2006 in review

Bordentown City made major repairs this year

By: Cara Latham
   BORDENTOWN CITY — This year was marked by reconstruction and infrastructure repair in the city, including the completion of a project to replace the deteriorated retaining wall along the Conrail railroad tracks from Farnsworth Avenue through Second Street.
   An $800,000 grant from the state Department of Transportation helped pay for the cost of the $1.6 million project, and the city borrowed the remainder.
   The city maintains a public parking lot adjacent to the Farnsworth House, which is bordered by the masonry wall along the railroad, constructed by the city around 1832.
   Along with the repair, the city extended the project between Second and Third streets to widen the road by building a new double wall.
   Because of the construction, the city gained some parking spaces along the portion of the road between Second and Third Streets and in the public parking lot.
   Mayor John Collom said that the project was a major accomplishment of 2006.
   "That’s been a well-received addition to the city," he said. "I think that was a very important visible kind of project that was finished."
   Sidewalk and infrastructure repair "of all kinds" has also continued through the year.
   A sidewalk was paved along the wall at street level, tying into to other walkways in the city, but city officials are also working on securing additional grants into the new year — one of which is a Safe Routes To School grant, which would emphasize alternate routes of transportation to schools, which include bicycling and walking.
   With the grant, the city could repair sidewalks, stripe crosswalks, and erect signs that announce a school zone and restrict the speed limit through those zones.
   And "there’s an educational element to it" as well, said Mayor Collom. If the city receives the grant, "we have to get out and advertise these things, and try to measure if there’s an increase in bicycle and pedestrian traffic," he said, adding that many students already walk to school, which could help the city obtain the grant.
   Other grant possibilities includes one that will allot money for additional environmental work, including creating a trail on the city’s property along the Bordentown Creek.
   Into the new year, the Planning Board will be working on a conservation element to the Master Plan, "which for us, is a pretty good-sized project that’s been going on now for three years," Mayor Collom said.
   As the city looks to the future, revaluation will take place in 2007, Mayor Collom said, adding that "nobody likes that, but it has to be done."
   "We hope that that’s going to stabilize the distribution of taxes throughout the community because of the crazy developments in real estate markets over the last three to four years," he said.
   Fundraising and preparations for Bordentown City’s upcoming 325th anniversary in 2007 were launched this year, including two Spirit Walks, where diners made their way around select restaurants and cafes on Farnsworth Avenue all in one night, enjoying discounted food and drink. Outside entertainment was available.
   The 325th anniversary celebration will commemorate a history that stretches back before the Revolutionary War with a battle re-enactment, a parade and other events throughout the year.