Red Bank Senior Center Renovations Begin

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Matthew Schmalzel, left, and Jonathan Schmalzel, owners of J&M Quality Contractors, discuss renovation plans for the Red Bank Senior Center. Sunayana Prabhu

By Sunayana Prabhu

RED BANK – Blueprints and construction staging plans for the Red Bank Senior Center are complete and the center is finally getting renovated after three years of being in a state of disrepair.

Red Bank Borough Council unanimously approved a resolution May 11 awarding the contract for Red Bank Senior Center renovations to J&M Quality Contractors of Neptune, setting a definite timeline for its much-awaited reopening.

The borough approved a total amount of $1,493,107 for the complete renovations to J&M, the lowest bidder among four close contenders. According to Matt Schmalzel, supervisor for the project at J&M, who has worked on properties with Victorian architecture and historic significance, “We have previously worked on older properties in Ocean Grove and the Eatontown Senior Center. It means a lot to us, (more) than a regular public job because it is for the seniors.”

Construction and repairs at Red Bank Senior Center begin. The center is located at 80 Shrewsbury Ave. Sunayana Prabhu

Matt co-owns the company with his brother, Jonathan Schmalzel who is project manager at the company. Jonathan mentioned that repairs to the Red Bank Senior Center “will be complete within 5-6 months,” with all existing damages addressed and additional upgrades added, hopefully, just in time for the holidays.  

While the basic layout of the building remains the same, the list of new additions includes new exterior entry doors, windows and siding, new finishes, floors, walls and ceilings, a new HVAC system, new interior lighting, new plumbing fixtures and accessories, in addition to renovations to the entire fire protection system to bring it up to code. Adhering to safety regulations and accessibility for the elderly, ADA grab bars will be installed. 

Entering a fully functioning senior center through brand new doors around Thanksgiving will perhaps be the most ceremonious end to the deep freeze of February 2019 that burst a pipe at the center, followed by three years of contentious battles between residents and councilmembers. 

Adding additional goodwill to the beginnings of the senior center restoration, Mayor Pasquale Menna and the council members “proclaimed the month of May 2022 as Older Americans’ Month” joining a national movement to celebrate senior. “Seniors are looking forward to going home,” said Councilman Ed Zipprich.

Among other topics covered at the meeting, Councilman Michael Ballard discussed regulating safety protocols in Red Bank related to managing 15 Airbnbs in the borough. The council also discussed the film crew from Navesink River Road Productions currently in the process of filming in the Two River area. Police Chief Darren McConnell continues to temporarily serve as borough administrator while the search for a permanent candidate is ongoing.

The article originally appeared in the May 19 – 25, 2022 print edition of The Two River Times.