Planning for an updated DPW Facility 

Hopewell Borough’s Buildings and Grounds subcommittee, working with the Department of Public Works (DPW) staff, our administrator and outside professionals have engaged architect Ronica Bregenzer to design much needed upgrades on the DPW facility on Burton Avenue. 

DPW Project 

Believed to have been constructed circa 1914, the Borough’s Department of Public Works facility on Burton Avenue is the base of operations of our town’s water, sewer and public works operations.  

An open house and public tour was held on December 13, 2025 and a second open house/tour was held on Saturday February 7, 2026. 

Documents on the project can be found below.  A presentation on the project was conducted at the June 2025 Borough Council meeting, video for that presentation can be found on the Borough’s YouTube page (presentation begins at approximately 10:00 minutes into the video feed, following the gun safety proclamation). A second updated presentation was conducted at the February 18, 2026 Planning Board meeting, video for that presentation can also be found on the Borough’s YouTube page (presentation begins at approximately 22:00 minutes into the video feed). Revised plans resulting from additional review of the project and meetings with neighbors will be posted shortly, and are included in the video of the February 18, 2026 Planning Board meeting.  

Estimated Project Costs and Funding  

The current estimated project cost is approximately $3.2 million.  $2.7 million of that sum was authorized and bonded for in 2021 (ordinance 849, amended by ordinance 996) and approximately $200,000 for the project was provided through a federal grant under the American Rescue Plan.  In 2025 an additional $630,000 was authorized (but not yet borrowed) by ordinance 905.  

Once plans are finalized, a bid package will be created and bids from contractors will be solicited (currently planned for this spring) to determine final pricing. 

Project Timeline   

2021 – Borough issues bonds for prior version of the project
2021/2022 – Borough receives $200,000 in Federal American Rescue Plan funds for project 
2022/2023 – increasing costs and DEP requirements cause project to be redesigned and scaled back, removing the rear garage area due to costs
2024 – project revisited with new administrator to attempt to include additional covered parking area to the rear for the additional DPW equipment

June 2025 – Presentation at Borough Council Meeting
September/October 2025 – First/Second reading and public hearing of Ordinance 905 authorizing additional funding 
December 2025 – Tour/Open House of DPW facility
January 2026 – Meetings with neighboring property owners
January/February 2026 – Capital review by Historic Preservation Commission
February 7, 2026 – Additional Open House/Public Coffee at DPW Facility 
February 2026 – Plans revised based on resident and neighbor feedback
February 18, 2026 – Review/Presentation at Planning Board meeting