Route 1 corridor in Central Jersey booms with development

Bob Makin | Bridgewater Courier News

Show Caption Hide Caption More shop eat play coming to Central Jersey Several entertainment attractions, restaurants and stores have been built and are being constructed or planned for Central Jersey's Route 1 corridor.

From the Delaware River in Trenton to the Hudson River in Fort Lee, Route 1 has long been one of New Jersey’s crucial commercial arteries. Nearly half of the 66-mile highway runs through Central Jersey.

It’s apparent that with the new businesses, construction and plans along the corridor here that development won’t be slowing down any time soon. Billions of dollars in new and forthcoming projects and leases are bringing more jobs, residences, and entertainment, dining and shopping opportunities.

While Rahway’s portion of the highway was built out years ago, here’s a look at what’s happening in Linden, Woodbridge, Edison, New Brunswick, North Brunswick, South Brunswick and Plainsboro along Route 1.

EARLIER: Linden continues to revitalize with redevelopment

Linden logistics

A long-awaited Walmart Supercenter opened last month with much fanfare in the new Legacy Square shopping center.

The store was so instantly popular that it had trouble keeping stock on the shelves during its first week of operation, said Alex Lospinoso, executive director of the Linden Economic Development Corp.

“They had to call the city to get approval to open more registers,” said Lospinoso, who also serves as chief of staff to Mayor Derek Armstead.

The next phase of Legacy Square will bring a Chick-Fil-A, Taco Bell, Hook & Reel Cajun restaurant, LA Fitness and Holiday Inn to the city, Lospinoso said.

Just off Route 1, Advance Realty and Greek Development are building the 4.1-million-square-foot Linden Logistics Center. The eight warehouses, which are said to comprise the Northeast’s largest-ever logistics project, will keep the highway hopping with transport. The project includes a $50 million bridge that Advance and Greek built to make it easier for trucks to access both the logistics center and New Jersey Turnpike, Lospinoso said.

“One of these warehouses is going to be 840,000 square feet,” he said. “Two buildings will open by the end of 2020 with two more each year after.”

Over the next 30 years, Linden Logistics Center will bring $140.4 million in revenue to the city via the state’s Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) provision, according to state documents.

The corresponding bridge coincides with state construction of Tremley Point Connector Road, which will connect the industrial sections of Linden and Carteret and route them away from residential areas.

On the other side of Route 1, a developer is pursuing a mixed-use property near the city’s train station in a public/private partnership with NJ Transit, Lospinoso said. Plans will be announced soon, he said.

Info: lindenlogisticscenter.com

EARLIER: Woodbridge leads Central Jersey in redevelopment, mayor says

Woodbridge attractions

Woodbridge continues to be aggressive with redevelopment, particularly along Route 1.

Woodbridge Center expects to attract even more people with the latest location of the national SeaQuest Aquarium chain. The entertainment option opened last month in the wake of a Dave & Buster’s mega arcade and restaurant there.

“Malls all over the country are being forced to be more creative as department stores struggle, and Woodbridge Center’s recruitment of alternative attractions, like SeaQuest and Dave & Buster’s, has been brilliant,” Mayor John McCormac said. “We will continue to work with center management on their future plans.”

McCormac said that the expansion of the statewide University Orthopedic Associates into a medical complex in the Avenel section also demonstrates the attractiveness of Route 1.

The 13,000-square-foot office will unite a variety of orthopedic surgeons, as well as physical therapists, under one vast roof, said Dr. Kenneth Swan, the managing partner and longtime trainer for the township school district’s sports teams. With his full-time office in Wall, Swan said he is looking forward to moving that to the township that he long has served in a part-time capacity.

“I’m really excited to make this happen and be a part of the community rather than coming and going so long,” he said. “I’m looking forward to planting an anchor rather than be spread so thin.”

Swan said he expects his new office to be fully operation by winter’s end or the beginning of spring. The complex will include a second smaller building, the tenant of which has yet to be announced.

McCormac said other recent developments on Route 1 in Woodbridge include Marriott’s multi-million transformation of the former Renaissance Hotel into Delta complete with modernized guest rooms, a reconfigured lobby and new dining concepts. Dunkin' soon will replace a run-down Avenel apartment complex and small junkyard, the mayor said, much like QuickChek did a year ago.

