Paramus approves first phase of plan to transform Garden State Plaza
PARAMUS — The Planning Board on Thursday approved the first phase of a redevelopment that eventually could transform Garden State Plaza by bringing a hotel, medical offices, a transit center and nearly 1,400 apartments and senior housing units to the property.
The board voted unanimously to approve an initial stage that will add two five-story mixed-use buildings with 575 housing units and about 50,000 square feet of retail space.
Mall owner Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield is working with Mill Creek Residential Trust LLC on the project, which would be built in the mall's western parking lot.
The board voted yes on the condition that closets are removed from proposed dens in the development but that barn doors could stay. Board members had brought up concerns at the Thursday meeting and prior meetings that people might turn dens into bedrooms if they had closets.
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The redevelopment would also create a 1-acre “town green” for outdoor markets, dining and gatherings — an area the developers promoted as a new "downtown" for the decentralized, suburban borough.
Future phases planned for redevelopment
The board also approved the preliminary site plans for future phases of the project, but Unibail and Mill Creek will have to return to the Planning Board to gain the final site plan approval for the three phases:
The first would add a five-story, 250,000-square-foot building for a senior assisted-living and memory-care facility with 230 units as well as more retail space on the ground floor. There would also be a two-story medical office building and a six-story parking garage.
On a second part of the property, plans call for a seven-story, 85,000-square-foot hotel and a regional bus transit center. The developer also envisions a 286,000-square-foot, five-story residential building, additional retail space and another six-story parking garage.
Finally, a third section of the mall property would receive two more residential buildings, each five stories, with another 2,500 square feet of retail surrounded by a third six-story garage.
Combined, those stages would add about 809 more multifamily units, 122 of which would be priced as affordable housing. With the 575 units from phase one, it would bring the overall residential component to about 1,384 units.
"Seamlessly connecting the existing mall with the new residences as well as additional services and amenities will benefit all of Bergen County," Stephen Fluhr, Unibail's senior vice president of development, said after the vote. "Together with Mill Creek Residential, we look forward to creating a vibrant town center that will serve as a hub for the community.”
Residents voiced concerns
Before the vote, three neighbors of the property spoke up to ask the board not to approve variances for the project, citing concerns about the size and density.
Resident Joseph Cofone said he was unable to think of the Garden State Plaza project independently of all the other big developments coming to the borough. He was concerned about how the thousands of new renters would affect the borough's stormwater management, sewage, traffic congestion, public safety and school system capacity.
"You don't know how it's going to affect the town," Cofone said. "You're not going to know now. We really aren't going to know for three years."
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Why malls are adding housing
Garden State Plaza is among many malls trying to reimagine themselves as they face the challenge of online shopping. Elsewhere in Paramus, Bergen Town Center has won approval to add 456 apartments with ground-level retail. Farther south in East Rutherford, the American Dream mega-mall has focused on a mix of shopping and entertainment experiences including an indoor ski slope and water park.
"Paramus was already on the map as a retail destination, considering the amount of shopping centers here, but how do we transition, and what’s that next iteration?" Geoff Mason, a Unibail executive vice president, said last year of the Garden State Plaza project.
"It also ensures there’s an incredible and attractive destination that may stop people from going out of market to do their shopping and living needs," Mason said.
What the town green will offer
The town green to be built in the first phase of redevelopment would include an outdoor dining area and two “retail pads,” which could include a café, according to testimony from the project’s architect during an October meeting.
On the north side of the green, the developers plan a plaza that could host farmers markets, holiday markets and art fairs.
The outdoor space will also feature a small plaza with a “seasonal water feature” that will work during the summer and would be decorated for holidays throughout the year.
“We’re excited to bring our experience creating highly amenitized, mixed-use environments to the existing community and our future residents,” said Russell Tepper, senior managing director of development for Mill Creek Residential.
Stephanie Noda is a local reporter for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
Email: noda@northjersey.com
Twitter: @snoda11
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Paramus approves first phase to transform Garden State Plaza
