Designs for the Hamilton Street amphitheater have been drawn up and are awaiting approval by the Arts District Advisory Board.
Redevelopment Director and City Administrator Peter Pelissier said designs have not yet been agreed upon by the board. Commissioner Anthony Diege said at the last Redevelopment Agency meeting that the advisory board was expecting comments by the end of this month about changes that could affect operations. The board is expecting to interview three architectural firms for the project.
Specifications and architect’s plans are necessary to get a cost estimate for building the stage, which will be situated near the river in a flood plain, Pelissier said.
The amphitheater project is expected to go to bid and break ground by next year. There’s still some work to be done before construction, including asbestos removal from the adjacent house that will be razed to make way for a concession stand.
The second phase, once the amphitheater is constructed, will include design and development of the Bell Building for a black box and dance theater. A parking area along the river will connect the amphitheater and black box theater at the Bell Building.
I hope they considered the flood plane that is built on as when the robinson's branch of the rahway river floods that place could well be under water.
If I remember correctly, the city originally wanted to build the black box theater (now slated up the street in the former Bell Building) at the site. After the big spring N'oreaster of a few years ago (~April 2006 or 2007?), the plan was to changed to an amphitheater. I'd imagine that handles high waters better than an actual building.
OK, so we know it floods, so we build….i'm confused…like there's not enough space to just knock down in this town to put it in a non flooding area??? Really???