Post by admin on Aug 21, 2008 6:34:20 GMT -5
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FREEHOLD — Energized by recent borough improvement projects, Councilman George Schnurr has taken on a pet project of his own: the clean-up of the Throckmorton Street bus station.
"Just to clean things up doesn't really take that much," Schnurr said.
Simple as the improvements may be, the councilman said he observed several issues that he felt needed to be addressed at the station, which is at the corner of Throckmorton and West Main streets.
Trash would blow from the station over to the firehouse next door. Boxes accumulated behind the building and, at one point, the property had four trash bins, Schnurr said.
Schnurr says he was inspired to take on the problem while talking to residents on Center Street. He had been canvassing the area to discuss an upcoming paving project and possible repair projects to be completed by the town's newly-formed Neighborhood Pride committee, he said.
A resident suggested that he focus on the station and, after investigating the issue, he presented his concerns to the Borough Council last month.
After that meeting, Schnurr said local code enforcement officials noted several violations at the property. He did not know the specific violations.
Schnurr, Borough Administrator Joseph Bellina and the town's director of code enforcement, Henry Stryker III, then met with the bus station owner, Keaton "Jimmy" Shah, according to Schnurr.
That meeting was apparently successful, resulting in Shah agreeing to several improvements, according to Schnurr.
Those improvements include power-washing the building's exterior and concrete around the building, possibly enclosing the trash bins to shield them from view, painting the trim and planting flowers. Shah also agreed to cleaning the area between the building and the fences around it, adding signs in both English and Spanish (including signs asking people to properly throw away trash) and installing more outside lights.
Shah, who is out of the country and could not be reached for comment, also is considering renovations to the building's interior, according to Schnurr.
Two businesses are housed in the station, said Schnurr — a convenience store and an eatery.
Since officials' visit with Shah, some of the agreed-upon changes have already been made, Schnurr said. The back of the building was power-washed and garbage that had accumulated there was cleared away. More lights, which Schnurr said were Shah's idea, also have been added, potted plants were placed on the property and the four trash bins have been reduced to one, Schnurr said.
"They did a good job," Schnurr said.
The matter of shielding the trash bins has yet to be resolved, because enclosing them could be costly, Schnurr said.
Bicycle racks are to be placed in the area as well, a project that was paid for by the Freehold Rotary Club. Schnurr had voiced concerns last month that the racks were not yet installed, even though the money was donated about seven months ago.
"I think it's just something that fell through the cracks," he said.
Schnurr plans to continue monitoring the area until the improvements are completed, he said. Once they are done, the councilman hopes to move on to new maintenance projects to spruce up the borough's main thoroughfares.
Throckmorton Street, in particular, will be a priority, he said: "Throckmorton Street needs a little TLC."
FREEHOLD — Energized by recent borough improvement projects, Councilman George Schnurr has taken on a pet project of his own: the clean-up of the Throckmorton Street bus station.
"Just to clean things up doesn't really take that much," Schnurr said.
Simple as the improvements may be, the councilman said he observed several issues that he felt needed to be addressed at the station, which is at the corner of Throckmorton and West Main streets.
Trash would blow from the station over to the firehouse next door. Boxes accumulated behind the building and, at one point, the property had four trash bins, Schnurr said.
Schnurr says he was inspired to take on the problem while talking to residents on Center Street. He had been canvassing the area to discuss an upcoming paving project and possible repair projects to be completed by the town's newly-formed Neighborhood Pride committee, he said.
A resident suggested that he focus on the station and, after investigating the issue, he presented his concerns to the Borough Council last month.
After that meeting, Schnurr said local code enforcement officials noted several violations at the property. He did not know the specific violations.
Schnurr, Borough Administrator Joseph Bellina and the town's director of code enforcement, Henry Stryker III, then met with the bus station owner, Keaton "Jimmy" Shah, according to Schnurr.
That meeting was apparently successful, resulting in Shah agreeing to several improvements, according to Schnurr.
Those improvements include power-washing the building's exterior and concrete around the building, possibly enclosing the trash bins to shield them from view, painting the trim and planting flowers. Shah also agreed to cleaning the area between the building and the fences around it, adding signs in both English and Spanish (including signs asking people to properly throw away trash) and installing more outside lights.
Shah, who is out of the country and could not be reached for comment, also is considering renovations to the building's interior, according to Schnurr.
Two businesses are housed in the station, said Schnurr — a convenience store and an eatery.
Since officials' visit with Shah, some of the agreed-upon changes have already been made, Schnurr said. The back of the building was power-washed and garbage that had accumulated there was cleared away. More lights, which Schnurr said were Shah's idea, also have been added, potted plants were placed on the property and the four trash bins have been reduced to one, Schnurr said.
"They did a good job," Schnurr said.
The matter of shielding the trash bins has yet to be resolved, because enclosing them could be costly, Schnurr said.
Bicycle racks are to be placed in the area as well, a project that was paid for by the Freehold Rotary Club. Schnurr had voiced concerns last month that the racks were not yet installed, even though the money was donated about seven months ago.
"I think it's just something that fell through the cracks," he said.
Schnurr plans to continue monitoring the area until the improvements are completed, he said. Once they are done, the councilman hopes to move on to new maintenance projects to spruce up the borough's main thoroughfares.
Throckmorton Street, in particular, will be a priority, he said: "Throckmorton Street needs a little TLC."
