Renaissance Properties appeared at the Planning Board meeting last week to review slight changes to the number of parking spaces and unit counts and also to discuss plans for a fountain centerpiece that will be a focal point on Central Avenue, as it runs through what will be The District.
If all goes according to plan, Renaissance will have a final resolution from Metuchen at the end of August. At that point, notification and permit application submission to all other parties (Middlesex County, The State of NJ, Department of Transportation, DEP, State Soil Conservation, etc) will begin. It is expected that those approvals will take an additional eight or nine months. Once received, construction will begin. As mentioned in our earlier story, Building D, where Boro Hardware now stands, will be the first built.
Here are some artist renditions of what the four buildings will look like. All are side views except for the second view of Building D, which is the view from Middlesex Avenue.
Does anyone have an update on the status of construction for the District at Metuchen?
Does anyone know what is going on with the District. What grocery store is coming? Any news, there is nothing new on their website.
MET I suggest that you be patient a lot longer. Reading your posts, you sound like know the builder personally and have a dislike of him. Me, I do not know him and look at the situation that has evolved over time.
You are suggesting a legal remedy for a situation where there are circumstances that do not warrant. To be clear money-financing is tight. If the permit to build is being maintained there is little the Boro can do but ensure the work is done according to code. Which as I recall there were issues at that site and the Boro ended on the short side of that argument.
Every time someone suggest Boro action, it costs tax payer money usually a six figure on something like this. No need for it. We have got two more years of this economy at least.
To be even clearer, no one is going to do eminent domain, the protection of public interest is not there and no one is forking over financing right now to complete building projects. Do you think an owner of a building like that does not want to start getting a return for his investment like right now? I would.
Per Steve at Boro they are building his new building first, to the west of the existing store. The old store will be torn down after he moves into the new one.
The building on 27 that MacPherson has been trying to build for the past several years, which is far from being completed, is an eye sore. Isn't there anything that the Boro can do to force him to either complete the project or sell to someone who will?
So relieved that this project has finally started! I second Eileen's questions regarding Cryan's and Dodge properties. Is there a date yet for plan presentation? Also, does anyone know if The Duchess Diner is officially for sale?
The building next to Friendlys is owned by MacPherson who owns a lot of stuff in town. he does just enough work on that building to keep the permit valid. he tried to use his property on south main as a construction junk yard even though people live right around there. doesn't seem to care too much about Metuchen.
I do not think any one knows too much. Boro was going to remain on sight. There is a for sale sign on the dealer ship,and the rest of Renaissance is a multi year project. It will change. There are two similar buildings one down the street on Middlesex and the other in Clara Baron that are four year projects and a reasonable model for how long this project is going to take. Financing is tight. I know this the town lost a ratable in the demolition of the building and the builder is saving expenses by razing first. Keep expectations modest as this is a three to four year project.
I would not get too excited over this project till the economy recovers. The first phase demolition is just that demolition. It saves the builder expenses by reducing tax burden till the new structures are built and assessed and public complaints about abandoned buildings. It does mean we lost a ratable but the builder reduces his tax burden. Nothing wrong with that.
My sense is that construction is a ways off yet. Financing is tight. Keep expectations modest and you will not be surprised. Look at the four year project down the street on Middlesex Avenue, same thing in Clara Barton too.
It all looks great. Does anyone know what is going on with the buildings by Friendly's?
This is beautiful, can't wait to see it there. Heard the deal on the Cryans property isn't finalized yet.
I recall they said that Boro's new building would be built before the old building was demolished.
Has there been any progress on a new grocery store in the complex?
Does anyone know where is Boro Ace moving to during the construction? I remember vaguely hearing a rumor about some switch with them moving into the old grocery store while their building was being built, but with the store now demolished that seems impossible (it was probably just a guess anyway).
When is Renaissance going to present their plan for the Cryan's property? And what's up with the Dodge dealership?
Does anyone have an update on the status of construction for the District at Metuchen?
Does anyone know what is going on with the District.
What grocery store is coming? Any news, there is nothing new on their website.
MET I suggest that you be patient a lot longer. Reading your posts, you sound like know the builder personally and have a dislike of him. Me, I do not know him and look at the situation that has evolved over time.
You are suggesting a legal remedy for a situation where there are circumstances that do not warrant. To be clear money-financing is tight. If the permit to build is being maintained there is little the Boro can do but ensure the work is done according to code. Which as I recall there were issues at that site and the Boro ended on the short side of that argument.
Every time someone suggest Boro action, it costs tax payer money usually a six figure on something like this. No need for it. We have got two more years of this economy at least.
To be even clearer, no one is going to do eminent domain, the protection of public interest is not there and no one is forking over financing right now to complete building projects. Do you think an owner of a building like that does not want to start getting a return for his investment like right now? I would.
Per Steve at Boro they are building his new building first, to the west of the existing store. The old store will be torn down after he moves into the new one.
The building on 27 that MacPherson has been trying to build for the past several years, which is far from being completed, is an eye sore. Isn't there anything that the Boro can do to force him to either complete the project or sell to someone who will?
So relieved that this project has finally started! I second Eileen's questions regarding Cryan's and Dodge properties. Is there a date yet for plan presentation? Also, does anyone know if The Duchess Diner is officially for sale?
The building next to Friendlys is owned by MacPherson who owns a lot of stuff in town. he does just enough work on that building to keep the permit valid. he tried to use his property on south main as a construction junk yard even though people live right around there. doesn't seem to care too much about Metuchen.
I do not think any one knows too much. Boro was going to remain on sight. There is a for sale sign on the dealer ship,and the rest of Renaissance is a multi year project. It will change. There are two similar buildings one down the street on Middlesex and the other in Clara Baron that are four year projects and a reasonable model for how long this project is going to take. Financing is tight. I know this the town lost a ratable in the demolition of the building and the builder is saving expenses by razing first. Keep expectations modest as this is a three to four year project.
I would not get too excited over this project till the economy recovers. The first phase demolition is just that demolition. It saves the builder expenses by reducing tax burden till the new structures are built and assessed and public complaints about abandoned buildings. It does mean we lost a ratable but the builder reduces his tax burden. Nothing wrong with that.
My sense is that construction is a ways off yet. Financing is tight. Keep expectations modest and you will not be surprised. Look at the four year project down the street on Middlesex Avenue, same thing in Clara Barton too.
It all looks great. Does anyone know what is going on with the buildings by Friendly's?
This is beautiful, can't wait to see it there. Heard the deal on the Cryans property isn't finalized yet.
I recall they said that Boro's new building would be built before the old building was demolished.
Has there been any progress on a new grocery store in the complex?
Does anyone know where is Boro Ace moving to during the construction? I remember vaguely hearing a rumor about some switch with them moving into the old grocery store while their building was being built, but with the store now demolished that seems impossible (it was probably just a guess anyway).
When is Renaissance going to present their plan for the Cryan's property? And what's up with the Dodge dealership?