E.B. doles out $1.7M for arts center project
Site work to begin on multiuse facility at Heavenly Farms
BY VINCENT TODARO
Staff Writer

The East Brunswick Township Council awarded a $1.7 million contract last week to build the infrastructure of the proposed Community Arts Center at Heavenly Farms.

The council's action followed presentations by members of its professional staff regarding what is included in the contract and why. Only Republican Councilwoman Christi Calvano voted against the contract because of what she said was myopic planning.

The contract, for $1,697,639, was given to Star of the Sea Concrete Corp., of Old Bridge, for site work on the arts center, also referred to as a multiuse facility. Mayor William Neary said the work will include a parking lot, detention basin and other site improvements needed for the building.

The council had voted 3-2 on Oct. 23 to table the same contract award, citing a lack of information on the project.

Democrats David Stahl and Catherine Diem - who last month voted with Calvano to table the matter - seemed pleased with the information they received during the Nov. 20 presentations.

Greg Potkulski of the township's Planning and Engineering Department said initial bids for the infrastructure work came in too high and were rejected. The township lowered the price by cutting out parking spaces, reducing pavement thickness and making other changes.

Potkulski said it was important to award the contract immediately so that grading work can be done, along with stormwater and roadway work.

In addition, because this time of year is slow for contractors, it's best to award the contract now rather than pay more in the future.

During the meeting, Calvano asked why a larger septic system wasn't included, given the fact that the township may build an adjacent or attached facility a few years after the arts center is built. That second building, just being called a community center, would be funded with $5 million of the money Toll Brothers paid the township for the Route 18 property known as the Golden Triangle.

Township Finance Director L. Mason Neely acknowledged that Calvano's assertion that the septic system is not big enough for both facilities was accurate.

Resident Robert Lennon said the township was wasting money by building the arts center/multi-use facility separate from the community center planned with the Toll Brothers' money. The township could incorporate the two projects into one, he said.

Diem said it is too soon to be planning for that second facility, and things could be very different when the time comes to build it. Neely said the infrastructure work for the first building should be completed by June with the contract being awarded last week.

At the same time, he said, the township would be trying to find an affordable bid for construction of the 20,000-square-foot arts center building itself. The arts center would provide a new home to the East Brunswick Community Players, which formerly used Playhouse 22, as well as meeting rooms for residents and groups, and an outdoor amphitheater.

Neely said two rounds of bids for the building were already rejected because the prices were too high. The township will have to revise the plans in order to get the price lower, and he's confident that by mid-December the cost will be within budget.

Building construction would take place next summer, he said.

This initial facility is being partially funded with revenue from the township's sale of the Dunhams Corner Road property that was formerly home to Playhouse 22.

Officials said the second facility, the community center, is still just a concept and its uses and features, as well as whether it would be its own structure, would be explored further down the road.