Union City, SCC Break Ground For Community School Demonstration Project

State Funding $136 Million Educational Facility To Serve as Educational, Social, and Recreational Focal Point For City

Union City, NJ (July 11, 2005) - The second of six state Demonstration Projects got under way today with a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Emerson High School and Union City Athletic Complex, a $136 million state-of-the-art facility designed to be the cornerstone of revitalization efforts in the heart of this Hudson County city.

The groundbreaking was attended by Acting Governor Richard J. Codey, Mayor Brian Stack, the leadership of the Union City School District, local and state officials, and representatives of the SCC, Summit Redevelopers, who are developing the project, and Epic Management, the construction firm that will build this landmark school.

The 425,000-square-foot new Emerson High School and Union City Athletic Complex - which includes unique rooftop athletic fields and bleachers, will include 66 classrooms to accommodate between 1,400 and 1,700 high school students. The school, which will be built on the Roosevelt Stadium site, also will feature health screening and child care centers, recreational facilities, a Performing Arts Auditorium that seats nearly 1,000, a 200-space parking garage, and a 12,000-square-foot media center. The school project, targeted for completion in 2008, is being funded by the New Jersey Schools Construction Corporation (SCC), which oversees the state's $8.6 billion school construction program.

Mayor Brian Stack, who also represents Union City as an Assemblyman in New Jersey's 33rd Legislative District, noted, "I have seen firsthand what hard work, cooperation, and vision can do for a community, and I have seen it here in Union City. The efforts of local, state, and education officials in making this groundbreaking a reality have been tireless. Their dedication ensures a bright future for the next generation of our city's leaders."
   

Union City Schools Superintendent Stanley M. Stanger added, "Any construction or renovation project requires vision, commitment, and belief, in this case, that the education of our children is important and our children are important for the future of our country and our community. The groundbreaking for the new Emerson High School and Union City Athletic Complex truly marks a major step forward in shaping the future of Union City."

Jerry Murphy, SCC Chief Operating Officer, remarked, "Through the Demonstration Projects here in Union City and elsewhere throughout the State, we are building community-oriented, 21st century schools that will spur a resurgence of growth and economic revitalization within urban neighborhoods." Murphy noted that the SCC broke ground for the Vineland Demonstration Project in June; other Demonstration Projects are on tap for Camden, Trenton, New Brunswick, and East Orange.

New Jersey's six Demonstration Projects are designed as community development initiatives, with schools serving as a community anchor. State and city agencies work cooperatively to provide children with safe, modern classrooms while maximizing urban renewal efforts. Community design features - such as athletic venues, auditoriums, media centers accessible to students and residents alike - are key components of the program. The demonstration projects serve as a catalyst for private investment to revitalize urban communities with new housing and retail opportunities.

SCC funds school construction components of the demonstration projects. The project team members are put together by the city, and all projects are subject to intense public input and planning by the school district, community and municipal representatives. A city-named redevelopment authority manages the demonstration project and enters into an agreement with a redeveloper - typically from the private sector - that is responsible for completing the project. Any contractors hired for the construction project are selected on a competitive basis. Throughout the process, SCC reviews all costs before any work is authorized and monitors the project to its completion.

 
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