A state program to buy out flood-prone homes will fund the acquisition and demolition of two West Grand Avenue properties near the Wheatena section of Rahway River Park.
Continue reading Flood-prone W. Grand properties to be acquired
Tag Archives: West Grand Avenue
Interest in Wheatena site
City officials were scheduled to meet last week with a developer interested in the former Wheatena site.
 |
| File photos |
City Administrator and Redevelopment Director Peter Pelissier told the Redevelopment Agency last week that he and Redevelopment Agency attorney Frank Regan were scheduled to meet with American Properties last Thursday. The company, which has several developments around the state, previously had expressed interest in the property, according to Pelissier.
Matzel & Mumford recently terminated a redevelopment agreement for the 8-acre parcel at the corner of Elizabeth and West Grand avenues, where it once had planned as many as 300 units before scaling back to 130 units and ultimately dropping the project.
Wheatena development scrapped
Due to unfavorable market conditions, the developer of the former Wheatena site on Elizabeth Avenue issued a notice to terminate the redevelopment agreement.
Salon fills former gallery, frame shop
A new hair salon took up the space formerly occupied by Debbie’s Grand Gallery. The gallery, at the corner of West Grand Avenue and Fernote Street, closed earlier this year.
Beyond Perfection Total Hair Care is only about a block away from Rahway Barber Shop, which opened last summer. If you’re wondering how a salon could open so close to a barber shop, you’re not alone. Almost two years ago, the Redevelopment Agency rejected a zoning overlay request to allow a full service salon on Irving Street, within the Arts District and within 1,000 feet of a similar business.
The city prohibits personal service businesses within 1,000 feet of each other, but that only applies to the B-4 (Service Business) zone, which is where the Irving Street space is located.
The West Grand Avenue salon is in a B-1 zone (Neighborhood Business), while Rahway Barber Shop is located in an R-2 zone (Medium Density Single-Family Residential). The salon also is a pre-existing non-conforming use, which is allowed, according to Richard Watkins, city construction official.
A couple of other retail/commercial moves to catch up on this summer:
* Def Def, what appears to be an urban men’s clothing store, opened on Main Street in June, replacing Charlie’s Flowers, which closed and left the space in February.
* Shake It Up Nutrition Club opened in a space on Elizabeth Avenue.
Anyone notice any others? Check back next week for an update on some tenants coming to downtown later this year.
***
Not related to redevelopment, but it’s pretty cool when a local resident plays in the NFL. Check out this training camp story on Antonio Garay with the San Diego Chargers.
West Grand Avenue boasts new 6-Eleven
[twentytwenty]
[/twentytwenty]
I’m no trademark attorney but my first impression is that the new 6-Eleven on West Grand Avenue might just be inviting a lawsuit from 7-Eleven. Then again, maybe it’s related to this 24-year-old, Houston, Texas-based company.
Either way, it’s a new convenience store and deli that’s a big improvement aesthetically over the dilapidated property that sat vacant for at least 10 years near the intersection of Irving Street.
The Zoning Board granted several variances about two years ago and the property underwent some renovations that were completed last year. Below is what the property used to look like. The ground floor has about 1,700 square feet of retail space with two two-bedroom rental apartments on the second floor.
‘It’s time to knock it down’
City construction and health officials will determine what it will take to raze the building on the former Wheatena property at Elizabeth and West Grand avenues.
“It’s time to knock it down,” said City Administrator and Redevelopment Director Peter Pelissier. The five-story building is structurally sound but has numerous broken windows, sustained recent storm damage, and is known to have “feet of pigeon droppings,” he said. Pelissier expects the Health Department can find grounds for demolition.
The developer, Matzel & Mumford, had asked the city not to pursue demolition previously so as not to interfere with efforts to acquire the property, Pelissier said. The trustee of the property and the developer have not been able to come to terms for acquisition but he suggested demolition might encourage the two sides to get together. Demolition could cost at least a half-million dollars, he added.
A K. Hovnanian Company, Matzel & Mumford have plans for a 130-unit condo complex at the former Wheatena and Quinn & Boden sites.
Wheatena developers working on new timeline
The city is working with developers to update a redevelopment study for the former Wheatena property and come up with a new timeline for the 130-unit project.
Redevelopment Agency Attorney Frank Regan provided a report to commissioners during their meeting earlier this month and said an amended redevelopment agreement, with a revised timeline, should be completed in 30 to 60 days.
Early this year, developers Matzel & Mumford concluded the 130-unit Carriage Park at Rahway was “economically infeasible” at this time but were still committed to it.
***
The Union County Performing Arts Center recently added two shows that you might consider a little more high profile than usual: Popular ’90s band Rusted Root on May 21 and comedian Brad Garrett (the brother from Everybody Loves Raymond) on June 13. What do you think? An improvement?
Irving St. side of Park Square 90% leased
