For nearly a year, the Waldwick Community Alliance has been negotiating with NJ Transit to either acquire a favorable, long term lease or a purchase agreement in order to restore the abandoned and dilapidated Waldwick Train Station back to its’ original condition and utilize it as a historical museum, commemorating the history of Waldwick and of railroading. This proposal has received overwhelming approval from the citizens of Waldwick, NJ Transit passengers, the Waldwick Mayor & Council, State Congressmen and State Senators. Everyone is supporting the plan but NJ Transit.
Since taking over the rail line, NJ Transit has maintained their property at the Waldwick Station in deplorable condition. That is an absolute fact that cannot be denied. We have been told numerous times by NJ Transit officials that, "The Waldwick Station is an unwanted inheritance that NJ Transit wishes would just fall down".
What NJ Transit fails to recognize is that when it acquires an unwanted asset like the Waldwick Station, it still has an obligation to maintain it. Especially since it is listed on both the state and national registries of historic places and is part of a Thematic Nomination of Operating Passenger Railroad Stations in New Jersey. This building, as well as their unsightly, dangerous and non-ADA compliant pedestrian bridge, have become the two most significant examples of blight that NJ Transit has forced the residents of Waldwick as well as your own passengers to live with. The current condition of the train station and surrounding area is simply not acceptable. NJ Transit can not continue to devalue the properties in the area by its’ neglect just because it feels that is has the right.
It is apparent that NJ Transit has no intention of restoring what they own or to even maintain it for that matter. Because the building is no longer utilized, NJ Transit has stated that it has NO intentions of doing ANYTHING with the building other than secure it. NJ Transit has stated that there are no plans for any changes at the Waldwick Station during the next 20 years. The Waldwick Train Station building will not last another 20 years unless something is done now!
Regardless of budgetary issues, NJ Transit must provide safety to its’ passengers as well as to the general public. Photos on this page show NJ Transits lack of concern for its passengers, to the people of Waldwick, and to history. The chimney in eminent danger of collapsing onto the sidewalk below. There are piles of bird feces, sheets of peeling lead paint, rotting areas of the structure and insufficient lighting. When confronted with these photos, along with several others, they claimed that the chimney is secure and that the remainder of the items cannot be addressed due to budgetary issues. They did, however, cover the chimney with a plastic tarp and two bungee chords. (I suppose they think it can hold thousands of pounds of falling bricks.) They claim no money is available to provide safety and to clean up their mess, yet $40,000,000 is about to be spent just a few miles down the track in Ridgewood.
Because of NJ Transits budget "crisis", the Waldwick Community Alliance has decided to be proactive and restore the building ourselves in an effort to help restore our neighborhood. The improvements to the station alone have been estimated to cost upwards of $1,000,000. In return, all we have asked, is that NJ Transit allow the beautification of a small area around the building. That is it. We are not asking for money. We are not asking assistance. We are simply asking permission to allow the beautification of their property.
We have supplied diagrams detailing the area to be improved. We have proved that there is absolutely no shortage of parking. We have shown that we can move the required handicap spaces even closer to the pedestrian bridge and do it at our cost. We have shown the ability to immediately add 24 additional spaces at the north end of the lot by simply paving an area they already own. We have showed them a resolution passed by the Waldwick Mayor & Council officially approving our plan. But none of this seems acceptable.
During the past 11 months the W.C.A. has not changed a single request. NJ Transit has changed their offer no fewer than 4 times. They have discussed a subdivision of the property, then a 25 year building & land lease, then a purchase of the building with a land lease and most recently, a building lease with absolutly no option for a land lease. This offer also comes with extremely unrealistic terms including, among other things, an $11,000,000 insurance policy.
Clearly this is an inefficient and unsympathetic company who needs the public to to force it to comply. This is a company who claims to have spent $400,000 on the new inbound shelter opposite the abandoned station. The shelter measures 458 square feet consists of 1 room with 4 walls and a roof sitting on a concrete slab. And it is your tax dollars that fund this waste. So please contact NJ Transit as well as your state officials and make sure that this wonderful piece of history is not lost forever. You can find names, addresses and phone numbers in the "links" section of this website.
Sincerely,
Douglas Cowie
Vice President
Waldwick Community Alliance
During the month of May, the Waldwick Community Alliance has had several meetings with NJ Transit, and the Borough of Waldwick regarding the "revitalization process". And while little visible progress is noted, much is going on behind the scenes. The Mayor & council recently approved funding for the "old fashion" lighting which is to be installed along W. Prospect Street. Unfortunately, a PSE&G backlog for new installations is delaying the process. We have been assured by the borough that they are working with the utility to expedite the process as quickly as possible.
