The Town Center project, originally proposed 18 months ago as a massive residential-retail plan for property around City Hall, has a new developer and scaled-back plans.
Continue reading Town Center scaling back, has new developer
Salon seeks downtown space
A “multicultural, full-service salon” has its eye on an Irving Street property but needs a waiver from the Redevelopment Agency to operate at the proposed location.
Cubanu gets 2 1/2 stars
Hope everyone enjoyed the long weekend. Rest assured we’re getting back in the swing here working on some updates for the coming week.
In the meantime, check out this review last week in where Cubanu received 2 1/2 stars from The Star-Ledger’s food critic.
This was our take last year when the restaurant opened. We’ve been back a few times and our opinion probably hasn’t changed much; it’s still a solid visit, but we’d agree with some commenters that service can be spotty at times for dinner, though the drinks and bar area can be a great visit. I’ve heard the busiest night tends to be Thursday for the free salsa lessons and dancing.
The Supagown will need a new home
Well, I guess that was the last photo I’ll ever have to take of the Hamilton Laundry building. The main structure on Hamilton Street — the one that had “Hamilton Laundry” emblazoned on it, as well as the peculiar “Home of the Supagown” — was razed this morning, completing the demoliti
on that started last week.
All that’s left are piles of rubble to haul away. Now if we could just figure out what the “Supagown” is/was…
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Democrats might be in Denver, but the Libertarians — check that, the Libertarian is in Rahway tonight, at Luciano’s. Happy Labor Day weekend!
More Hamilton Laundry photos
Another of the Hamilton Laundry buildings went down late last week.
The demolition of the two-story building exposed the lower part the adjoining four-story building, showing what appears to be a sign about fur storage. We can add that to last month’s list of old downtown signs.
Get your “Home of the Supagown” photos while you still can.
It was six years ago this month that then-Sen. Jon Corzine made the Hamilton Laundry one of his stops on a tour of Rahway. That’s when plans still called for an arts center and independent film theater. Due to flooding at the site last spring, the Hamilton Laundry site instead will be turned into a park and outdoor amphitheater by next fall.
Other interesting items that a simple Internet search yields about Hamilton Laundry includes these alleged OSHA violations from eight years ago.
It’s really coming down
The demolition of Hamilton Laundry finally began with the property now surrounded by construction fencing and the first structure (behind the main building, which is to the left in the photo above) razed this week. Demolition is expected to last several weeks.
When we last left the Hamilton Laundry saga, the City Council awarded a new contract of $370,000 about a month ago to Meco Demolition. For previous posts about Hamilton Laundry, click here.
Appraisal for Shami Apartments
The Redevelopment Agency this month authorized an appraisal for the Shami Apartments on Hamilton Street.
The last appraisal, which pegged the property at about $2 million, was done several years ago and had to be updated, according to City Administrator and Redevelopment Director Peter Pelissier. The building is part of the plan to create about 80 units of affordable housing for seniors and artists while the adjacent Bell Building will become a black box theater and performing arts space.
Demolition of the nearby Hamilton Laundry building, where a park and amphitheater are planned, is expected in the coming weeks. Of the five houses near the Hamilton Laundry, only one directly next door is proposed to be acquired, according to Redevelopment Agency Attorney Frank Regan.
Units begin to close at Sky View
There have been 34 temporary certificates of occupancy (TCO) issued for units at Sky View at Carriage City Plaza, according to City Administrator and Redevelopment Director Peter Pelissier. Elizabeth-based Silcon Construction, which built the hotel, has paid $649,000 in water connection and permit fees, Pelissier reported at last week’s City Council pre-conference meeting.