South Orange, New Jersey: A rapidly changing Essex County community could soon see another development project.
A new mixed-use development has been proposed for 114-116 Valley Street in South Orange, near the corner of Third Street. Documents from the South Orange Village Planning Board show that the developer is planning a three-story building at the site. Should the project be approved, there will be six one-bedroom units and two two-bedroom units on the upper two floors of the building, plus 600 square feet of ground floor commercial space. 12 off-street parking stalls are also proposed.
Currently, NAPA Valley Auto Parts and a house reportedly dating to 1850 are located on the property. Under the plan, the buildings would be demolished to make way for the new development. The developer, 116 Valley Street, LLC is based out of a house in Hillsborough, Somerset County. NJ Parcels records show that the company acquired the house last November for $158,000 as a sheriff's sale.
In recent months, two projects have been completed on Valley Street. Third & Valley, a 215-unit development with retail space and an outdoor pool, opened this summer near the property, and Blink Fitness opened near the Stop & Shop supermarket last week. A 22-unit apartment building is also planned for 320 Valley Street, and proposals have surfaced for residential development at Fourth and Valley Streets.
The board will hear the proposal on Monday, November 7th at 7:30pm at the South Orange Performing Arts Center.
Send story ideas, letters to the editor, and photos to placenjwebsites@gmail.com.
Follow us on Twitter - @PlaceNJ
This photo shows the Military Park Building and 80 Park Place in Newark's Downtown.
Send story ideas, letters to the editor, and photos to placenjwebsites@gmail.com.
Follow us on Twitter - @PlaceNJ
Although currently a vacant lot in the East Ward, the next phase of Newark's Riverfront Park will be developed here.
Send story ideas, letters to the editor, and photos to placenjwebsites@gmail.com.
Follow us on Twitter - @PlaceNJ
These photos show the headquarters of the Essex Fells Police Department and the Essex Fells Volunteer Fire Company.
Send story ideas, letters to the editor, and photos to placenjwebsites@gmail.com.
Follow us on Twitter - @PlaceNJ
Newark, New Jersey: Visitors could soon be able to enter New Jersey's largest museum through the front entrance again.
Currently, in order to enter The Newark Museum, located at 49 Washington Street opposite Washington Park in Downtown Newark, visitors must walk around the corner to the parking lot and enter through the side entrance. The original main entrance, located under signs reading 'Science', 'Art', and 'Industry' in a part of the building that dates back over 100 years, has been closed for decades.
However, city documents show that museum officials are planning to change that. The Newark Landmarks and Historic Preservation Commission approved a proposal in July to allow the museum "to build, repair and reposition the existing bronze Washington Street front doors in order to facilitate required egress". Plus, a new handicaipped accessible ramp will be installed, as will a bronze and glass entryway to "create an inviting and engaging appearance for both visitors, local residents and passers-by".
Admission to The Newark Museum is free to Newark residents, and the museum will hold Newark Community Day this Saturday from 11:00am to 9:00pm, with a variety of free art projects, tours, scavenger hunts, and other activities for families in the afternoon and adults at night.
Send story ideas, letters to the editor, and photos to placenjwebsites@gmail.com.
Follow us on Twitter - @PlaceNJ
Newark, New Jersey: A new warehouse is proposed for Newark's East Ward.
According to a legal notice, the massive new facility could be built at 173-269 Doremus Avenue, near Roanoke Avenue and Avenue P, in an industrial area of the city between the New Jersey Turnpike and the Passaic River. The warehouse and distribution center, which would be owned by The Morris Companies in Rutherford, Bergen County, is slated to contain 872,000 square feet of floor area, plus car and truck parking. The lot has most recently been vacant, but has previously been used for container storage.
The Newark Central Planning Board heard the proposal earlier this week.
Send story ideas, letters to the editor, and photos to placenjwebsites@gmail.com.
Follow us on Twitter - @PlaceNJ
Fairfield, New Jersey: A former Dunkin' Donuts location in Western Essex County will be reopening.
The Dunkin' Donuts location at 294 Route 46 East, between the Horseneck Road overpass and Hollywood Avenue, closed its doors close to five years ago. Since then, the restaurant has sat abandoned on the side of the highway next to the Comfort Inn. Now, according to a legal notice from the Fairfield Township Planning Board, a company called Siddhi Vinayak Donuts is proposing to reopen the location. The board approved of the franchise's proposal earlier this month with conditions.
There are two other Dunkin' Donuts locations with the Township of Fairfield, one of which is along the westbound side of Route 46.
Send story ideas, letters to the editor, and photos to placenjwebsites@gmail.com.
Follow us on Twitter - @PlaceNJ
This photo was taken outside of the Golden Farm Market in Newark's East Ward.
Send story ideas, letters to the editor, and photos to placenjwebsites@gmail.com.
Follow us on Twitter - @PlaceNJ
This photo shows the Midtown Manhattan skyline and the Pulaski Skyway as seen from the Jackson Street Bridge in Newark.
Send story ideas, letters to the editor, and photos to placenjwebsites@gmail.com.
Follow us on Twitter - @PlaceNJ
Newark, New Jersey: Could this be the beginning of the end for one of Essex County's largest abandoned buildings?
Currently, the former Essex County Jail sits vacant and abandoned at the corner of New and Newark Streets in the University Heights neighborhood of Newark's Central Ward. The building, closed for over 45 years, sits next to the Norfolk Street Station on the Newark Light Rail. The building, part of which is nearly 180 years old is best known becuase the 1992 film 'Malcolm X' was partially filmed inside of it.
One of the reasons why the massive complex has never been demolished is because it is listed on both the National Register of Historic Places and the New Jersey Register of Historic Places. However, records from the City of Newark show that this could soon change. According to the minutes from the July 13th meeting of the Newark Landmarks and Historic Preservation Commission, Rutgers Law School filed a petition to de-register the complex, which is owned by the City of Newark, from both registers, and that no action was required by the commission.
Rutgers Law School did not respond to a request for comment, and no proposals have been heard by city commissions and boards recently regarding future use for the facility. Former Essex County facilities that became abandoned have seen mixed fates, with the former Essex County Isolation Hospital in Belleville becoming a mixed-use development, while the former Essex County Hospital Center in Cedar Grove was demolished to make way for a park and the former United Hospital in Newark was demolished to make way for the Donald Payne School.
Send story ideas, letters to the editor, and photos to placenjwebsites@gmail.com.
Follow us on Twitter - @PlaceNJ
