Paterson plans revival of Hinchliffe Stadium
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
By ALEXANDER MacINNES
HERALD NEWS
PATERSON — Two years after voters approved a referendum to
allow the city to borrow $10 million for renovations to Hinchliffe
Stadium, Mayor Jose “Joey” Torres presented his plans to bring
new life to the 75-year-old arena.
Torres laid out his proposal at a joint meeting on Monday with the
Board of Education and City Council at John F. Kennedy High
School. The Paterson School District owns the stadium, but the
city would use the space for recreational purposes. Torres said he
estimates the price to renovate the stadium would be $.9.6 million
based on figures the school board provided in 2002.
The school district and the city would be involved in the
development, with both sides saying a joint effort is necessary in
any future success.
“I’ve asked both entities to look at those drafts and put their
wish lists together, giving me a direction on which to take,”
Torres said Tuesday.
Torres said he would investigate two options when renovating.
The first would consist of new fields at the stadium for school use
and for residents when not in use by the school district. The
second option is in addition to renovating the stadium to build an
off-site sports academy with classrooms, which would require
state Department of Education approval, Torres said. Both options
would be within the $10-million estimated, he said, since the state
would pay for the academy.
Torres did not include details on how many classrooms, according
to Dr. Jonathan Hodges, school board chairman of the Facilities
Committee.
“What he presented last night, there was talk of classrooms but
no numbers,” Hodges said.
The next step would be for the school board and council to form
ad-hoc committees to hammer out their needs, which would then
be included in requests for proposals, released by the Torres
administration.
“I'm of the feeling that was a first step,” said School Board
President Andre Sayegh. “Hinchliffe Stadium has received a lot
of attention, let's get going. People have heard enough about
what can be done, let's do it.”
The funding sources for both options would come through the $10
million city bond. Torres said he would rely on private investment
to pay for the annual cost of maintaining and operating the
stadium. No estimates have been made as to that cost. The
maintenance and operating investment would come from Sports
City LLC a private group the mayor hopes would build an
additional structure — a covered, stand-alone facility adjacent to
the stadium estimated to cost an additional $3 million. The
“bubble” space could be rented out to private sports teams and
hold concerts through the winter. A portion of those revenues
would go to stadium maintenance costs, Torres said.
School Superintendent Michael Glascoe said with the
overcrowding already facing the district, a new sports academy at
the stadium is low on his priorities.
“With the overcrowding we have in our district we have to be
selective and try to get the biggest bang for our bucks and we don’
t have the bucks,” Glascoe said.
Christopher Coke, treasurer of the Friends of Hinchliffe
Stadium, said he hopes the plan restores the stadium, while
providing recreation to students.
“Our main concern is the restoration of Hinchliffe Stadium, the
actual structure,” Coke said. “With that said, we also take into
account the necessity of the school district that owns the
structure.”
Staff Writer Ashley Kindergan contributed to this report.
Reach Alexander MacInnes at 973-569-7166 or
macinnes@northjersey.com.
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
By ALEXANDER MacINNES
HERALD NEWS
PATERSON — Two years after voters approved a referendum to
allow the city to borrow $10 million for renovations to Hinchliffe
Stadium, Mayor Jose “Joey” Torres presented his plans to bring
new life to the 75-year-old arena.
Torres laid out his proposal at a joint meeting on Monday with the
Board of Education and City Council at John F. Kennedy High
School. The Paterson School District owns the stadium, but the
city would use the space for recreational purposes. Torres said he
estimates the price to renovate the stadium would be $.9.6 million
based on figures the school board provided in 2002.
The school district and the city would be involved in the
development, with both sides saying a joint effort is necessary in
any future success.
“I’ve asked both entities to look at those drafts and put their
wish lists together, giving me a direction on which to take,”
Torres said Tuesday.
Torres said he would investigate two options when renovating.
The first would consist of new fields at the stadium for school use
and for residents when not in use by the school district. The
second option is in addition to renovating the stadium to build an
off-site sports academy with classrooms, which would require
state Department of Education approval, Torres said. Both options
would be within the $10-million estimated, he said, since the state
would pay for the academy.
Torres did not include details on how many classrooms, according
to Dr. Jonathan Hodges, school board chairman of the Facilities
Committee.
“What he presented last night, there was talk of classrooms but
no numbers,” Hodges said.
The next step would be for the school board and council to form
ad-hoc committees to hammer out their needs, which would then
be included in requests for proposals, released by the Torres
administration.
“I'm of the feeling that was a first step,” said School Board
President Andre Sayegh. “Hinchliffe Stadium has received a lot
of attention, let's get going. People have heard enough about
what can be done, let's do it.”
The funding sources for both options would come through the $10
million city bond. Torres said he would rely on private investment
to pay for the annual cost of maintaining and operating the
stadium. No estimates have been made as to that cost. The
maintenance and operating investment would come from Sports
City LLC a private group the mayor hopes would build an
additional structure — a covered, stand-alone facility adjacent to
the stadium estimated to cost an additional $3 million. The
“bubble” space could be rented out to private sports teams and
hold concerts through the winter. A portion of those revenues
would go to stadium maintenance costs, Torres said.
School Superintendent Michael Glascoe said with the
overcrowding already facing the district, a new sports academy at
the stadium is low on his priorities.
“With the overcrowding we have in our district we have to be
selective and try to get the biggest bang for our bucks and we don’
t have the bucks,” Glascoe said.
Christopher Coke, treasurer of the Friends of Hinchliffe
Stadium, said he hopes the plan restores the stadium, while
providing recreation to students.
“Our main concern is the restoration of Hinchliffe Stadium, the
actual structure,” Coke said. “With that said, we also take into
account the necessity of the school district that owns the
structure.”
Staff Writer Ashley Kindergan contributed to this report.
Reach Alexander MacInnes at 973-569-7166 or
macinnes@northjersey.com.
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