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March 25, 2009

Moorestown Council approves design for municipal complex

By: TODD MCHALE
Burlington County Times
tmchale@phillyBurbs.com

MOORESTOWN - The township council has decided what to do with the municipal complex.

In a unanimous vote Mon-day night, the board approved an architectural design that will move the library into the former Town Hall next to a newly renovated police station and other shared facilities.

The plan calls for a new, 14,000 square-foot building next to the old Town Hall to house the township's municipal offices. The project is estimated to cost about $11.6 million.

"It's been a long time coming," Mayor Daniel Roccato said after the vote. "I think it's a major step forward in the project."

The decision comes 20 months after a fire severely damaged the Town Hall, causing the township to condemn the building and move its offices into temporary quarters off Executive Drive.

Acting Mayor John Button, project point person, said the design chosen was the best of the four options considered.

"We felt this made the most sense for the township," Button said, adding it fulfills all the township, police and library needs.

In addition, the design allows for the library and the township to share a multi-purpose auditorium for municipal court, public meetings and events.

Under the plan, the former Town Hall would be gutted to the steel and reconstructed, according to Button.

The existing library could be demolished and turned into open space or used in a different capacity, officials said.

Advertisement Councilman Seth Broder believes one of the best parts of the plan is that it provides different options for the existing library property.

"This is one [plan] where we have incredible flexibility," Broder said. "Our asset is the flexibility."

Prior to the vote, several residents spoke in favor of the municipal complex design.

Resident Stanley Ralph en-couraged the council to move forward. "As an engineer, it's way good enough," he said of the design. "I think it's time. We have a boarded up Town Hall, a library that needs some help. Let's just do this thing."

But resident Joyce Connell questioned proceeding in such tough economic times.

"Considering the current state of the economy, I'm concerned you are moving forward in haste," she said.

Township officials and some residents said that lower construction and labor costs now makes it the perfect time to proceed. It is expected the project will take up to two years to complete.

"We are never going to find a better time to do this," said Jake Der Hagopian, chairman of the Moorestown Economic Development Advisory Committee. "The costs of these types of projects are not going to go down any lower."

Button agreed and said the township should be able to take advantage of the recent federal stimulus program and other alternative funding for the project.

Posted by tumulty at March 25, 2009 9:59 AM

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