Last month, the demolition of a dilapidated warehouse/factory in Metuchen, N.J., commenced to make way for an apartment complex with 272 Class A studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom units.
The multifamily community redevelopment is being spearheaded by Klein Enterprises, a 75-year-old firm with nearly 60 assets in its portfolio. Last year, Klein acquired the Gulton factory as part of the development parcel that is adjacent to a 30-acre wildlife preserve. It made that acquisition under the PILOT incentive program, which allows the developer to make payments to the borough in lieu of taxes based on the project’s revenue. Over the 30-year agreement, it is estimated that Klein Enterprises will pay $20 million. The borough would receive 95 percent of the PILOT revenue.
This project will provide Metuchen—a bedroom community that’s a 45-minute train ride from New York City—with millions of dollars to invest in infrastructure. Prior to the start of the factory demolition, the property had already undergone a $10 million environmental remediation that included the planting of 3,000 trees. (The land is bounded on the west by a borough-owned woodland within the wildlife preserve, which will receive $1 million of Klein’s PILOT payments earmarked for improvements that include a network of trails and paths, more open space, and access and parking for a new nature preserve.)
A solution after years of discussion
The apartment complex is expected to take 24 months to complete by the fall of 2025. Fifteen percent of the units will meet New Jersey’s affordable housing requirements. Six of the apartments, all on the ground floor, will be one-bedroom live-work homes.
The community’s interior design will honor artists, literary figures, and intellectuals who brought culture and the arts to Metuchen in the 1800s. The project is also pursuing green initiatives that include a partial green roof, large solar array, electric car charging stations, LED lighting, and a pollinator garden. Other amenities will include a dog park, pool, and community garden.
The site of the apartment complex is located at 212 Durham Avenue. Metuchen Realty Advisors, which acquired the land in 1986 and did the environmental cleanup, sold a piece of the land to Middlesex County, and will transfer the remaining open space after the community is completed. This land is adjacent to the planned expansion of the popular Middlesex County Greenway linear park.
Metuchen Mayor Jonathan M. Busch was quoted as stating that discussions about how to redevelop this industrial site had been ongoing for decades. (The Borough designated the Gulton property as an area in need of development in 2015.) The redevelopment, he stated, “enable[s] us to open the largest recreational space in Metuchen, fund a variety of important infrastructure projects, and help protect our environment, all while providing our community with new housing options.”
The apartment complex is located near Metuchen’s train station, and will be within walking distance to the borough’s downtown.
Related Stories
Sponsored | HVAC | Jun 14, 2022
Healing the urban fabric: The surprising impact of MagicPak HVAC
The Legends at Berry active adult housing complex in St. Paul, Minnesota helped transform a former industrial site into a thriving residential campus. MagicPak All-in-One® HVAC Systems provided the energy-efficient heating needed to handle extreme Minnesota winters while enabling architects to create an inviting home environment—and even qualify for additional funding incentives.
Multifamily Housing | Jun 9, 2022
Cityview's Adam Perry on multifamily housing innovation in the Western U.S.
Adam Perry, SVP of Development and Construction Management with developer Cityview, chats with Multifamily Design+Construction Editor Rob Cassidy about the latest design and construction innovations for multifamily housing in the West.
Hotel Facilities | May 31, 2022
Checking out: Tips for converting hotels to housing
Many building owners are considering repositioning their hotels into another property type, such as senior living communities and rental apartments. Here's advice for getting started.
Multifamily Housing | May 25, 2022
9 noteworthy multifamily developments to debut in 2022
A 1980s-era shopping mall turned mixed-use housing and a mid-rise multifamily tower with unusual rowhomes highlight the innovative multifamily developments to debut recently.
Sponsored | Multifamily Housing | May 23, 2022
An Integrated WRB Sheathing System Offers Big Benefits at Big Haus
Legislation | May 20, 2022
Arlington County, Virginia may legalize multifamily housing countywide
Arlington County, Va., a Washington, D.C.-area community, is considering proposed legislation that would remove zoning restrictions on multifamily housing up to eight units in size.
Multifamily Housing | May 11, 2022
Kitchen+Bath AMENITIES – Take the survey for a chance at a $50 gift card
MULTIFAMILY DESIGN + CONSTRUCTION is conducting a research study on the use of kitchen and bath products in the $106 billion multifamily construction sector.
Sponsored | BD+C University Course | May 10, 2022
6 steps to designing a modern wine display
Design-focused wine displays are becoming increasingly popular in amazing residential and commercial properties throughout the world. Top design/build professionals are using stylish wine racks and other premium materials to create wine cellars that are too beautiful to hide in out-of-the-way places like dusty basements. This course explains why wine cellars have become so popular and the key aspects of designing an appealing modern wine cellar, broken into six planning steps that should be considered during pre- or early-construction phases.