Wednesday, 31 January 2024 n www.TheObserver.com n Volume CXXXVI, Issue No. 39
UNDER THE COVER The Essex-Hudson Greenway is coming to Kearny. But many questions remain. Page 3
BELLEVILLE n BLOOMFIELD n EAST NEWARK n HARRISON n KEARNY n LYNDHURST n NORTH ARLINGTON n NUTLEY
TO OUR HEALTH! After months of meetings & planning, Kearny’s ready to go out to bid for Belgrove Drive Health Center Annex By Kevin A. Canessa Jr.
W
Jeff Schlecht | Barbara B. Goldberg photo
kc@theobserver.com
hat was once a police substation on Belgrove Drive will, within months, be officially transformed into a new Kearny Health Department community annex, bringing more, much-needed healthcare access to the southern end of town and East Newark. While the property has been used for events like food distribution and more, it will become much more than that once the project is completed in
about a year, according to the town. Last week, Jeff Schlecht, senior project manager of the firm RSC Architects, Hackensack, was at Town Hall to explain the project. “The annex will provide supplemental health services to the local community — testing, inoculations, food distribution and seminars, so it’s small, one-story facility to supplement everything else going on.” Schlecht says the new facility will be in the same spot of the old police substation that was built in the late 1990s. The parking lot on the other side of the property will not be af-
TRANSFORMING @ KEARNY fected, though the annex will include four spots for employees and visitors. The existing trailer will be removed to make way for a 1,500 square foot “square” building with a vestibule for reception, a meeting room big enough to accommodate up to 41 people, two consultation (exam) rooms, a restroom and a small office area with workstations for employSee ANNEX, Page 18