Council Agrees to Accept Habernickel Grant

The Ridgewood Village Council agreed last Wednesday to accept a $60,000 county grant for accessibility ramps to the horse barn at Habernickel Park, though the fate of the barn is yet to be determined.

Officials also agreed to bid out, at a cost estimated at $8,000, a study of options for the barn, including rehabilitation of the existing structure and construction of a new, similar facility.

Members of the council had previously remained hesitant about accepting the grant due to apparent structural deficiencies in the building. Last week the council was unanimous that a facility of some kind is needed for restrooms and shelter at the park, but specified that a study of the building should compare the costs of constructing a new barn to rehabilitating the existing structure.

“We should have some sort of facility up at Habernickel Park, without a doubt,” Councilman Tom Riche said, but continued to list a series of what he called “structural deficiencies” in the building, including with the foundation, the frame and the roof.

“Although it’s in pretty bad shape at the moment, there are some elements and interesting features,” said Richard Brooks, the chair of the village’s parks and recreation committee. “We shouldn’t jump to tear this structure down, and instead look for ways that we can get some use out of it.”

He suggested that the stables on the interior could be used as a unique setting for classrooms or art studios.

“It offers this opportunity to create something that doesn’t exist right now,” he said.

Riche suggested that the historical features of the interior, and a restoration to the building’s cupola, be incorporated into the construction of a new barn.

“I think the horse stall elements should be incorporated into a new facility with a proper foundation and modern amenities,” he said.

Councilwoman Bernadette Walsh said that based on conversations with people who have recently constructed barns, the cost could come in under $30,000. But village staff indicated that the grant money could not be redirected to cover the cost of the new construction.

Chris Rutishauser, the village engineer, said the various options for the barn could be incorporated into a request for proposals for the feasibility study, including the cost of placing a prefab structure the existing interior.

“You still keep some of the most interesting elements of that stable but you put it in a new, modern, [more] weather-tight building,” he said.

Officials said that, depending on the results of the study, the village may have to request to redirect or repurpose the grant.