flexiblefullpage
billboard
interstitial1
catfish1
Currently Reading

An industrial ‘eyesore’ is getting new life as an apartment complex

Multifamily Housing

An industrial ‘eyesore’ is getting new life as an apartment complex

The project, in Metuchen, N.J., includes significant improvements to a nearby wildlife preserve.


By John Caulfield, Senior Editor | May 12, 2023
Rendering of Class A apartment building in Metuchen, N.J, that replaces a factory-warehouse.
A Class-A apartment building will replace a factory-warehouse that's been closed for decades in Metuchen, N.J. The developer is paying for this redevelopment through an incentive program that will provide the municipality with investment capital for infrastructure improvements. Image credit: Klein Enterprises

Last month, the demolition of a dilapidated warehouse/factory in Metuchen, N.J., commenced to make way for an apartment complex with 272 Class A studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom units.

The multifamily community redevelopment is being spearheaded by Klein Enterprises, a 75-year-old firm with nearly 60 assets in its portfolio. Last year, Klein acquired the Gulton factory as part of the development parcel that is adjacent to a 30-acre wildlife preserve. It made that acquisition under the PILOT incentive program, which allows the developer to make payments to the borough in lieu of taxes based on the project’s revenue. Over the 30-year agreement, it is estimated that Klein Enterprises will pay $20 million. The borough would receive 95 percent of the PILOT revenue.

This project will provide Metuchen—a bedroom community that’s a 45-minute train ride from New York City—with millions of dollars to invest in infrastructure. Prior to the start of the factory demolition, the property had already undergone a $10 million environmental remediation that included the planting of 3,000 trees. (The land is bounded on the west by a borough-owned woodland within the wildlife preserve, which will receive $1 million of Klein’s PILOT payments earmarked for improvements that include a network of trails and paths, more open space, and access and parking for a new nature preserve.)

A solution after years of discussion

The apartment complex is expected to take 24 months to complete by the fall of 2025. Fifteen percent of the units will meet New Jersey’s affordable housing requirements. Six of the apartments, all on the ground floor, will be one-bedroom live-work homes.

The community’s interior design will honor artists, literary figures, and intellectuals who brought culture and the arts to Metuchen in the 1800s. The project is also pursuing green initiatives that include a partial green roof, large solar array, electric car charging stations, LED lighting, and a pollinator garden. Other amenities will include a dog park, pool, and community garden.

The site of the apartment complex is located at 212 Durham Avenue. Metuchen Realty Advisors, which acquired the land in 1986 and did the environmental cleanup, sold a piece of the land to Middlesex County, and will transfer the remaining open space after the community is completed. This land is adjacent to the planned expansion of the popular Middlesex County Greenway linear park.

Metuchen Mayor Jonathan M. Busch was quoted as stating that discussions about how to redevelop this industrial site had been ongoing for decades. (The Borough designated the Gulton property as an area in need of development in 2015.) The redevelopment, he stated, “enable[s] us to open the largest recreational space in Metuchen, fund a variety of important infrastructure projects, and help protect our environment, all while providing our community with new housing options.”

The apartment complex is located near Metuchen’s train station, and will be within walking distance to the borough’s downtown.

Related Stories

Apartments | Oct 2, 2023

Chicago's Belden-Stratford luxury apartments gets centennial facelift

The Belden-Stratford has reopened its doors following a renovation that blends the 100-year-old building’s original architecture with modern residences.

Sponsored | Multifamily Housing | Sep 29, 2023

Win-Win Scenarios for Residents and Property Managers

Discover how proptech is opening open new paths to revenue for owners and property managers, while bringing desirable amenities and conveniences for renters. Check out my thoughts on profitable, resident-centric proptech.

Products and Materials | Sep 29, 2023

Top building products for September 2023

BD+C Editors break down 15 of the top building products this month, from smart light switches to glass wall systems.

Multifamily Housing | Sep 26, 2023

Midwest metros see greatest rent increase in September 2023

While the median monthly price of rent has increased by 0.71% in August, the year-over-year estimates show a national change of -0.06 percent.

Affordable Housing | Sep 25, 2023

3 affordable housing projects that serve as social catalysts

Trish Donnally, Associate Principal, Perkins Eastman, shares insights from three transformative affordable housing projects.

Cladding and Facade Systems | Sep 22, 2023

5 building façade products for your next multifamily project

A building's façade acts as a first impression of the contents within. For the multifamily sector, they have the potential to draw in tenants on aesthetics alone.

Sponsored | Multifamily Housing | Sep 21, 2023

5 Helpful Resources for Designing & Building with Engineered Wood

From in-depth, technical publications with detailed illustrations and examples to in-person consultations with engineered wood specialists, APA offers a host of helpful resources for commercial designers and installers working with engineered wood.

MFPRO+ Blog | Sep 21, 2023

The benefits of strategic multifamily housing repositioning

With the rapid increase in new multifamily housing developments, owners of existing assets face increasing competition. As their assets age and the number of new developments increases seemingly day-by-day, developers will inevitably have to find a way to stay relevant.

Mixed-Use | Sep 20, 2023

Tampa Bay Rays, Hines finalize deal for a stadium-anchored multiuse district in St. Petersburg, Fla.

The Tampa Bay Rays Major League Baseball team announced that it has reached an agreement with St. Petersburg and Pinellas County on a $6.5 billion, 86-acre mixed-use development that will include a new 30,000-seat ballpark and an array of office, housing, hotel, retail, and restaurant space totaling 8 million sf.

boombox1
boombox2
native1

More In Category




halfpage1

Most Popular Content

  1. 2021 Giants 400 Report
  2. Top 150 Architecture Firms for 2019
  3. 13 projects that represent the future of affordable housing
  4. Sagrada Familia completion date pushed back due to coronavirus
  5. Top 160 Architecture Firms 2021