Serving Hudson County’s Progressive Jewish Community for Over 150 Years
Serving Hudson County’s Progressive Jewish Community for Over 150 Years
Newest entries at the top
April 24, 2024 – Heating System Work Close to Completion
In the past week, the heating system work was completed in the balconies and on the south side of the Sanctuary. Work proceeds on the north side.
April 17, 2024 – Even More Heating System Progress
Over the past week, our crew completed the baseboard installation in the south balcony and has nearly completed the north balcony. They have also started to move all the radiators on the main floor of the sanctuary as they prepare to install the baseboards there.
April 10, 2024 – More Heating System Progress
Here are before and after shots of one of the Temple balconies, showing the old radiators and the new, modern baseboards. Installation proceeds this week, to be followed by the installation of the equipment that will convert our big gas-fired steam boiler to hot water. The new system should be fully functional in 2-3 weeks. The installation was delayed but now we don’t have to worry about cold weather while the heat is off.
Those old radiators are heavy!
March 27, 2024 – Progress with the Historic Preservation Commission
Preparation for the new Sanctuary-level heating system continues as we wait for needed equipment to arrive. We think it will be installed during the week of April 8.
On March 26, we received Historic Preservation Commission approval to build a 6’ high fence around the below-grade emergency exit on the Harrison Ave. side of the Temple, but not on the Bentley Ave. (yard) side. We will have a new 6’ fence all around the yard so the Commissioners felt we would be adequately protected.
With only 7 of the 9 Commissioners in attendance, we didn’t have the 5 votes we needed to approve the canopies we need to build over these areas, so we will return again, armed with even more information from our engineers. Numerous members of our Congregation, including some kids (!) and a neighbor, testified powerfully before the Commission and we hope that even more people will come out next time. We’ll let you know as soon as the date is set.
March 20, 2024 – Upcoming Jersey City Historical Preservation Commission Mtg. / More Progress on the Heating System
Your Facilities Committee, along with our team of architects, engineers, lawyers and consultants, will meet again with the Jersey City Historical Preservation Commission on March 26 to request their approval of the canopies that are intended to keep rain out of the Social Hall emergency exits. We will also asks them to approve the new fencing we want to install around those areas. Write Tom Rosensweet at tom@betheljc.org if you’d like to make a statement at the hearing.
Meanwhile, we are very close to having all the engineering drawings that are needed to support the Social Hall construction permit applications.
Finally, the heating system upgrade continues as does the work to upgrade the drainage system outside the emergency exits.
March 6, 2024 – Heating System Improvements (continued)
Photos of the new copper tubing in the boiler room and on the way upstairs.
February 28, 2024 – Heating System Improvements Continue
Copper tubing is now being hung from the ceiling of the Social Hall. Shortly, baseboards will be installed in the Sanctuary and balconies, and our steam boiler will be converted to produce hot water for our new, high-efficiency, low-maintenance heating system.
February 7, 2024 – Asbestos Remediation – DONE!
All the asbestos insulation has been removed from the Temple’s heating system in these areas and throughout the Social Hall. The dark pipes in these photos had all been covered with asbestos. Now that it has been removed, we can proceed with the heating system improvements.
Tom
January 31, 2024 – Goodbye Asbestos
Here are our hazmat specialists removing the asbestos insulation from the old steam heating pipes above the Social Hall. That’s why the building has to be closed. Once this work is complete, another team will begin to install the new, corrosion-free copper tubing that will be used in the upgraded hot-water heating system.
Meanwhile, Facilities Committee members continue to meet with our contractor, architects and consultants to prepare for our hearing with the Jersey City Historic Preservation Commission to request clearance of some external work that is part of the flood-mitigation process as well as an upgrade to our security fencing.
Tom
January 24, 2024 – Work Has Begun
Before the Social Hall renovation begins, we are updating the heating system. Contractors have been in and out of the building this week to finalize their step-by-step plans. They have torn down the metal grill that held up the old ceiling tiles, which had to be removed as part of the mold remediation after the flood. The grid interferes with the work that has to be done on the pipes and the sprinkler system that will be installed in the Social Hall. Here are a couple of pictures:
Next week, the asbestos insulation that’s wrapped around some of the steam pipes, and some asbestos-containing floor tiles near the boiler room in the basement, will be removed by licensed asbestos abatement experts. The following week, after the area has been certified clean, the real work will begin on the heating system. Much more to come.
Tom
January 17, 2024 – Big News!
Most components of the renovation were approved this week by the Jersey City Historic Preservation Commission. As soon as we receive some final drawings from our engineers, we will apply for construction permits.
Along with our architects and consultants, we will make a formal presentation to the commission in February so that we can finalize plans for the areas outside the Social Hall emergency exit walkways and steps. We plan to install new fencing to improve security and canopies to keep the area dry, since this was the primary access point of the water that flooded the Social Hall.
The heating system upgrade began this week. Materials have been ordered and work schedules have been set with the subcontractors. The first step will be to remove the asbestos insulation from the old steam pipes. The hazmat team will only be available the last week of January, so that’s when visible changes will start to happen. We are making plans for a short period, approximately the first two weeks of March, when the system will have to be shut down.
Tom
January 9, 2024 – The Beginning is Near!
Welcome to the inaugural entry of the new Temple Renovation Blog. The Facilities Committee is thrilled to announce that the Temple Renovation is set to begin on January 15. We have been working long and hard on the plan to rebuild the Social Hall following the 2021 flood but, first, we’re going to revamp the old inefficient, noisy, constantly-breaking steam heat system that has brought us so many big expenses and cold services over the past few years. We are converting to a gas-powered hot water system should be fully operable by mid-March.
We expect our plans for the interior portion of the Social Hall renovation to be approved by the City in the next couple of weeks, enabling us to apply for building permits and then to get started on this major part of the project. We’ve engaged specialized consultants and an attorney to make the approval and permitting process as seamless as possible.
In early February, we will appear before the Jersey City Historical Preservation
Commission to present our plans for the exterior work – canopies over the emergency exit areas on the Bentley and Harrison Ave. sides of the building and fencing under our Department of Homeland Security grant.
We will also repair the roof so that there are no more leaks and no more damage to our beautiful plaster work. This will be done before we complete the Social Hall renovation.
This has been a long time coming but you are going to see real progress soon!
Tom
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January 2, 2024 – Here’s the Social Hall today…
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