Officials expect Main St. site to be ready early next year
BY MATT AUERBACH
Staff Writer
After a few financial bumps in the road, the ongoing Metuchen borough hall construction project may wrap up soon.
"We’re looking forward to the opening of the new borough hall sometime early next year," said Mayor Ed O’Brien.
The dismantling of the township’s borough hall began in spring 2002 with the Crain Construction Co., Hackensack, as the main contractor. The cost of the project was set at $6.4 million and was to double the size of the existing building — increasing the floor area from approximately 12,000 square feet to 26,000 square feet.
While all borough employees and offices moved into temporary space at 212 Durham St., the original building at 500 Main St. was cleared of all traces of lead and asbestos.
All work stopped in September when Crain Construction Co. fell into financial distress and subcontractors feared they would not get paid. Once those issues were resolved, construction resumed and has continued at a rapid rate ever since, officials said.
The work stoppage won’t cost the borough a cent, according to Mayor O’Brien.
"We’re not overbudget at all because Crain is responsible through a bond for all the makeup time," he said. The cost to date is $5 million.
When the new borough hall opens for business, it will be one of the "greenest" buildings in Middlesex County, the mayor said.
"Borough hall will be environmentally sound, and that means we’ll be getting energy rebates," said Mayor O’Brien.
Among other changes made during the project will be increased parking, more computer connections and networking capabilities. The building will also meet the specifications of the federal Americans with Disabilities Act.
O’Brien emphasized the importance of borough hall to the community.
"Borough hall for a century has acted as an anchor for the community," he said. "I look forward to the day when it’s back in its rightful place."