April 6, 2022

HAMILTON, NJ (MERCER) – The Township of Hamilton and the Hamilton Township School District are pleased to announce a concept plan to build and occupy a municipal complex that would bring together the offices of the township and the school district.

In late 2020, the Township of Hamilton acquired the long-vacant property at 1750 Whitehorse-Mercerville Road. The property, known to have been the former home of ShopRite, has been vacant for over 17 years. Seeking to redevelop the property for public use, the township had asked the community to provide feedback for the site. While residents came up with many great ideas, the suggestion for a joint municipal complex stood out. The plan for a municipal complex would continue to foster decades of shared services in pursuit of the idea that the township and district benefit the township and school communities and each other.

Although the complex design has yet to be drafted, both entities agree that the facility would feature space for the community to have greater access to public meetings and events and would provide space for district and township to form and grow in a technologically ready space. The complex would capitalize on the environmental, economic and labor efficiencies resulting from consolidating multiple township and school district facilities under one roof. As landlord, the township would lease half of the complex to the school district once construction is complete.

“The current municipal building, built in 1928, has served the township well for nearly 100 years,” said Mayor Jeff Martin. “In 1930, the Hamilton census was 27,121; we are more than three times that number in 2020 at over 92,000 and need a facility that can serve our residents and a much larger community well. I would like to thank the Hamilton Council and the HTSD for their partnership in advancing this concept plan. Also, when completed, I will ask the Board to sell the Greenwood Avenue land to HTSD for $1 for a new school site.

This plan would allow the township to close three buildings – 2090 Greenwood Avenue (Municipal Building), 2100 Greenwood Avenue (Division of Health) and 2388 Kuser Road (Division of Recreation) and move services under one roof to save on utility costs. maintenance and operation. . “With a barely functioning elevator, offices unusable from fumes and a myriad of other problems, the township’s municipal building is collapsing,” Mayor Martin continued.

“The Joint Municipal Complex provides the opportunity to develop a space suitable for our professional educators and community partners,” said Dr. Scott Rocco. “The Park Avenue building is a converted elementary school that has served us well but has limitations as our district modernizes its approach to learning and how it engages with parents and stakeholders. We look forward to working with the municipality to create an urban complex that works for our students and our families. »

“I want to thank the Mayor and Council for involving the Hamilton Township School Board in this process and for giving us the chance to be partners in the development of a site that will bring together so many community services for our students, our families and township residents,” said School Board Chair Susan Lombardo.

“As a counselor, teacher and mother of two girls in the school district, and experiencing firsthand the growing partnership between the district and the township over the past two years, it is clear to see why this move is a win-win. for Hamilton. This unique and ambitious opportunity allows the township, as a whole, to streamline and modernize services to better serve all of our residents,” said Township Council Chair Nancy Phillips.

The township will work with the school district to begin design soon, as well as contracting for the demolition of the current building.