Jones Lang LaSalle
Developers present plans for National Lead site
Sayreville residents are still left with questions about cleanup
Friday, January 27, 2006
BY NAWAL QAROONI
Star-Ledger Staff
At least 300 Sayreville residents, many booing and clapping rowdily, listened skeptically last night as teams for four developers pitched their plans to redevelop the condemned National Lead property.
The residents packed into Sayreville's senior center to watch 30-minute presentations from The Spector Group of North Hills, N.Y.; LNR Property Corp. of Quincy, Mass.; a partnership between V. Paulius and Associates of Allendale and Cashman of Quincy, Mass; and Forest City Enterprises of Cleveland.
"What worries me is the contamination. What are the costs and how long will it take?" asked resident Barbara Kilcomons. "Nobody's really talking about it."
With the exception of the V. Paulius and Associates/Cashman partnership -- which earned applause for not including housing -- three companies raised residents' concerns about congested Sayreville schools by proposing minor-league baseball stadiums and substantial housing developments.
Three of the four companies -- all but The Spector Group -- explained how they would assume cleanup responsibilities at the 410-acre site where paint pigments were made in the 1980s.
When Spector representatives showed a slide that promised "the current residents of Sayreville, now and in the foreseeable future, will never have to pay municipal property taxes again," the room erupted in laugher. Randy Corman, executive director of the Sayreville Economic Redevelopment Agency, asked the residents to let the representatives continue.
The National Lead property lies on the banks of the Raritan River, west of the Garden State Parkway.
The borough claimed the land in March when the redevelopment agency deposited $33.5 million with a state court. Much of the money will be used to clean the site unless the selected developer assumes the responsibility from National Lead, Corman has said.
As note-taking residents watched the presentations along with the borough council and planning board members last night, many remained unconvinced about the various projects' suitability.
"They can't build housing on that land or they're asking for lawsuits," resident Pat Forte said. "It'll be cancer alley down there unless it's cleaned up. But that could take 20 years."
LNR Property Corp. described, with more detail than the others, a step-by-step plan for how it would clean the site and what the time frame would be. With an accelerated cleanup plan from Market Street Investors, a brownfield cleanup company, the land should be ready by 2007, said Stewart Minor, a Market Street principal.
LNR's proposal, in 50 percent collaboration with Market Street, would be carried out by 2021, according to its slide presentation.
Others did not include timelines.
LNR is proposing 167 acres of wetlands, parks and open spaces; a boardwalk; fishing and marina piers; a movie theater; a minor-league baseball stadium; a recreation and event center for concerts, family shows and cultural events; sports; waterfront activities; and performing arts.
Forest City Enterprises revealed plans to produce 800,000 square feet of office space; 1.5 million square feet of retail; 1,700 housing units; a minor-league baseball stadium with 7,000 seats; and 40 acres for public use.
The 40 acres could be used for baseball fields, municipal buildings, recreation centers, ice rinks and river trails, said David Levey, executive vice president of the firm.
V. Paulius and Associates/Cashman's proposition rests on a waterfront community with a U-shaped hotel covered in a glass canopy; a senior citizen center; warehouses and cold-storage space; a recreation hub with tennis and basketball courts; a retail district with coffee shops, bookstores, dining and entertainment; and office space for professionals, according to Lawrence Pat Kramer, executive vice president of V. Paulius.
The Spector Group's proposal includes a marine research center and science learning center; an indoor children's theme park; a multiplex movie theater; a high-end shopping mall; municipal buildings; a performing arts stage with a removable roof; a hotel high-rise centerpiece with a convention and exhibition center; the largest aquarium in the Northeast; a minor-league baseball park near the water; a restaurant "row"; a trolley and light-rail system to eliminate vehicular traffic; and 20,000 apartments with parking underneath.
"This meeting was held for the Sayreville residents," Corman, of the borough redevelopment agency, said. "We want your suggestions. We want your input."
Residents who left their names and addresses with borough officials, Corman said, will receive written answers to all of their questions from the final four developers.
The redevelopment agency's members will discuss last night's presentations at their Feb. 9 meeting and make a decision by March.
