Watchung Mayor Unveils ‘No Cost’ Plan for New Library & Arts Center

WATCHUNG, NJ – Mayor Keith S. Balla today announced an ambitious “public-private partnership” to build a modern new public library, arts and community center at “no cost to taxpayers.”

“My Administration drafted this innovative joint-venture concept to provide our residents with a new library, arts center and community center at no cost to taxpayers,” Mayor Balla said. “This is a sensible concept that promises to offer long-term revenue-generating benefits for the borough.”

According to the mayor’s recommendation, Watchung would seek a qualified developer to build the new public facilities on borough-owned property along Mountain Boulevard – between the Municipal Building and Fire Department – replacing the existing library and arts center on Stirling Road.

Watchung would continue to own the Mountain Boulevard site, but would give a long-term lease to its private sector partner that allows it to also build a mixed-use commercial–residential project on property, the mayor said.

Watchung would require the developer to set aside a portion of its residential units as cost-efficient apartments for senior citizens on fixed-incomes. This would help Watchung to comply with its affordable housing obligation, Mayor Balla said.

The project’s commercial-residential portion would also generate new, long-term borough revenue, the mayor explained.

Once approved, Watchung would issue requests-for-proposal (RFPs) seeking experienced, qualified developers willing to enter a joint-venture with the borough, the mayor said.

Mayor Balla has appointed a nine-member, bipartisan Ad Hoc Facilities Committee to review his proposal; to consider other alternatives; and to review maintenance and improvement needs other borough facilities.

The mayor asked this ad hoc committee would seek input from residents, government agencies, professionals and businesses, then make recommendations to the Borough Council.

Appointees to facilities committee include Councilman Curt S. Dahl; Arts Center board president Joan Plasner; library board members Gail Tafaro, Bradford Leigh and Barbara Steinfeld; borough resident Bibi Taylor, also Union County finance director/treasurer; Stephen Pote, a historic committee member, library proponent Hans Juette and local attorney David A. Checchio.