NJ.com
Woodbury's Masonic temple sees office space renovation for new tenant
Apr. 13, 2014
By Jason Laday | South Jersey Times
woodbury mason temple
The Masonic Temple in Woodbury is being renovated into office space, Friday, April 11, 2014. (Staff Photo by Lori M. Nichols/South Jersey Times)
WOODBURY — After serving as the home of Freemasonry in Woodbury for 85 years, and thereafter lying vacant since 2011, the Masonic Temple on Broad Street will soon have a new tenant in a city-based insurance company.
Excess Reinsurance, founded in Woodbury in 1989 and currently leasing office space on South Evergreen Avenue, purchased the former home of the Florence Lodge No. 87 from the Freemasons late last year for approximately $200,000. Since then, construction crews have been working at the site, converting the interior of the historic site into office space, with plans to open this summer.
Still, the company plans to retain as much of the old look of the temple as possible.
“We need to transform the inside of the building to use as office space, but at least all of the hardwood floors will remain, as well as the staircases and the walls that are in good shape,” said Excess Reinsurance President Brian Zidek, whose father Milo founded the company 25 years ago. “The exterior will remain the same, but we had to replace the windows.”
City Economic Development Director Randi Woerner said other changes to the structure will include exterior signage and a new handicapped-accessible entrance in the rear of the temple.
According to Woodbury administrator Michael Theokas, the city has been working with the company for “quite some time,” including a payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) agreement to help them relocate within the municipal borders.
Zidek described working with Woodbury officials as “a refreshing experience.” However, he added that the lack of economic development funds from the state has put the company’s future in the city in doubt.
"We're going to be (at the temple) at least for now, but it's not clear that we'll stay," he said, noting that while he grew up in Woodbury, he and many other employees at the company currently live in Pennsylvania. He added that attempts to secure funds under the New Jersey Economic Opportunity Act have been unsuccessful.
“But the city, and Randi Woerner, Mayor Bill Volk and the city council have been great,” said Zidek. “They came and said they’d do anything they can to help. I want to stress to other businesses outside the city thinking of moving that Woodbury is a business-friendly place.”
Excess Reinsurance has spent more than $1 million to renovate the old Freemason temple, according to Zidek. Member of city council toured the construction Friday afternoon to see the progress made so far. The tour was not open to the press.
“One of the challenges with the building it that you have to sink a lot of money into it, because it was only really useful as a Masonic temple, so you have to convert it to office,” said Zidek. “There’s also no parking. However, the public parking availability in the city helps get around that.”
The three-story Freemason lodge, located at 48 N. Broad St., was built in 1926. It closed its doors for the last time in 2011, after the Florence Lodge was consolidated with Paulsboro Swedesboro Lodge No. 87. The Grand Lodge of New Jersey retained ownership of the temple until its sale to Excess Reinsurance last year.
https://www.nj.com/gloucester-county/2014/04/woodbury_masonic_temple_being_renovated_into_office_space_for_new_tenant.html
