Wow, it's amazing how Hackensack's Oratam Court housing project has transformed over the past 10 years. It's went from being a drug-ridden disgrace in the community and a source of shame to being fully renovated and upgraded, and now it has actually become a MAGNET LOCATION for youth mentoring programs. Wow !!! You don't see that in The Record article, and that's because these reporters are just taking a snapshot of what is going on, and don't know the whole history behind any particular issue.
Compare this to Paterson or Newark's housing projects. Hackensack might be a city, but we really are very different from all the other cities in New Jersey.
Special thanks to Joseph Zisa for all his work over the years to make this transition. He was actively involved with Snyder and the Housing Authority behind the scenes on everything from the "one strike and you're out" drug policy to getting $7 million in federal grants for the rehab, including the new metal rooflines and exterior painting, as well as the original construction of the Keeling-Manning building. He even played a part in getting HUMC to change the design of the parking tower to "wall off" the whole south side from light, litter, and noise that would have otherwise spilled out from the parking tower onto the Oratam Court property.
I'm really starting to become a believer in the Boys Club thing, it's not just an oppy to open a bingo gambling operation in Hackensack for the Nardino clan.
Hackensack Boys & Girls Club finds a new home
Thursday, October 7, 2010
BY MONSY ALVARADO
THE RECORD
STAFF WRITER
HACKENSACK — The Boys & Girls Club has found a place in the city to call home.
GEORGE MCNISH /SPECIAL TO THE RECORD
J' Nay Henry, Kenyaei Rah Rodney and Calia Austin recite the pledge of allegiance at the Keeling-Manning Pavilion.
On Thursday, officials showcased a renovated building on Sussex Street that will be used by the club to run its after school and summer programs.
The new gym, classrooms, and kitchen are located in the Keeling-Manning Pavilion, a two-story building in Oratam Court, a public housing complex. The Hackensack Housing Authority is allowing the club to use the space at no cost; it will pay the club $50,000 annually to run its programs at the site.
In return, the club will allow children who live in the city’s public housing buildings to participate in programs for free. The club already serves about 120 children from Hackensack, club officials said.
“This is it, this is home,” said Michael Nardino, the executive director of the Boys & Girls Club of Lodi/Hackensack. “I have the key and they can’t lock me out.”
The renovations and additions to the building were paid with more than $1.1 million in federal funds the Hackensack Housing Authority received last year, said William Snyder, HHA executive director. The money was part of the American Recovery Reinvestment Act, officials said.
“The million dollars came to help us take this center and make it what it is today, which is in my mind a place of hope, and opportunity, and transformation,” said Sen. Robert Menendez, who spoke at the event and helped cut the ribbon.
The senator was joined by Rep. Steven Rothman, D-Fair Lawn, Bergen County Executive Dennis McNerney, Bergen County Freeholder John Hogan, Hackensack Mayor Karen Sasso, City Manager Stephen Lo Iacono, and City Council members Marlin Townes and Jorge Meneses.
More than 100 people filled the newly painted royal blue and gold gym to hear speakers talk about their journey to finding a permanent home.
For years, the Keeling-Manning building was used primarily as a venue for residents’ birthday parties, and the other half was used as a laundry room, Snyder said.
“It was very underutilized and I knew I had that resource, and I just couldn’t figure out how I wanted to renovate it,” he said. “We finally came up with a design to turn half of it into a gymnasium and we built another level on it for what I term a campus of learning.”
Snyder said he had also been in the process of designing programs for the 50 or so children who live in the buildings that would address not only academics, but social and self-esteem issues. The programs would have been part of what he calls the “Freedom Project,” a holistic approach to improving the lives of youngsters living in public housing.
He said he then learned The Boys & Girls Club had similar activities, and were looking for a place to run their programs.
“I quickly realized that the concepts that they use with dealing with at-risk youth was exactly the same as my concept. It was a likely marriage,” Snyder said.
In 2006, the Boys & Girls Club of Lodi began its Hackensack program, three years after it was suggested by long-time Hackensack resident Larry Riley, Nardino said. At first, the club operated out of space on Anderson Street and then Holy Trinity School. The school space was great, Nardino said, but when the parish got new tenants earlier this year, a move was inevitable. Nardino said he didn’t give up hope of finding another site.
“I had no idea where I’d be but I knew I would be here [in Hackensack],” he said. “I wasn’t leaving. I wasn’t going to turn back.”
That’s when, he said, Lo Iacono, the Hackensack city manager, told him about Snyder’s project. The two men met, and decided to form the partnership.
On Thursday, officials also unveiled a new yellow school bus, which was paid for with a private donation, which will be used to transport children to the club’s facilities.
The Hackensack site will not be open for children activities until later this month. Officials said they are still waiting for some equipment, and to get their final certificate of occupancy.
Twelve-year olds, Gary Drakeford and Bobby Matthews, who do their homework and play basketball at the club, said they can’t wait to use the new space.
“It’s bigger and better,” Bobby said. “And it will get kids off the street.”
Nardino said the club is also renovating 12,000-square-foot of space in a building owned by the city on Anderson Street, which will be used for counseling programs.
E-mail: alvarado@northjersey.com