New Secaucus Community Center Will Be Named For Mayor Gonnelli

SECAUCUS, NJ — A groundbreaking was held Monday for the new Secaucus Community Center, which will be located at 101 Centre Avenue, at the site of the old senior building.

By unanimous town Council vote, the center will be named the "Mayor Michael J. Gonnelli Community Center."

Gonnelli thanked the council after they voted to name the center after him.

“It was a big surprise that they want to do this, especially when I’m still alive,” he joked.

When completed, the two-story building will house the community center, a full kitchen and offices for the Department of Senior Services. It will have a community hall that can seat 175 and will be home to senior activities including bingo, arts & crafts, recreation, senior clubs, Social Fridays and seasonal senior events.

The kitchen will be on the first floor and will serve the needs of senior congregate meals and the Secaucus Meals-on-Wheels program. The second floor will remain as an open shell with plans for future expansion.

The new building is estimated to cost $6.1 million and may be ready in as early as one year. Secaucus received a federal grant of $950,000 from the federal Housing and Urban Development Department (HUD) and will allocate up to $1.5 million from the American Rescue Plans funds for the project.

Clarke, Caton and Hintz was the architectural firm. Brockwell and Carrington was awarded the bid to build the building.

Secaucus Social Services Director Lisa Snedeker said she is looking forward to welcoming seniors into the new building.

Congressman William Pascrell, Hudson County Executive Tom DeGise, incoming Hudson County Executive Craig Guy, town council, town Administrator Gary Jeffas, and Snedeker were on hand Monday for the groundbreaking.

First Look At How The New Secaucus Senior Center Will Look (Feb. 2023)