NORTHFIELD — American Demolition reduced the former Northfield Plaza building to a pile of rubble in December to make way for Children Academy Childcare & Learning Center.
“We’re getting there, we’re very excited,” said Liz Palmer, who runs similar centers in Egg Harbor and Galloway townships with her husband, Olufemi. Work has moved quickly; the foundation is in and construction on the structure has begun.
To be located at 234 Ridgewood Drive, across Route 9 from the Conoco gas station, Children Academy is expected to provide working parents a safe, educational environment for their children.
Palmer purchased the property and plans to build an 8,900-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility.
She said she is pleased with the project’s progress.
“It’s one thing when you draw things on paper but when it starts to take shape it takes on a whole new life,” Palmer said, noting she has gotten a lot of calls from people wanting to enroll their children but also from those who want to work there.
Palmer said the builder submitted a foundation permit and is trying to get the foundation in before the ground freezes.
“As long as the weather is kind to us, we’ll be right on schedule,” she said.
Plans include 27 parking spots and a drive-through porte-cochere for dropping off and picking up children. Parents also would have the option of parking in the lot and walking their kids inside.
Concerns were raised by the city Planning Board about increasing traffic congestion in an already-busy area, with Wawa across the street and Northfield Community School just a few blocks away.
Palmer said the professionals took steps in the design stage to reduce any issues with traffic through creation of the drive-through covered entrance. She also said there is no mass drop-off and pick-up, with parents coming and going throughout the day.
The traffic flow is designed so that those entering from Route 9 would park and walk up while those entering from Ridgewood would use the drop-off lane and exit back onto Ridgewood.
Palmer said all classrooms would exceed state requirements. Special technological enhancements will include the use of automated UV lights that sanitize all surfaces in the building nightly.
She also said the security system is designed to respond to an active shooter through a series of locking doors and a blue light system that will be in constant communication with the Northfield Police Department.
“It’s something that’s never been done in New Jersey, something we are bringing to Northfield,” Palmer said, noting she would never build another center without these processes in place as standard protocol.
Palmer is trained as a physical education and health teacher, has a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree from Kean University. She has been in the child care business since 1999.
The couple plans to market the school as a premium chain brand in Atlantic County for child care and learning centers to serve children age 6 weeks to 12 years in 10 self-contained classrooms with a capacity of 153 students.
The facility will be open 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday to Friday.
Palmer said she hopes construction will wrap up in summer 2022; grand opening is planned for September 2022.
By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff