Construction on the New $87 Million Gloucester City Elementary School is Underway
Sunday, August 30, 2015
(photo credit CNBNewsnet)
GLOUCESTER CITY NJ--Ironworkers set the cross beams on the new elementary school being built on Market Street between Fifth and Sixth Streets.
The photo below was taken on Sixth Street.
William E. Cleary Sr | CNBNewsnet
GLOUCESTER CITY NJ—Work on the Gloucester City Middle School is progressing. This past week Ironworkers were setting the beams and laying the decking on the three- story building using a 35-foot crane (click image to enlarge). Funding for the $64 million project, located on Market Street between Fifth and Sixth Streets is coming from the state’s School Development Authority (SDA).
Last August Edye Maier, SDA Public Information Manager, said that figure includes $42 million for the design-build contract, along with the costs for items such as land acquisition, relocation, demolition, and remediation.
Maier was asked if there would be any future construction costs?
"The $64 million is the total cost of everything for that project, she said. "We do not expect any extra costs at this time, however, there is always a chance that something could happen during construction. We will be posting the progress of the construction on the SDA website. And if there are any additional expenditures they will be posted." (See SDA website , search for Gloucester City Middle School)
Not included in the project costs is the $20 million that was spent by the federal government and other agencies to clear the ground of contaminants nearly 10 years ago. The school is being built on a former Superfund site. The site, which was contaminated when spent radioactive ore produced by the defunct Welsbach Factory was dumped there, will include a sports field for the new middle school. Other toxins, such as chromium and benzene from three other former industrial sites, also polluted parts of the future school property, according to state records.
Related article: The History of the Gloucester City Elementary Middle School
Also missing from the $64 million project amount is the monies lost in tax ratables as a result of the 70 homes and businesses being demolished to make room for the school. Those properties were removed under eminent domain. In September 2010, that figure was $3,543,500 bringing the total cost for the entire project to $87,543,500.
Related article: Total Cost for Gloucester City Middle School
Once completed the 122,000 square foot facility will be used to educate 687 students in grades 4 through 8. The original amount budgeted by the SDA for the school was $76 million. (See Project Description HERE)
The new school will include 27 general classrooms, eight special education classrooms, three science classrooms, a cafetorium with a stage, gymnasium, media center, computer lab and administrative offices. The new school will be built using a design-build approach.
Not everyone is happy about the construction of the new school, especially those living next to it.
A Market Street resident ( who didn’t want his name used) said the dust, dirt, and noise is unbearable at times. “My entire house shakes from the equipment they have been using. We can’t open our windows. We can’t sit outside. I feel like we are living in a war zone. My neighbors and my family hate this school. If I could sell my property I move in a minute.”
The anticipated opening for the elementary school is September 2017.
Ground Breaking for the Gloucester City Middle School was held in May. Besides local officials, New Jersey Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno and Congressman Donald Norcross also attended.
Related article: Ground Breaking for Gloucester City Middle School