Newark, New Jersey (First Reported on PlaceNJ.com): A former church in Downtown Newark will soon be used for a new purpose.
The Second Presbyterian Church, located opposite Washington Park at 23-27 Washington Street, at the corner of James Street will being redeveloped. Officials with Assurance Realty Group and the Newark Community Economic Development Corporation confirmed to Essex County Place that Amazon.com-owned audiobook company Audible, which is currently based down the street at One Washington Park, will occupy both the church and two attached buildings on James Street, including the former Women in Support of the Million Man March Cultural Center. Audible will use the space as part of a new engineering and development hub to create 350 jobs, according to NJBIZ.
The church closed in 1995, according to Old Newark. According to planning board minutes, additional floors and mezzanines will be added to the new facility.
The project was approved with variances by the Newark Central Planning Board last Monday. A meeting was held in the church the following day, but attendees said that they could not comment at the time about the development. Audible officials did not return several requests for comment. Click here to learn more.
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