“Hollywood Motel is getting a complete facelift and an update to the interior, which should lead to an improved clientele,” McCormac said. “The Star Motel has been down for a few years after a fire, and the owner apparently is selling to the owner of the City Motel next door to knock that down and put in a national chain brand small hotel.”

Meanwhile, commercial broker R.J. Brunelli is seeking a buyer for the site of Bud’s Hut, and The Pancake House in the Fords section will replace Little Italy restaurant, which recently replaced Tilted Kilt.

Info: woodbridge.visitseaquest.com

EARLIER: Indoor sky-diving spot coming to Edison

Winning in Edison

The Great Recession crushed plans for Hartz Mountain Industries to continue to redevelop the township’s 102-acre Ford plant, but as the economy improved, the original vision to surround the long-standing Sam’s Club big-box store with a destination complex took shape.

Now also featuring Topgolf, Zin Burger and Starbucks, Edison’s Town Square soon will be joined by an iFLY indoor sky diving center, the popular Jersey Shore-originated burgeoning chain Tommy’s Tavern + Tap, Chick-fil-A, Chipotle Mexican Grill and LA Fitness.

“We want retail that’s sustainable,” said Councilman Leonard Sendelsky, liaison to the township planning board and a former township zoning officer.

“Our Topgolf is one of the best Topgolfs in the country,” Sendelsky continued. “It’s always crowded and busy. It’s like a magnet for people. The other places will be bringing people in too. Edison doesn’t have a lot of entertainment. Town Square is a win-win because it’s going to continue to be a lot of fun and be a great ratable.”

A move to Kearney by Town Square neighbor Clayton Block, left its large site vacant, but construction is underway for a CarMax used car dealership. Mayor Tom Lankey said that across Route 1 BJ’s Wholesale Club will be expanding, refurbishing its parking lot and installing gas pumps.

A bit to the south, Open Road BMW will expand into a larger location across the street from its current headquarters. Adjacent to a recently renovated Wendy’s, the site replaces a long vacant eyesore that once was a popular truck stop, Lankey said.

“That’s going to be a huge improvement for us,” he said.

“It’s a good, clean ratable with no school kids, and we don’t have to plow snow,” Sendelsky added. “When you get businesses like this, there’s a ripple effect that creates jobs and ratables.”

A Taco Bell soon will open near Plainfield Avenue.

To the north, a former Macaroni Grill soon will be demolished to make way for the burgers of Shake Shack and health-driven menu True Food Kitchen guided by the principles of founder Dr. Andrew Weil’s anti-inflammatory food pyramid. The eateries soon will be constructed on the site of Menlo Park Mall, which also will be getting an Orangetheory Fitness group workout gym, as well solar panels atop its parking deck, Sendelsky said.

Info: tommystavernandtap.com

EARLIER: New Brunswick buzzing with redevelopment

Scenic luxury in New Brunswick

On the site of the 18-screen AMC multiplex, Piscataway-based Edgewood Properties continues to build The Edge at Raritan Heights, which will feature 254 luxury apartments, as well as restaurants and retail, including a Starbucks that opened last year.

Other features will include 9-foot ceilings, luxury vinyl tile flooring, walk-in closets with custom shelving, quartz countertops, designer kitchens, spa-like baths, views of the Raritan River, resort-style swimming pool, fenced dog run, Zen garden, picnic and barbecue areas, bocce court and a community lawn with an amphitheater.

“Ideally situated on the banks for the Raritan River, The Edge at Raritan Heights will provide easy access to routes 1, 18 and 27 as well as the New Jersey Turnpike and downtown New Brunswick,” Edgewood writes on its website. “Major nearby employers include Robert Wood Johnson University Medical Center, Rutgers University, Johnson & Johnson and Bristol Myers Squibb. Additionally, residents will be surrounded by spectacular features and amenities and a level of service previously unavailable to the area’s rental market.”

The Edge at Raritan Heights currently has a waiting list for tenants.

Opening in the spring on the site of a former Bennigan’s at the juncture of Route 18 will be Home2 Suites, one of Hilton’s extended-stay hotels featuring an indoor pool, patio, breakfast area, fitness room, an outdoor lounge and 109 parking spaces.

