bergenPAC Applauds Local Community for Helping to Preserve Future of Liberty School

Non-Profit Extends Its Appreciation to Hundreds Who Called Upon City Council to Halt Redevelopment Process and Vote In Favor of “Not Blighting” the Liberty School

ENGLEWOOD, N.J., Jan. 21 /PRNewswire/ — As part of its mission to make performing arts education accessible to the entire community, bergenPAC extends its appreciation to the hundreds of supporters who called upon the Planning Board to stop the redevelopment process that would have likely led to the demolition of the Liberty School. During a Planning Board meeting on January 8, more than 200 community members gathered to voice their opposition to a resolution by the City Council to Englewood’s Planning Board to “blight” the area surrounding the historic Liberty School. Driven by the public outpouring of support, the Planning Board voted 7-1 in favor of halting the redevelopment process that would have likely resulted in the school being torn down and replaced with high density public housing.

“We thank the Planning Board for providing the community with an opportunity to have a voice and for voting to halt the redevelopment process,” said Frank Huttle III, chairman of bergenPAC. “The community has spoken and we stand together in our support of the Liberty School. In addition to serving as a tribute to our past, the Liberty School provides tremendous opportunities for the future.”

Working in tandem with the Board of Education, bergenPAC had designated the Liberty School to be the site of the Performing Arts School during the day and evening for all children and adults of the community. Based on a successful pilot program that bergenPAC has led for four years, the Performing Arts School would provide students with an opportunity to shadow performing arts professionals, attend expert lecture series and experience master classes taught by world class artists. This model program will set a standard for future programs in other cities, counties and states to follow. The Liberty School currently houses an alternative school and administrative office space in addition to after-3 training programs.

Led by Huttle, representatives and supporters of bergenPAC filled the auditorium at the Planning Board meeting to capacity to lobby against the resolution by the Council to designate the Liberty School as an “area of redevelopment” or “blighted.”

“As the Planning Board voted ‘no’ to redevelopment, the future of Liberty School property is now a simple, straightforward decision that, under municipal law, rests squarely with the Mayor and City Council, where it belongs,” said Huttle. “We hope that the City uses our existing land use ordinance to determine the future use of this historic landmark and makes the right decisions for all residents of Englewood.”

About bergenPAC:

Known as The John Harms Center for 27 years, this cultural hub in Englewood has been reborn as the Bergen Performing Arts Center or bergenPAC. This 1,367-seat theater is a landmark, and in its fifth season as bergenPAC it remains one of the finest acoustic halls in the United States. The legendary Tony Bennett and Canadian crooner k.d. lang recorded their 2003 Grammy award-winning CD live on bergenPAC’s own stage through a broadband fiber-optic connection with Bennett Studios. bergenPAC is the home of a media production system that is unparalleled, upholding its reputation as a venue for outstanding music, dance, and theater. As a non-profit corporation, bergenPAC has thrived thanks to the aid and generosity of sponsors, donors and patrons.

SOURCE bergenPAC