'Beginning of an exciting new chapter' in Metuchen with Durham Avenue redevelopment
METUCHEN – In about two years the former site of rusty dilapidated industrial warehouses on Durham Avenue is slated to be transformed into a nearly 300-unit multi-family community and the largest park in the borough.
Last week borough officials were joined by county leaders and representatives of Klein Enterprises, a Maryland-based real estate development firm, for the groundbreaking of the development project on the former site of the Gulton factory.
Mayor Jonathan Busch hailed the project as "the beginning of an exciting new chapter for our borough."
He said the project involves the development of the largest park in the borough – a 32-acre section of the Peter J. Barnes III Wildlife Preserve that will be added to Middlesex County's systems of parks and recreation. The park will have areas for people to walk, hike, bike and explore and will feature boardwalk trails, a footbridge over the brook, bird-watching tower and interpretive signage that highlights the natural beauty and historical significance of the area.
The project also will have a public entrance, parking area with bicycle racks and a future extension of the Middlesex County Greenway.
Busch said the project was made possible by the construction of "The Kempson" an environmentally friendly 272-unit upscale apartment building, with six designated as live-work units, that will honor the historic heritage of the site.
Daniel Klein, president of Klein Enterprises, said he's looking to deliver "the best apartment complex in Middlesex County." The project is anticipated to be completed in spring 2026.
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Klein, whose firm has worked on the property for five years, said the project is transforming a blighted industrial site into a thriving multi-family community for Metuchen. The Gulton tract was a contaminated former warehouse and factory site where batteries and battery parts were made for nearly a century.
The project also calls for 364 parking spaces and a public access drive with 20 parallel parking spaces. The 22-acre property was previously designated as a redevelopment area in the Gulton Tract Redevelopment Plan.
"This exciting project has been years in the making and exemplifies the extraordinary possibilities that public-private partnerships create for communities like ours. For decades, borough officials worked with the property’s owners in an attempt to transform this space. The large industrial warehouses that stood here and their associated environmental contamination obstructed our access to the preserve. But today’s path was ultimately forged by some extraordinarily creative planning by borough and county officials and significant private investment by Metuchen Realty Acquisitions and Klein Enterprises," said Busch, adding $10 million has been invested in environmental remediation of the property where 3,000 native species trees have been planted.
In addition, Metuchen will be receiving $20 million over the next 30 years for investment in essential infrastructure throughout the borough, such as the new emergency services center, school buildings and other park and recreation projects.
Middlesex County Commissioner Charles Tomaro mentioned the project features the borough's first PILOT (Payment in Lieu of Taxes), a method approved by the state to encourage redevelopment of properties through property tax abatements. After the 30 years the property owner would pay property taxes.
Email: srussell@gannettnj.com
Suzanne Russell is a breaking news reporter for MyCentralJersey.com covering crime, courts and other mayhem. To get unlimited access, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: Metuchen NJ Durham Avenue industrial redevelopment breaks ground
