Past News, Messages and Information

• NOTICE: EXTENSION OF DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF RESPONSES TO REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS BURLINGTON BOARD OF ISLAND MANAGERS DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY AT BURLINGTON ISLAND, NEW JERSEY The Burlington Board of Island Managers seeks Expressions of Interest and Qualifications for the development, planning, design, financing, and construction as well as ongoing operation, lease-out and management of an approved recreational, conservational, educational, and/or cultural project on Burlington Island, Burlington, New Jersey.
  The Burlington Board of Island Managers intends to select a developer and award a long-term ground lease to build on this uninhabited, undeveloped Island consisting of approximately 400 acres, known as Burlington City Tax Map Block 230, Lots 1 and 2, located in the Delaware River, about 150 yards off the coast of Burlington City, in a truly unique venue for the region. Flexibility exists in the development and design of the building program; however, any proposed development plan must take into account several unique site characteristics including the historic significance of the Island, the site’s high-visibility, off shore location, and the need for limited bridge access to the site. Development plans will be subject to a considerable variety of federal, state and local requirements and planning approvals.
  The selection of a developer for this unique opportunity will be based upon responses to a Request for Proposals issued to qualified developers who have expressed interest in the site. In order to receive the RFP, developers should submit written Expressions of Interest and Qualifications, including examples of demonstrated experience in financing, planning, constructing and managing projects of comparable scope and complexity.
  Pursuant to the Request for Proposals (RFP) previously published by the Board of Island Managers, all proposals submitted to date have been rejected and new deadlines have been established for providing responses to the RFP in accordance with it terms.
  The new deadline for submitting Expressions of Interest and Qualifications is in the RFP.
  The new deadline for submission of proposals under Section VII of the RFP shall be 3:00 P.M. on December 1, 2009.
  A new date for a public informational meeting under Section V of the RFP shall be set by the Board and published in the same manner as this extension to the RFP.
  With the exception of these changes, all other terms, provisions and conditions of the Request for Proposals as originally issued shall remain in full force and effect.
  Proposals in Response to the RFP must be submitted not later than 3:00 P.M. on December 1, 2009 to:
  Board of Island Managers
  c/o Burlington City Administrator, Robin Snodgrass
  525 High Street
  Burlington, NJ 08016
  Attn: RFP Response
  
• "Nothing will ever happen on Burlington Island" as the saying goes, if you have heard this once, you have heard it a thousand times. Your Island Managers do not believe that statement and let us tell you why.
  We are moving forward at a rapid pace to spur development of the Island. Here are events from the last 4 months. In deciding the outcome of this year's election, more Burlington City residents voted than ever before and we're delighted. Thank you for your interest, support, and participation. One area that we have promised to improve is communicating our actions, progress, and needs to the people of Burlington. This article is an attempt to update and inform you.
  Previously, voting hours were from 2PM to 5PM. The Board voted to change and extend those hours to 3PM to 9PM. This will allow more citizens the opportunity to vote. We also managed to get an extension to a State grant which will pay for dock construction on the Island, set up a web site, and to pay for advertising the RFP (request for proposals) which will attract developers with ideas for your Island.
  The Board voted to install a Citizens Advisory Council. This will allow direct input from the people of the City to the Board. To help us focus on the important issues and to provide guidance and wisdom, your Board now begins each meeting with an invocation prayer.
  We feel strongly that Island development will be a positive for our City, help reduce the tax burden, provide jobs and recreation areas, and assist with the education of our children. If you desire more information or want to apply for the Advisory Council, you can contact us thru our web site http://www.burlingtonisland.com or attend one of our monthly meetings. Please click on "Contact Us" to view place and times of our meetings. We are committed to moving Island development along as rapidly as possible and are working on many fronts to achieve this milestone for the City.
• The Board, as told by our Historian knew an archeologal dig had been conducted on the Island many years ago. With some research, those artifacts have been found and are being housed in the Peabody Museum and can be found on the Peabody Web site. Peabody Museum is one of the oldest museums in the world devoted to anthropology and houses one of the most comprehensive records of human cultural history in the Western Hemisphere.
• The Board of Island Managers is charged with overseeing the oldest educational trust in the United States, formed in 1682 when the provincial government of West Jersey gave Burlington Island to Burlington City, on the condition that all revenue from use of the island be used to fund education.
• The Board itself was organized in 1727, and has dispensed money from the trust to support education for over 200 years. Revenues from use of the island have been used to provide education for the poor, construct and improve facilities for public schools, and reduce local school taxes.