A 'romantic' stroll in Garden State Plaza's parking lot? That's what developers envision
PARAMUS — The developers seeking to transform Garden State Plaza say their vision includes a 1-acre "town green" where residents from across this notoriously car-centric borough would be able to gather for outdoor events or stroll through a "romantic little grove of trees."
“People don’t have to come and spend money to enjoy the space,” said Dan Avrit, a landscape architect for the applicants seeking to add hundreds of housing units and new retail in the mall's western parking lot.
During Thursday night's Paramus Planning Board meeting, testimony continued for the first phase of the redevelopment, with a focus on the landscape plan. Mall owner Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield is working with Mill Creek Residential Trust LLC on the proposal, which needs the board's approval.
A new downtown for Paramus
The initial phase would add two five-story buildings with 575 units and about 50,000 square feet of ground-floor shops. The developers have also proposed the 1-acre green to provide an outdoor gathering space and "downtown" area, not just for new residents but for the entire borough.
The area would include a small plaza with a “seasonal water feature” that will work during the summer, Avrit said at the hearing. The space would be decorated for holidays throughout the year, he added.
Plans also call for a stand of trees to provide shade for pedestrians and lights and lanterns to make a “romantic little grove of trees.”
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The park also would include an outdoor dining area and two “retail pads,” where Avrit envisions hosting a café. On the north side, the developers plan a plaza that could host farmers markets, holiday markets and art fairs. Nearby is the Sprout Brook, where the mall and state Department of Environmental Protection have worked to reestablish vegetation, the architect added.
“People can enjoy the park and enjoy getting a bite to eat and drink,” he said.
The area would feature both a “natural lawn” and another grassy area to be used for events and programming. The owners would have the ability to close the area to pedestrian traffic for events on nights and weekends.
Not everyone was convinced. During a public comment period, Paramus resident Michael Murray said he was skeptical about the area becoming a downtown and worried that it could hurt property values.
“This isn’t downtown. This is center city behind our homes,” Murray said. “We invested in this property, and we never expected a small city in our backyard.”
While the current application focuses on the first stage, future phases of the redevelopment could also bring a hotel, senior housing, a retail transit center and additional residential buildings, the developers have said. All the phases combined would add about 1,384 units around the mall, if approved.
The hearing on the application is scheduled to continue on Nov. 2.
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: Garden State Plaza redevelopment envisions town square for Paramus
