Secaucus Opening Library Annex At Xchange

SECAUCUS, NJ — We've got big news for Secaucus Patch readers! The town of Secaucus is in the midst of opening a library annex at the Xchange apartment rental complex.

Secaucus Mayor Mike Gonnelli and Councilman James Clancy gave us a tour of the new library annex space on Friday morning. The library will be located where the main public parking lot is at the Xchange complex, right next to Trillo's bar & grill. That space is currently a private lounge for Xchange tenants and a gym.

But starting this summer, both spaces will be converted into a children's library plus an adult section, with computers, a TV and quiet work space. Gonnelli said he expects it may open as early as the end of this summer.

That space was built and is owned by Atlantic Realty, the company owned by the Halpern family, who are the developers of XChange. The Halpern family are well-known New Jersey real estate developers; their legacy was started by Sam Halpern, a Holocaust survivor, who died in 1993. The town of Secaucus will pay the Halpern family $25,000 a year to rent the space, which Mayor Gonnelli says "is a great deal, about $2,000 a month."

The main library doors will open into a center hallway, with bathrooms on both sides. Anyone is welcome to use the library; not just Xchange residents. The Secaucus library annex will add to what is burgeoning business community at Xchange: In addition to Trillo's bar and grill, there is a tutoring center, a coffee shop (Hudson Bread), a daycare (Kiddie Academy), Enterprise car rental and a dry cleaners located in that complex.

Pictured above is currently the X-Lounge at XChange. That will be converted to the adult portion of the library. The TV and computer stations will remain, and Gonnelli said he anticipates it will be a good place for XChange residents to use it as a co-working space if they work from home. The pool table will be gone. The sofas and chairs may remain, too, if the town decides to keep all the furniture currently owned by XChange. XChange is offering all that furniture to the town.

What is currently a small workout room will be converted to the children's library. There will also be children's programming offered on site, Gonnelli said.

The library annex came about because the town of Secaucus asked XChange residents what they would like to see more of. About 25 parents at XChange filled out a survey and requested something similar to the indoor Tot Center be built at XChange. The town was unable to build that, and the library wanted to expand. So adding an annex at XChange was really the perfect solution, the mayor said.

The library annex will have an official name, and one has already been selected; it will be named for a Secaucus resident. But it will not be revealed until the signs are put up outside the annex. Exciting times for the town of Secaucus and a welcome addition at the XChange complex!

The story behind the developers of Xchange is also good for Secaucus residents to know:

Although Sam Halpern died in 1993, Atlantic Realty is being carried on by his grandson, Jeremy Halpern. According to his obituary on NJ.com, Sam Halpern was a member of the “Refugee Builders." This was a group of Jewish families that came to New Jersey from war-torn Europe following World War II. That group also includes the Wilfs, Kushners and Kaplans. The Halpern family developed much of Woodbridge and Edison. Xchange was their first venture into North Jersey. It's been very successful and Xchange is expanding, building hundreds of more apartment rentals by the Hackensack River.

Sam Halpern was born in Poland. As a teen, he was imprisoned with his brother in Kamionka labor camp. He and his brother escaped the camp, but his parents and entire family were killed by Hitler. For eight more months, until World War II ended, he and his brother were hidden by a Catholic family. According to his obituary, Halpern sent that family money for decades afterwards, even years later when he was thriving in America as a successful real estate developer. He called that family "heroes."

Atlantic Realty and the Halpern family also own several hotels, apartment buildings and office towers in Israel. Halpern was a major donor to, and has met with, several Israeli prime ministers.