DiMeglio Septic , Inc .
TOWN , from Page 1 erties in Hammonton is the former
site of the W . Skinner and Son Inc . glass factory building on North Egg Harbor Road . The town foreclosed on the property before it was lost in a fire several years ago , and it is currently facing site contamination , according to Mayor Stephen DiDonato . After addressing “ about 14 or
15 items ” that require attention in
the site ’ s remediation plan — for which DiDonato said the town is attempting to identify Brownfields Funds to accomplish — the former glass factory site could be used for many purposes due to its centralized location , according to Councilman Michael Pullia .
“ It is a great property . It ’ s situated in the center of town . There are many uses : it could be used for future parks with a parking component , it could be used for a future dog park if necessary — or just a playground-type park — or just an open green space . It ’ s right in the center of the town , so it has a lot of possibilities ,” Pullia said .
Public Works Manager / Business Administrator Jerome Barberio said there are no immediate plans for the future use of the W . Skinner and Son Inc . site , but according to DiDonato , investors have looked at it in the past .
Another town-owned property that received attention in the past is the former site of Major Muffler , an automotive repair business on South Egg Harbor Road . Di- Donato said the town has discussed leasing the site to an enterprise for a bourbon distillery . DiDonato said the town is hopeful the lease for Major Muffler will soon be signed so the building can once again become a tax ratable for the town .
The Aggressive Coat Company , located at 132 N . Washington St ., was a tax ratable for many years during the era early in Hammonton ’ s history when the textile industry was thriving . Barberio said the former factory site is currently a vacant lot . It exists in a development zone that the town can help redevelop , which Pullia said would be beneficial to area residents .
“ The benefit is we ’ re helping a
Wednesday , October 4 , 2017 • The Hammonton Gazette • Page 3
Plans for town-owned vacant buildings , empty lots
developer to redevelop a zone that ’ s in need of some redevelopment . So , it ’ s the town engaging in a business opportunity to redevelop an area ,” Pullia said .
About one block away from the former Aggressive Coat Company ’ s factory site is a former service station on Railroad Avenue that is owned by Sam Celona Inc . and has several liens on it , according to Barberio . Although the site is not owned by the town , Pullia said the town is currently working on acquiring state grants from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection as the site undergoes a remediation .
Pullia said the town is not currently looking to sell any of the properties it currently owns , but said he would like to see the Sam Celona Inc . site sold once any environmental hazards are remediated .
“ I ’ d be interested in selling it ; It ’ s too small to do much else with it ,” Pullia said .
DiDonato said the state of the market will dictate whether or not the town sells any properties it currently owns .
“ Until the market comes back up , we ’ re going to try to time the market so we can get top dollar for those properties ,” DiDonato said .
In the meantime , DiDonato said the town will consider purchasing additional properties if it feels that no investor would purchase them due to their present conditions . A site where this could occur is at 224 Vine St ., which is the former site of a laundry cleaners that was condemned due to various damage and contamination that occurred under its previous owner .
Pullia said the town ordered an appraisal on the property to assess the environmental hazards it may possess , and if it decides to purchase it , it will be demolished .
“ If the price is right and it ’ s taking into environmental concerns , we ’ ll buy it and I guess complete the demolition because the building is , from what I understand , in pretty rough shape ,” Pullia said .
Barberio said due to the condition of 224 Vine St ., the town would only be interested in purchasing it in order to remove it in favor of additional municipal or police parking . The rationale behind acquiring these abandoned properties , according to Barberio , is so they can be repurposed in a manner that will help the residents of Hammonton and meet their needs .
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