Vineland, NJ (December 15, 2007) - Officials of the Vineland School District, the New Jersey Schools Development Authority (SDA) and the City of Vineland held a grand opening today for the Center City School. The 21st century community facility for 830 pre-kindergarten through 5th grade students is a New Jersey demonstration project designed to be the cornerstone of revitalization efforts in the downtown area of the city.
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Students, parents, residents, area officials and representatives of agencies that played key roles in the demonstration project were on hand for the ribbon-cutting ceremony. The SDA funded the school construction. Project co-developers include Joseph Jingoli & Son, Inc., Tri-County Community Action Partnership and Cumberland Empowerment Zone Corporation. It was designed by USA Architects, Planners and Interior Designers, P.A.
The event also marked the completion of the second of six state-designated demonstration projects - public/private community development initiatives that require new schools to incorporate community components into their design. The demonstration projects are designed to serve as a catalyst for private investment to revitalize urban communities with new housing and retail opportunities.
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Superintendent Charles Ottinger stated, “I believe the downtown community school project to be one of the most important projects ever undertaken in our community. The school and everything it represents will be the centerpiece for learning for students and community members of all ages. Vineland is very fortunate to be among those communities who were given the opportunity to participate in this wonderful project whose impact on the community will last for years and years to come.” The school will open to students in January following the holiday break.
Scott Weiner, SDA Chief Executive Officer, remarked, “On behalf of the SDA, I am pleased to celebrate another milestone in the ongoing efforts to provide 21st century schools for the students of Vineland. The Center City School demonstrates how, by investing in the community, we are making real progress toward revitalizing neighborhoods. Another new school is on the horizon for this city, and we look forward to continuing to work as partners with the school district and city officials and collaborating with them throughout the entire development and construction process.”
Besides the Center City School, other projects completed by the SDA in Vineland include the expansion of Veterans Memorial School and construction of Thomas W. Wallace Jr. Middle School and the Pauline J. Petway Elementary School - the first new schools built in this Cumberland County city since 1976. Vineland also is in line for construction of another new middle school, which is now in design.
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Jerry Murphy, SDA Vice President & COO
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The 126,000-square-foot Center City School - built on a 9.7-acre campus off S.E. Boulevard and Montrose Street - includes 46 classrooms and community health and social services, adult education and recreational facilities. The community design features were an outgrowth of an intensive year-long planning process that involved more than 40 stakeholder community groups/representatives. Features accessible to the community during-non-school hours include computer labs, a cafeteria with kitchen, an auditorium, a gym, playgrounds and athletic areas, and areas for advanced learning for the students during regular school hours and the community after the school day. A library/media center will house Vineland Public Library's "Youth Reading Readiness” program and be operated by the Library. A wellness center will provide primary, preventative and dental health care for the students with operating support and staffing from Community Healthcare, Inc., a non-profit affiliated with South Jersey Healthcare System. |
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The $57.4 million Center City School construction project included $54.7 million funding from the SDA and $2.7 million from the local district. The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) finalized two New Markets loans and an equity investment with partner Boscov's Department Stores totaling $3.5 million for the facility’s Adult Education Center and community pool. EDA Chief Executive Officer Caren S. Franzini said the structure of this project's tax credits made possible one of the few true equity investments using New Markets Tax Credits in the country.
"These tax credits attract a significant amount of investment capital which is made available to businesses and community development projects to help reinvigorate neighborhoods and encourage new urban investments," Franzini added.
Additional administrative and funding assistance for the community design features were provided by several not-for-profit and community organizations, such as the Y.M.C.A., the South Jersey Healthcare System, and the Vineland Public Library.
The SDA currently has 23 projects under construction. Overall, the SDA has completed 41 schools and 28 major renovations and additions, along with nearly 400 health, safety and other projects in Abbott districts. The program also has distributed $2.2 billion in grants, impacting more than 1,400 suburban schools statewide.
The SDA is responsible for funding and oversight of the school component of the six state demonstration projects. The first completed demonstration project - the Octavius V. Catto Community School and Boys & Girls Club of Camden County - opened in Camden last August. With Vineland’s now opened, the remaining demonstration projects are under way in East Orange, New Brunswick, Trenton and Union City.
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