Architect outlines $8.5 million athletic center plan ahead of Nov. 4 referendum; average home tax impact estimated at about $84

Perrette’s Sergeant Architects senior associate Josh Thompson presented the district’s revised athletic center plan to the Caldwell‑West Board of Education on Sept. 15, describing a smaller, one‑story field house, new locker rooms for men and women, a training room, public restrooms, storage and site work, and the financing approach for a November 4 referendum.

Thompson said the new proposal reduces the prior design to about 55% of the earlier plan and carries a budget of $8.5 million. “An 8.5 is a large number. It’s because of prevailing wage,” Thompson said, explaining that public construction and prevailing wage or union labor requirements raise project costs compared with private‑sector building costs. He said the district’s financial advisers estimate the average tax impact at about $84 annually for an average home in Caldwell and $83 in West Caldwell if voters approve the bond.

Site and design details presented: the field house would be sited adjacent to the existing track on Westville Avenue, expand the existing footprint slightly to about 7,000 square feet, and remain one story. The design includes a primary locker room (estimated 60–80 lockers), a secondary locker room (about 32 lockers), a coach’s office with six desks, isolated public restrooms, a trainer’s area with four beds intended to supplement the main high‑school training room, and storage/utility areas. Exterior improvements include a paved, lined parking area with at least one accessible space, concrete sidewalks and a bio‑retention basin for stormwater management; relocation of the shot‑put area was shown on the site plan.

Thompson said the center is intended for all physical‑education students and athletics, not solely for football, and that final locker counts and exact details will be refined during design and coordinate with the athletic director. He also noted the district scaled down massing and varied exterior materials to fit the neighborhood context.

On financing and process, Thompson and the administration explained that the board cannot long‑term borrow without voter approval; the referendum is therefore necessary to issue bonds. He summarized answers to frequently asked questions previously circulated, including the reason for prevailing wage rates and the reduced scope of the current plan compared with a prior two‑story design. Board materials and the presentation were made available on the district website, and the administration encouraged residents to tour the current field house and attend information sessions ahead of the vote.

Clarifying details: project budget $8,500,000; proposed new building footprint ~7,000 sq ft, one story; tax impact estimate ~$84/year (Caldwell) and $83/year (West Caldwell) on an average home; primary locker room 60–80 lockers estimate; secondary locker room 32 lockers estimate; trainer’s area with 4 beds.

The board was told the district will have additional public presentations and that informational boards are displayed at schools; residents were encouraged to contact the athletic director for tours. No binding contract award or final design authorization was taken at the Sept. 15 meeting—the session was informational and intended to brief voters ahead of the Nov. 4 referendum.