Developers present plans for National Lead site
Sayreville residents are still left with questions about cleanup
Friday, January 27, 2006
BY NAWAL QAROONI
Star-Ledger Staff
At least 300 Sayreville residents, many booing and clapping rowdily, listened skeptically last night as teams for four developers pitched their plans to redevelop the condemned National Lead property.
The residents packed into Sayreville's senior center to watch 30-minute presentations from The Spector Group of North Hills, N.Y.; LNR Property Corp. of Quincy, Mass.; a partnership between V. Paulius and Associates of Allendale and Cashman of Quincy, Mass; and Forest City Enterprises of Cleveland.
"What worries me is the contamination. What are the costs and how long will it take?" asked resident Barbara Kilcomons. "Nobody's really talking about it."
With the exception of the V. Paulius and Associates/Cashman partnership -- which earned applause for not including housing -- three companies raised residents' concerns about congested Sayreville schools by proposing minor-league baseball stadiums and substantial housing developments.
Three of the four companies -- all but The Spector Group -- explained how they would assume cleanup responsibilities at the 410-acre site where paint pigments were made in the 1980s.
When Spector representatives showed a slide that promised "the current residents of Sayreville, now and in the foreseeable future, will never have to pay municipal property taxes again," the room erupted in laugher. Randy Corman, executive director of the Sayreville Economic Redevelopment Agency, asked the residents to let the representatives continue.
The National Lead property lies on the banks of the Raritan River, west of the Garden State Parkway.
The borough claimed the land in March when the redevelopment agency deposited $33.5 million with a state court. Much of the money will be used to clean the site unless the selected developer assumes the responsibility from National Lead, Corman has said.
As note-taking residents watched the presentations along with the borough council and planning board members last night, many remained unconvinced about the various projects' suitability.
"They can't build housing on that land or they're asking for lawsuits," resident Pat Forte said. "It'll be cancer alley down there unless it's cleaned up. But that could take 20 years."
LNR Property Corp. described, with more detail than the others, a step-by-step plan for how it would clean the site and what the time frame would be. With an accelerated cleanup plan from Market Street Investors, a brownfield cleanup company, the land should be ready by 2007, said Stewart Minor, a Market Street principal.
LNR's proposal, in 50 percent collaboration with Market Street, would be carried out by 2021, according to its slide presentation.
Others did not include timelines.
LNR is proposing 167 acres of wetlands, parks and open spaces; a boardwalk; fishing and marina piers; a movie theater; a minor-league baseball stadium; a recreation and event center for concerts, family shows and cultural events; sports; waterfront activities; and performing arts.
Forest City Enterprises revealed plans to produce 800,000 square feet of office space; 1.5 million square feet of retail; 1,700 housing units; a minor-league baseball stadium with 7,000 seats; and 40 acres for public use.
The 40 acres could be used for baseball fields, municipal buildings, recreation centers, ice rinks and river trails, said David Levey, executive vice president of the firm.
V. Paulius and Associates/Cashman's proposition rests on a waterfront community with a U-shaped hotel covered in a glass canopy; a senior citizen center; warehouses and cold-storage space; a recreation hub with tennis and basketball courts; a retail district with coffee shops, bookstores, dining and entertainment; and office space for professionals, according to Lawrence Pat Kramer, executive vice president of V. Paulius.
The Spector Group's proposal includes a marine research center and science learning center; an indoor children's theme park; a multiplex movie theater; a high-end shopping mall; municipal buildings; a performing arts stage with a removable roof; a hotel high-rise centerpiece with a convention and exhibition center; the largest aquarium in the Northeast; a minor-league baseball park near the water; a restaurant "row"; a trolley and light-rail system to eliminate vehicular traffic; and 20,000 apartments with parking underneath.
"This meeting was held for the Sayreville residents," Corman, of the borough redevelopment agency, said. "We want your suggestions. We want your input."
Residents who left their names and addresses with borough officials, Corman said, will receive written answers to all of their questions from the final four developers.
The redevelopment agency's members will discuss last night's presentations at their Feb. 9 meeting and make a decision by March.
posted by Jones Lang LaSalle NJ News Blog at 10:48 AM
<< Home