The more than $500,000 in Department of Community Affairs funding will pay for improvements to the Connaught Hill area.
By: Linda Seida
LAMBERTVILLE State Department of Community Affairs Commissioner Susan Bass Levin recently presented more than $500,000 in joint improvement grants to Lambertville and West Amwell for Connaught Hill projects.
The Connaught Hill area has been plagued by stormwater problems, noted Lambertville Mayor David Del Vecchio.
"There’s no drainage," he said.
Mayor Del Vecchio accepted the grants April 15 at Lambertville City Hall on behalf of the city, while West Amwell Mayor Peter Buchsbaum was present to accept on behalf of his township. Also present for the presentation were Councilwoman Cynthia Ege and Sen. Leonard Lance.
One grant, in the amount of $400,000, will pay for the construction of a closed storm drainage system as well as for the reconstruction of the area’s roads. Another grant, in the amount of $180,000, will be used to rehabilitate houses on Connaught Hill, possibly as many as 15.
"Revitalizing small cities is a cornerstone of Gov. McGreevey’s smart growth plan for New Jersey," Commissioner Levin said. "These grants allow municipalities to contribute to balanced growth in New Jersey by making existing communities more attractive and viable."
The entire drainage project for Connaught Hill will total $1,140,000, according to Mayor Del Vecchio. In addition to the $400,000 grant from DCA, the city obtained $300,00 in federal funds. Lambertville provided $128,000 for engineering costs, and West Amwell contributed a federal grant of $207,000. West Amwell will pay the remainder, Mayor Del Vecchio explained.
The drainage project is slated to begin this summer, the mayor said, although he wasn’t sure how long it would take to complete.
"We put in sewers for much of the hill 12 years ago," Mayor Del Vecchio said. "We’re pretty active up there."
He cited the projects instituted by the city on Connaught Hill: a cleanup of abandoned cars, a tire cleanup in conjunction with residents of the hill, the creation recently of a redevelopment plan; and the setting aside of more than $300,000 for a pocket park. Also, a Habitat for Humanity house was constructed on the hill.
The state grants were issued by the department’s Small Cities Community Development Grant Program. They were funded through the department’s Housing and Community Resources Division.

