July 16, 2014 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • Page 5 Midland Park Barn officially belongs to ambulance corps J.T. Bolger, left, and Mayor Patrick “Bud” O’Hagan, help David T. Bolger cut the ribbon at the dedication ceremony. The converted vintage barn on the ITT Marlow property on Godwin Avenue in Midland Park was officially turned over to the Midland Park Volunteer Ambulance Corps last month in a ribbon-cutting cer- emony witnessed by more than 50 people. Attendees had the opportunity to tour the new facility and share refreshments. The Bolger Foundation purchased the abandoned barn on 1.5 acres from Marlow Park, totally remodeled it, and turned it over to the corps, which will use the first floor as its headquarters, and manage the community center on the second floor. The entire project cost $1.7 million. “David saw the barn and wanted to do something with it. He has more vision in one finger than we have in our entire body,” said Bolger Foundation Attorney Tom Wells of philanthropist David Bolger, who headed the foundation before turning leadership over to his son J.T. “Problems didn’t phase him. It’s not for sale; it’s a mess; it’s not a good building; no one is asking for a community center,” Wells said of discussions with Bolger once he’d made up his mind. “He said:’get together with Peter (Tom’s brother and an architect), and make it happen.’” JT Bolger said energy efficiency was important, with a goal of cutting energy bills in half or more. Two 250 ft. deep wells will keep the cooling bill down to less than $100 a month, he said. The project has garnered two energy efficiency awards, including a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold Award. LEED is a rating system for the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of green build- ings. “It’s a unique building,” said Architect Peter Wells. His design incorporated such environmentally-friendly features as geo- thermal heating and cooling, water reduc- ing fixtures, and LED lights as well as occupancy sensors to enable the building to have low maintenance costs and mini- mal use of natural resources. The project reused materials from the original building, including wood siding and wood beams, and specified locally sourced materials with high recycled content. On the exterior of the building, perme- able pavers were used to reduce runoff, drought-tolerant plants that require less water were used for landscape, and high reflective roofing material was installed to reduce heat island effect and thermal gains. A bike rack and preferred parking spaces for fuel efficient cars were provided to encourage environmentally-friendly modes of transportation and help reduce carbon emissions. David Visbeen of Ridgewood was the general contractor. “We thank you for your generosity now and in the past,” said Mayor Ptrick “Bud” O’Hagan. The corps’ previous headquarters on Pierce Avenue, built in the mid 1940s in a residential neighborhood, is for sale, listed at $325,000. Dr. Alan Kooreman, who served as liaison for the project, said the corps has an offer, but no contract has been signed as yet. He said the corps is working on the guidelines under which the commu- nity center will be made available to the public.