East Brunswick Route 18 project in need of redevelopers

Susan Loyer | Courier News and Home News Tribune

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EAST BRUNSWICK - The township is moving forward with its redevelopment plans for the Route 18 corridor.

On Monday, the Township Council formally posted notice of its search for redevelopers to improve and repurpose the Route 18 Center Shopping Center, Loehmanns Plaza and the surrounding areas.

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The more than 30 acres along Route 18 represent some of the best untapped commercial and mixed-use potential in Central New Jersey, the township said.

Less than a mile from the Turnpike exit, the redevelopment area on Route 18 South sees close to 100,000 cars per day, township officials said.

The Requests for Proposals (RFPs) seek to repurpose outdated commercial structures into a modern, transit-orientated, mixed-use village, where residential and commercial uses will blend seamlessly into a new downtown community spanning 30 plus acres parallel to Route 18, according to the township. As part of the proposals, the township plans to pursue the creation of a third commuter parking structure, as well as an additional bus terminal to support the high demand for non-rail transportation options into New York City.

Led by Mayor Brad Cohen and Councilman James Wendell, the township launched a Redevelopment Agency with five public members, who are professionals within the development world and financial sectors. The agency is led by Wendell, a developer by trade, and is assisted by James Kennedy, who as Mayor of Rahway, pioneered transit-oriented redevelopment projects though out Central New Jersey.

“This is an exciting time for the Township of East Brunswick and the East Brunswick Redevelopment Agency," Wendell, the agency's chairman, said.

If not for the bold steps taken by the mayor to form the Redevelopment Agency and use the tools allowable under the state guidelines for redevelopment, we would never have been able to reach this point, Wendell said, adding "we are on the cusp of turning these vacant and blighted properties into valuable revenue producing assets that will benefit all stakeholders, from the existing retail community along the Route 18 corridor to the East Brunswick commuter as well as all residents of East Brunswick."

"I am very eager to see the proposals on Oct. 18," he said.

Last summer, at the urging of Cohen, the Township Council and Planning Board designated the areas, including the vacant Route 18 Center Shopping Center and near-vacant Loehmanns Plaza as an "area in need of redevelopment" and retained the potential right of eminent domain. After months of research and studies, the Redevelopment Agency unveiled a redevelopment plan for the areas.

The recently noticed RFPs are a search for interested parties, developers and groups who want to be part of the project.

The RFPs are being issued separately with Redevelopment Area 2A , including the Loehmanns Plaza and its surrounding area, while Area 3A includes the Route 18 Central Shopping Center, the former Gap and Wiz building with its surrounding area. Interested parties may submit their ideas and vision for one area, both areas or join with other respondents on their responses.

All responses must be submitted to Frank Colon, Executive Director of the East Brunswick Redevelopment Agency, no later than 10 a.m. Oct. 18.

For those who are interested in submitting a proposal, there will be an optional information session at 10 a.m. Sept. 5 at the East Brunswick Community Arts Center, 721 Cranbury Road, East Brunswick. A presentation will be provided and questions will be answered by the agency’s professionals.

If you have any questions, would like to learn more or are interested in picking up an RFP packet, contact Colon at 732-390-6845 or fcolon@eastbrunswick.org.

Staff Writer Susan Loyer: 72-565-7243; sloyer@gannettnj.com