Passion Project — Chaletmomma

Friends I’ve became involved with an initiative to stop the demolition of our library and town hall.

A Town Council, as a temporary steward should want to preserve all history in town for the next generation and the one after that but, the current administration doesn’t care about our unique history.

I’ve shared on Instagram about a petition I was a part of circulating and what we hoped to accomplish - which was to stop the destruction of these buildings for a new monolithic structure that would encroach on our protected town green and not be in keeping with the historic nature of our town.

In addition, the town is looking to change the traffic flow on main street by removing travel lanes and traffic lights and changing existing side streets from one way traffic patterns to two way traffic by removing parking for homeowners and business owners.

None of this is what most residents think would be good for our town.

Our petition was brought before council in May to little response. I have attended meetings via zoom and they finally started holding them in person June 14, 2022.

I feel very strongly about our Library - a building I frequented weekly as a child with my Mother - who’s love of reading I inherited. Also it’s a cool old building built in 1917 based on funding received from the Carnegie Foundation. Our Library was designated a local landmark in 2017 in celebration of it’s 100th anniversary. I’ve been a past member of the Library Foundation - the fundraising group that works on behalf of the Library to seek funding for things outside the Borough of Caldwell operating budget for the Library.

In 2017 there were 12 Carnegie Libraries still standing in Northern New Jersey. There were 36 Libraries built on Carnegie Grants. Click here to read.

The building was added to the 10 Most Endangered Historical Sites In NJ 2022 on May 17, 2022 by much hard work by our local Historic Preservation Commission (I am a former member). The Commission submitted documentation for approval of State and National Landmark Status July 20, 2022 - hoping since the structure has been added to the endangered list the New Jersey Historic Preservation Office will reverse it’s 2017 opinion and grant this building state landmark status.

The Town Hall was built during the 1930’s and was a WPA project.

And while both structures could use some major sprucing up… the need for elevators, additions and maintenance for underlying issues… neither is so far gone they need to be bulldozed. Both are masonry buildings. Masonry buildings can withstand much and be adapted to meet modern criteria.

The Borough did not hire experts to deem these structures unsalvageable. They met with town employees who put together a want list.

The town originally founded in 1798 was much larger and encompassed many square miles. The area population grew and sections broke off to become their own municipalities (West Caldwell, North Caldwell, Cedar Grove, Roseland and parts of Livingston) and current day Caldwell, NJ was established in 1892.

I know I am bias - I am a third generation and never wanted to live anywhere else. I love walking the same streets I did as a child. The current powers that be in town hall do not seem to appreciate our character and charm. We do not want to be another small city in New Jersey - we want to remain Caldwell.

We are also the birthplace of President Grover Cleveland!

Our main street 1885 and today. The Presbyterian Church stands proudly in both images!

On July 21, 2022 the Council voted 4-2 in favor of demolition of both the Caldwell Public Library and the Borough Hall. The Borough Administrator Consultant stated he plans to meet with Essex County for review.

This complex is to include a single structure with the Borough offices, Court, Library and Police Department and a separate parking deck.

This administration wants to eliminate the traffic light at Provost Square - the plan below is dated March 14, 2022 and still the only plan that is available on the Borough website.

It encompasses not only the street but, also much of the Town Green but, the town green is protected by Green Acres - so it precipitated the need for revisions… and why didn’t they know this before these plans were drawn up…no one can answer. The public has been told these are 3 plans ago…and the $$$ for plans continues. And they are adding onto our Community Center too!

On Friday July 29, 2022 at 5:40pm the Borough of Caldwell's Online Newsletter was sent to the residents who have signed up for it. I’ve signed up but, did not receive. The Newsletter contains a Proposed Site Plan for Caldwell Municipal Complex. The building is smaller than previous iterations because of the green and other restrictions. The access road from the complex is still eliminated but, this “new” plan is not on the Borough Website - Nor are any schematics for the actual building. Questions raised by concerned citizens have still not been addressed.

It’s like talking into a void. We keep talking at meetings. We keep posting on Facebook Pages and they keep ignoring us. This is a 1.2 square mile town. Where the Mayor and 6 Council members are our neighbors. As I said in one post - I know many people because of living here my entire life and my son… and I have not found anyone who supports this new plan.