bids received were more higher.

"We've been presented various reasons for the discrepancy," Africk said. "We have worked on 'value' engineering and taking out certain aspects of the project."

"I do not believe 'do nothing' is any longer an option as the infrastructure has already been updated (note the fire hydrants in the middle of the road?)," he said.

In April the council voted 5-to-2 in favor of amending a bond ordinance providing for a $500,000 no-interest loan needed to move the project forward — with only Councilors Roger Terry and Renee Baskerville voting against the plan.

A parade of owners of businesses such as Leone's and Montclair Beadworks expressed their support for the plan at the time, pointing out that South Park Street, in its current state, was actually dangerous for drivers and pedestrians.

Businessman Phil Cantor called the project a "once-in-a-lifetime" opportunity.

"You will continue the Church Street experience all the way over to Bloomfield Avenue," he said, adding that the project was "fiscally prudent" and would leave an economically sound legacy for the future.

On Tuesday evening, the town will finally get an update as to where this project stands.