Join us at the Borough Council Meeting on Monday, May 13th at 8:00 p.m. to present a united front against locating a new firehouse on Main Street at the Elks Lodge property.  A large public display of residents against this location will help the council rethink its stance. There’s strength in numbers. Let’s fight this thing!

Say No to the Firehouse at the Main Street Elks Lodge site

Background: Last year, South River entered into a contract to purchase the former Elks Lodge property on Main Street for $950,000 with the intention of demolishing it to build a new 5-bay firehouse at a reported cost of $7.5 to $8.5 million. The contract is currently stalled due to a restriction on the deed preventing anything other than a dwelling on the site. The Elks are pursuing legal action to lift this restriction.

We support our firemen and recognize the current firehouse on George Street is in unsafe operating condition. However, if the borough feels a replacement is necessary, the Elks Lodge is not the right location for the following reasons:

·       The presence of a firehouse would substantially alter the character of a prominent, historic and lovely part of South River’s Main Street.

·       The $950,000 purchase price for the property plus the roughly $8 million for demolition, land improvements and construction of a new building seems excessive when less expensive options exist.

·       The original owners of the Elks property, the Sennhauser family, donated the land with the stipulation that it would NEVER be used for anything other than a dwelling (home). We support this deed restriction and do not want to see it lifted.

We're on Facebook too!
Please click the link below and request to be added to our group.  We'll be posting updates about meetings and events related to the Coalition of Concerned South River Citizens.
http://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/251509998277045/