Hartz Mountain beginning to fall.
www.paramuspost.com/article.php/20111118165941300
Transit-Oriented Redevelopment to Revitalize 10.5-Acres of Industrial Brownfields Adjacent to PATH Station in Harrison, N.J.
Harrison Mayor Raymond J. McDonough today joined executives from Heller Urban Renewal, the redevelopment arm of Heller Industrial Parks, one of the nation’s largest privately-held real estate owners and developers, to celebrate the start of a demolition process that will launch development of Harrison Station, an approximately 600-unit, mixed-use, transit-oriented redevelopment project in Harrison, N.J.
“Today marks an important and exciting step in the transformation of Harrison into a true, 24/7 destination,” said Jeffrey J. Milanaik, President, Heller Industrial Parks, Inc. “Harrison Station will bring a new vitality to Harrison and generate significant tax ratables at a time when construction levels are at their lowest in decades. Additionally, this project adheres to the principles of smart growth development, providing direct access to the PATH station and further serving to create a pedestrian-friendly environment in Harrison to the benefit of the entire community.”
Located directly adjacent to the PATH station at 700 Frank E. Rodgers Boulevard, the 10.5-acre site of Harrison Station currently houses approximately 750,000 square feet of blighted industrial buildings, which Heller will demolish in a yearlong process that also includes environmental remediation of the brownfield property.
“Heller’s Harrison Station will play a significant role in the ongoing revitalization of our town, attracting new residents and businesses, and spurring economic development,” said Mayor McDonough. “I applaud the Heller team for its commitment to the future of our community, and look forward to seeing progress made on this important project.”
Designed by NK Architects in collaboration with Heller, Harrison Station will be comprised of six residential mid-rise towers that will adhere to the tenets of sustainable design, offering a mix of one- and two-bedroom luxury residences and approximately 30,000 square feet of ground-floor retail. Future residents will have access to numerous lifestyle-enhancing amenities, including a glass-enclosed gym and meeting/conference rooms.
The first phase of vertical construction, which is expected to begin in 2013, will include the development of luxury rental apartments.
Additionally, Harrison Station will be developed to provide direct sheltered access to the adjacent PATH station, which is planned to undergo a $180 million renovation to improve service and upgrade its facilities. The site is also close to major roadways including Route 280 and is in walking distance to the Red Bull Arena soccer stadium.
In 2003, Heller was appointed redeveloper of the former General Motors site, previously home to the Hyatt Roller Bearing Company. Heller has deep roots in the Harrison community. It was originally founded as I. Heller Construction Co., Inc., by Isaac Heller, the founder and creative force behind Remco Toys, which was located in Harrison.
HARRISON, NJ-After an eight-year journey to find the right combination of project and developer, Heller Urban Renewal began demolition today on an industrial tract at 700 Frank E. Rodgers Boulevard here that will become home to Harrison Station, a transit-oriented development that will include rental apartments and retail.
With Harrison Mayor Raymond J. McDonough at the controls, a wrecking ball smashed through the first a of a number of industrial buildings that will be razed for what Heller calls a new neighborhood in the heart of its old hometown. Heller’s parent company, Heller Industrial Parks, was founded in Harrison and continues to own property there despite moving to Edison a number of years ago.
“Our history as a company began right here,” Jeffrey J. Milanaik, president of Heller Industrial Parks, told GlobeSt.com. “We’ve always been part of the fabric of this town.”
Designed by NK Architects in collaboration with Heller, the project will consist of six mid-rise residential towers that will include 600 one- and two-bedroom apartments, and 30,000 square feet of ground-floor retail.
Heller was appointed the redeveloper of the 10.5-acre tract near the Harrison PATH station in 2003. The station is scheduled to undergo a $180 million renovation. But figuring out what to do with the former General Motors site was a bit more complicated.
“We tried adaptive reuse, but the buildings were functionally obsolete,” Milanaik said. “We came to the conclusion to tear it all down.”
Even so, the property will require $30 million for a year-long remediation of oils and lubricants, among other materials. “It’s a massive undertaking,” McDonough said at the demolition ceremony. “But they’re staying with the project.”
Harrison Station does not qualify for Urban Transit Hub Tax Credits, Milanaik said. Heller is self-funding the project. “This project means a lot to me,” said Heller founder Isaac Heller at the ceremony. “And we have the means to do it.”
www.globest.com/news/2016_2045/newjersey/315830-1.html
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