'Ugliest building in New Jersey' finally getting facelift

A long-awaited and contentious project in Meadowlands, N.J., may finally be on the way to completion.

Developer Triple Five Group has signed an agreement with the Bergen County Building and Construction Trades Council for the construction (or shall we say, "reconstruction") of the American Dream mall, the planned cost of which is about $2 billion.

In the end, the development is set to include a water park, an indoor ski slope, and a retail complex.

Governor Chris Christie was present at the signing of the agreement. He once called the development "the ugliest damn building in New Jersey, and maybe America," The Star-Ledger reports.

The American Dream was originally approved for construction in 2003, but has met many challenges along the way. Most recently, the New York Giants and the Jets sued to keep the mall closed on Sundays, citing concerns about traffic on game days. A settlement has been reached, though both sides have declined to disclose details.

Read the full story by The Star-Ledger here.

The editors of Building Design+Construction present 10 “Great Solutions” that highlight innovative technology and products that can be used to address some of the many problems Building Teams face in their day-to-day work. Readers are encouraged to submit entries for Great Solutions; if we use yours, you’ll receive a $25 gift certificate. Look for more Great Solutions in 2012 at: www.bdcnetwork.com/greatsolutions/2012.

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