Info: theedgeatraritanheights.com

EARLIER: Plans announced for new North Brunswick train station

Shop, eat, play in North Brunswick

While Pulte Homes continues to build and sell townhouses as the residential element of the growing the state-designated Main Street Transit Village, the state recently announced plans to partner with the county on its first new NJ Transit station in decades. Middlesex County Improvement Authority will spearhead the design process for the station, Gov. Phil Murphy announced last month.

With the slogan of “shop, eat, play,” Main Street recently opened a Marriot Courtyard hotel next to a Green Turtle restaurant, joining tenants, such as Target, Costco and Panera. Taking advantage of all the redevelopment is Chase Bank, which recently opened a branch across the street from Main Street, replacing an aging gas station.

“We have also recently completed the reconstruction of the now-Raymour & Flanigan shopping center, which was largely abandoned for seven years,” said Michael C. Hritz, the township’s community development director. “With the opening of Red Wing Shoes and Ace Hardware, the center is one unit away from being fully occupied.

“We also opened the first Trader Joe's in Middlesex County two years ago at the North Village Shopping Center,” Hritz said. “That center, along with the adjacent North Brunswick Plaza, both had notable site improvements. The latter as part of a multi-million-dollar expansion of Walmart.”

Mayor Francis Womack said the township’s next project will be a Chick-fil-A in the Regal Commerce Center, which, in addition to a Regal movie theater, is home to BJ’s, GNC, Subway, Longhorn Steakhouse, Moe’s Southwest Grill, CVS, Pizza Hut, Crunch Fitness and Buffalo Wild Wings.

Info: mainstreetnb.com

EARLIER: New ShopRite welcomed in South Brunswick

South Brunswick boom

A building boom in South Brunswick finds both sides of the highway continuing to grow in the wake of a popular new ShopRite and Starbucks.

Four construction projects will bring the following to the township:

HarborChase of Princeton, 120 units of senior housing that will offer assisted living and memory care services

Taco Bell at the corner of New Road

Metro Self Storage, a 100,000-square-foot facility

8,148-square-foot property that will feature a Dunkin', other restaurants and retail on the ground floor and office space on a second floor

Next to South Brunswick Square Mall and in front of the nearly fully completed Point of Woods luxury homes, the multi-use building has turned longtime township resident and Dunkin' franchisee Sid Mody into a developer. Mody owns 11 other Dunkin' locations, including the one at Heritage Plaza, home to the ShopRite, as well as Target, PetSmart, Bob’s Discount Furniture, Chase Bank, Subway and Supercuts.

About his new venture, Mody said, “The retail level will be 6,400 square feet. Dunkin' will be 2,100 square feet with a drive-thru. That leaves 4,300 square feet for a restaurant and a retail space. I’m still talking to people who have a lot of interest, but we’re still in the market for the right people to come in and open stores.”

Info: southbrunswicknj.gov/master-plan

Comprehensive care in Plainsboro

Having relocated and expanded to Plainsboro in 2012, Princeton Medical Center aims to be the most comprehensive health care site in the country, CEO Barry Rabner said.

Current construction of riverfront senior housing, an assisted living facility, an adult day care center and children’s day care center will be followed by an expanded emergency room, operating room, radiology department and parking deck. And they follow an acute care facility, medical arts pavilion, children’s hospital, fitness and wellness center, and helicopter pad to transport trauma patients.

The $1.2 billion redevelopment of the 171-acre agri-industrial site will have translated into about a $2 billion economic impact on the surrounding community, Rabner said.

“We have stimulated development of medical practices who work with us and fitness centers who compete with us, as well as hotels and restaurants,” he said. “The impact has been enormous. The mayor is very pleased, and the town has been great about everything.”

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The campus will expand its focus on senior care and services to meet the need of the area’s growing elderly population, Rabner said.

Meanwhile, a children’s day care center is another incentive for employees and recruits, much like the fitness and wellness center, he said.

“We have 3,300 employees, so the day care center really meets the needs of many of them,” Rabner said.

The development of additional healthcare services, fitness providers, restaurants and retail is likely to grow along the borough’s portion of Route 1, but authorities could not yet announce details.

Info: princetonhcs.org

Bob Makin has won 11 New Jersey Press Association Awards and four Best of Gannett Awards. A news veteran of nearly 40 years, Makin covers business and redevelopment. Contact him at 732-565-7319 and bmakin@gannett.com.