Exploring Inside the River Edge American Legion [VIDEO]
Patch editor Eamon Harbord recently toured the interior of the American Legion building
For years the Sgt. Walter Scott Brown American Legion has stood tall and proud on Continental Avenue - but over the past few years the building has changed from what it once was to bordering on something completely different in town.
Of the three floors inside, the basement has been hit the hardest having been ravaged by flooding when the sump pumps stopped working and plagued by mold. The flooring by the basement entrance has peeled up and water stains at least one foot high.
The first and second floors have faired somewhat better with some insullation falling down and chipped paint in the bathroom due to moisture damage. But the building, which is slated to be demolished at some point in the future, is not ADA compliant and may have lead paint and an underground oil tank on the property.
The borough received an inconclusive 329-page document by Brinkerhoof Environmental Services for the River Edge American Legion Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment, to determine if there is an underground oil tank on site along with any use of lead paint or asbestos inside the building. Brinkerhoof's research and their $2400 report resulted in finding no historical data to prove the existence of the three environmental concerns.
The Dutch Colonial-style building is approximately between 80 to 90 years old. An estimate received by architect Peter Pulice put renovation costs running between $300,000 to $1.3 million. Currently the borough is awaiting a report by borough engineer Robert Costa regarding demolition specifications for removing the American Legion and include the estimated costs for removing any lead paint and asbestos.
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Michael Barry
10:25 am on Friday, September 7, 2012
We, the taxpayer, bought this abortion for $300,000 + dollars when we had no business doing so and now it will cost between $300,000 ( way too low ) and 1.3 million (way to high) to renovate this moldy dump. How about the Democrats stop throwing good money after bad, for once, raze this old building and begin anew? This madcap, irresponsibe spending of tax payer money MUST STOP!
ggt
11:46 am on Friday, September 7, 2012
Michael: I belive it was 400K. And our elected officials at the time told us we got a bargain!!! Anyhow our current elected officials have rightly decided to tear the mess down. A costly mistake, but better than pouring more money into it.
NO TO TAX HIKE
12:47 pm on Friday, September 7, 2012
Incredible. They paid $400k and had no plan for the use and just waited for it to be rotten? Can American Legion return some funds, out of goodwill, for the sake of poor/powerless constituents of RE. RE is (or was?) so helpless and hopeless, in terms of governance.
njdelta
12:53 pm on Friday, September 7, 2012
We the tax payers of River Edge, should be provided a list of the people who received money for its "as is" purchase.
NO TO TAX HIKE
1:02 pm on Friday, September 7, 2012
njdelta. I fully agree with you. It's really questionable if the deal was at arm's length. Which Inspector General's office is responsible for RE?
RE-SOHO
1:08 pm on Saturday, September 8, 2012
After viewing the video and knowing what the basement (bar area) looked like (member from 1996-2006), allow me to tell you the rest of the story. Prior to the town purchasing the property (which I totally agree was a waste of money) the bar was a fully functioning area. For those of you that visited the bar during the 4th of July Picinics will attest to that. The issue that the American Legion had to deal with throughout the years, is the same issue that a lot of us in River Edge have to deal with, that being water in the basement. The American Legion had I two maybe three sump pumps working all the time. That is what keep the water in check. BUT when the town took ownership of the property, the turned off the electricity there the basement flooding. Going unchecked, I believe caused the black mold to explode. The pictures depicted in the video, I believe does not depict the condition when the town took ownership of the building. The condition was caused by the TOWN Officials.
RE-SOHO
1:09 pm on Saturday, September 8, 2012
Secondly as to who got the money. Since the American Legion did not lose their charter, the trustees continue to control an distribute the funds recieved for veteran affairs. Such as the scholarships that they give out each year at Riverdell, and Boys State program. If the American Legion loses it's charter, membership goes below a certain level; the funds would go the the American Legion National Organization. Just as if St Peters, goes out of business, all the assets of the church would go to the Newark Archdiocese.
Again, I am no longer associated with the Post, but this is the rest of the story.