The next major project we continue to work on is the lease negotiations with NJ Transit to acquire the Waldwick Train Station. This has proved to be challenging. While NJ Transit publicly speaks of the need for "historic preservation" and "giving back to the community", they continue to set forth extremely unrealistic terms, making the stations acquisition nearly impossible. The station is individually listed on the federal and New Jersey Register of Historic Places and a part of the Thematic Nomination of Operating Passenger Railroad Stations. But on 3 occasions we have been told by NJ Transit officials that, "the Waldwick Station is an unwanted inheritance that NJ Transit wishes would just fall down". Like it or not, NJ Transit has an obligation to maintain their historic structures which they own. If they will not, they should convey the property to an organization who will. There is a clear example of "Demolition By Neglect" that cannot be tolerated.
The Waldwick Train Station is unquestionably the most historically significant buildings in the town of Waldwick and is clearly linked as the birthplace of the borough. The property owners of this area have taken the revitalization of this area very seriously and we cannot allow NJ Transit to neglect the 2 most visible signs of blight in this neighborhood, which is the station and the pedestrian bridge.
We have contacted all of our local congressman & senators to pressure NJ Transit to either restore the building themselves or give reasonable terms to a qualified group who will do it for them. Please contact our local politicians to help. Please go to the "links" page on this web site for a contact information. The more we complain, the better chance we will have in restoring our neighborhood to its former glory.
Sincerely,
Douglas Cowie
"W.C.A. Is Awarded Approvals For Train Station"
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Over the past several months the W.C.A. has been in the process of planning for the restoration of the Waldwick Train Station which is the cornerstone of our revitalization process. During this time several plans & detailed reports have been submitted and discussed in meetings with NJ Transit officials. Our overall goal has been to not only achieve our groups vision of the downtown area, but address the long term needs and concerns of NJ Transit and the Borough of Waldwick. Throughout the process, the borough has been updated with our progress to ensure that our plans meet their expectations.
On April 3, 2007, the Mayor & Council unanimously approved a resolution officially adopting our plan for the train station project. With that commitment in place, NJ Transit held a meeting on April 5, 2007 with all department heads resulting in a decision to offer a long term lease arrangement with the Waldwick Community Alliance.
We have been told that over the past 40 years there have been several individuals and groups who have tried, unsuccessfully, to acquire the train station. But the detailed plans, and commitment from the W.C.A. coupled with the official support from the borough resulted in being awarded the building.
While we are elated to have the opportunity to restore the most historically important building in Waldwick, we realize there is a long and somewhat difficult road ahead. Before a final lease is signed, the W.C.A. must clear several hurdles with NJ Transit. We must provide engineering and construction reports following all local, state and historic building requirements, provide proof of financing, and detail our long term plan to maintain the building. And this will all take time.
This may be somewhat discouraging, but we fully realize that this is the path we must follow and that the end result will far exceed the challenges we face. While we continue to make progress with this project, we will continue to proceed with our many other components in the revitalization process of the area.
While we plan to fund the major restoration of the Train Station through government grants, we must fund the planning, engineering and legal costs ourselves. So we ask that everyone join in this worthwhile effort and make a tax deductible donation today. The more money we raise, the quicker we will reach our goals. This is among the most dramatic changes to a Waldwick neighborhood in over 100 years, and I am truly proud to be a part of this.
Yours truly,
Douglas Cowie
Vice President
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Planning For "Revitalization" Begins
Our "Historic Downtown" proposal was presented to the Mayor & Council in the summer of 2006 and was very well received. This successful presentation led to private meetings with the Mayor & Borough Administrator where priorities and details were discussed at greater lengths. Although the borough has agreed to provide logistical help for this rather extensive project, there are no immediate plans for the borough to fund the major restoration.
The first order of business is to make "stop-gap" repairs to the deteriorating train station building. This is to prevent further decay, especially to the roof, while plans and funding for a complete restoration are obtained. Permission from NJ Transit and the NJ State Historical Society has been granted, and work is slated to begin. Labor and materials are being supplied by local business owner, and WCA member R.F. Reveley Construction Co. who has extensive expertise in the restoration of historical buildings. Planning and estimating for the next order of business has already begun. This is to replace and add necessary sidewalks with decorative paver walkways. Once this plan is accepted by the Mayor & Council, the borough has agreed to handle the proposed lighting scheme which will include "old-time" street lamps characteristic of the early 1900^s.
The WCA wants to bring a historical theme and a sense of pride back to the area. A "Walking History Tour" is being planned, which will extend from West Prospect Street at Franklin Turnpike, and extend west to Hewson Avenue, along the rail line and wrap around to Harrison Avenue, where a quiet reflecting area is being planned for the vacant lot at the end of Harrison Avenue. This tour will include 19th and early 20th century photographs of the area and commemorate the history of the rail line and the little known trolley line which once ran through the area.
