Gloucester Township Council unanimously voted in favor of purchasing a building most recently owned by the Gloucester Township EMS Alliance during its Aug. 10 meeting.
The second reading of an ordinance called for the township to purchase the building at 236 Taylor Ave. — located near residential homes, a baseball field and a playground area — for $30,000.
According to officials, the building was owned by the township in the 1950s and utilized at the time by the Glendora Rescue Squad. To this day, the emergency squad’s name is still on the building.
Although the EMS Alliance currently owns the building, the township stopped using the nonprofit for emergency response services in late 2018, after its equipment failed to meet requirements. That prompted a switch in providers to the American Medical Response Mid-Atlantic (AMR).
According to Solicitor David Carlamere, there is an outstanding balance of $37,000, coupled with a $9,000 tax lien against the property, that GTEMS Alliance will pay.
In responding to a question posed by a resident regarding the township’s interest in the property, council President Orlando Mercado said the township saw great value in acquiring the property for less than its market value.
“As I stated at our last meeting, it’s an opportunity to reuse the building within our township and possibly move a nonprofit agency there, which nothing has yet been formalized,” he added.
“At $30,000, I think it’s a sound investment for our community.”
The property was assessed at approximately $784,000 last year, before its value dropped to about $185,000. Carlamere said the township was able to acquire the building for a fraction of its worth due to a location that would most likely not be viable for businesses.
“It’s residential on both sides … and the township has recreation (across the street) and on the left is this building,” he added. “When we spoke to the mortgage lender … they realized that the building really had no value where it was located.”
Carlamere said the township is always looking for additional storage opportunities.
Mercado indicated that township administration, moving forward, will control what happens with the building. Although a nonprofit use has been described by council as the original intention for the building, nothing is official.
During the recent meeting’s public hearing regarding the ordinance, residents questioned the financial dealings and future of the property.
“What’s the ongoing cost of ownership for Gloucester Township of this property?” asked resident Pete Heinbaugh. “There’s rehabilitation, utilities … We’re forfeiting property tax revenue.”
“Can we sell the property? Is there something wrong with the land?” asked resident Sam Sweet. “What does the upkeep look like? If we don’t know that, then we should.”
Council indicated the township will do an assessment of the building to determine what rehabilitation must take place.
“What (the township) gets into ownership of it, I think everything is on the table,” said councilman Dan Hutchinson. “There’re many different options; once they get ownership of this property, they’re going to have to go in and assess what it’s going to cost to repair it.
“Maybe we will repair it, maybe we will use it for something in the town … maybe we will sell it.”
