City needs state OK to fix George Street

Approval is needed from the New Jersey State Historic Preservation Office

By Linda Seida, Staff Writer
   LAMBERTVILLE — The city is awaiting approval from the New Jersey State Historic Preservation Office before moving ahead with the reconstruction of George Street.
   Mayor David Del Vecchio said he does not expect a lengthy delay in the approval process, although it is a necessary step for the city any time public sources of funding are used in a historic area.
   ”Everything we do in the flat part of the city, when we spend public dollars, it must go to SHPO,” Mayor Del Vecchio said. “Every public dollar you spend in a historic district needs approval.”
   In a similar fashion, the city also was obligated to seek SHPO approval before the reconstruction of Ferry Street, which is now under way.
   SHPO approval can be “a relatively quick process,” but officials could offer no estimate concerning when the state office would make its determination, City Clerk Lori Buckelew said.
   The project, not to exceed $150,000, will be paid for with funds awarded to Lambertville by the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission. The grant will include engineering costs as well as the cost of construction, Ms. Buckelew said.
   The funding for George Street is part of a total $2.2 million awarded to Lambertville by the commission under its $40 million Compact Authorized Investment Grant program.
   The commission began awarding the program grants in 2005 to help river communities in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
   Part of the commission grant money given to Lambertville also is being used for the reconstruction of part of Ferry Street.
   A grant from the New Jersey Department of Transportation is being used to fund the reconstruction of another portion of Ferry Street.