The Fanwood Borough Council unanimously approved final adoption of the financing package for Carano Square, the residential project planned for the South Avenue site of the former A&P supermarket during the regular November Council meeting Monday, November 21, 2022.
The project, representing a $52-million investment by owners Robert and Carl Checchio, will build 119 market-rate units and 21 affordable units along with a 5,000-square-foot restaurant and a new building for Fanwood Liquors. The project next goes to the Planning Board for its approval. Construction could start in the spring of 2023.
Mayor Colleen Mahr and Council President Anthony Carter
The Council also approved the contracts for the construction and site management for the new library totaling just over $8.2 million. The old library, now vacant, will undergo demolition over the next two weeks with utility disconnects occurring next week and actual demolition scheduled to begin December 5th. During the construction, the library is operating out of the historic train station on North Avenue.
With the prospect of a 22% increase in the cost of health insurance for Borough employees, the Council approved leaving the state system and joining a health insurance fund for a lesser increase of 13% for comparable benefits. Coverage with the Bergen Municipal Employee Benefit Fund will begin on February 1, 2023. Increases in health insurance and other costs prompted a somber warning from Councilwoman Erin McElroy Barter, echoed by CFO Trish Celardo, that the 2023 budget will be extremely tight with new challenges to maintain the current level of services while keeping taxes at bay.
Robert Schott demonstrates Sprawly Walls for the Council
In a light moment, Robert Schott, an inventor who grew up in Fanwood, demonstrated his latest product just hitting the market, a modular dollhouse called Sprawly Walls that allows kids to build a home and combine it with Legos, Kinex, dry erase markers and other craft elements. The product is available, just in time for the holidays, at www.sprawlywalls.com. Mr. Schott, the son of Fanwood resident and 100-year old World War Two veteran Joe Schott, was invited to make his presentation by Council President Anthony Carter.
