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Sayreville council authorizes $5,000 structural study for renovated 1909 firehouse project
Summary
After an architects’ presentation on converting the 1909 former firehouse into borough offices, Sayreville council voted to authorize a CME structural analysis not to exceed $5,000 and outlined next steps including planning-board review and a projected September 2027 completion if on schedule.
Pete Campazano of USA Architects and project architect Shannon Perez told the Sayreville Mayor and Borough Council on Jan. 29 that the century‑old former firehouse at Main Street is cleared of hazardous materials after a phase‑one environmental remediation and is now ready for design work to repurpose it for municipal offices.
The architects said the interior is constrained: the basement has low ceilings and mold, and much of the interior fabric cannot be preserved, though the team hopes to retain and refurbish some exterior masonry and three iron jail cells in the basement for storage. The proposed program retains a publicly accessible vestibule and toilet, a small waiting area with historical exhibits, smaller offices, a diminished conference room and an elevator and stair tower to meet ADA and energy‑code requirements.
Borough building official Kirk Mick and the architects emphasized tradeoffs forced by current accessibility and code standards; they proposed a modest, sympathetic exterior addition to house the elevator and accessible route while preserving the historic façade as much as possible. The project team said they had consulted the historical society and tested possible exterior treatments to minimize the visual impact of the elevator tower.
Councilmembers asked whether the building could serve broader cultural or gathering uses; the architects said the scope given to them was to design municipal office space tied to the referendum that voters approved and that council would decide on any expanded public programming later. Officials also noted constraints in the rear yard (a deed‑restricted, contaminated zone and an oil tank) that limited placement options.
As a next procedural step, the architects asked for a structural analysis to confirm the building can support the proposed program. Council authorized CME to perform a structural study with a not‑to‑exceed budget of $5,000. A roll‑call vote was recorded in favor and the motion carried.
Project timeline outlined by the team calls for a code analysis and planning‑board courtesy review, followed by construction documents, bidding and an approximately 11‑month construction schedule; if work proceeds on the projected schedule the architects estimated completion in September 2027.
The council and members of the public pressed staff for funding details; borough staff said the interior renovation will draw on the borough’s open‑space/farmland preservation and historic preservation fund. Exact contract and appropriation details were not finalized at the Jan. 29 meeting; staff said they will return with cost estimates as the design advances.
The structural analysis authorization was the formal action taken at the Jan. 29 meeting; the design will next proceed to a planning‑board review and then to public hearings required for construction and any redevelopment agreement.
