What's the latest with unfinished Mount Laurel EMS building?

Celeste E. Whittaker, Cherry Hill Courier-Post
·3 min read

MOUNT LAUREL - On a dreary, rainy Monday morning, the partially built EMS building looked particularly forlorn and sad.

The building sits at 1112 Route 73 South and Howard Boulevard, across from a Wawa, near the New Jersey Turnpike, and just down the road from the Interstate 295.

Mount Laurel Township Council recently declared a Pennsylvania-based advertising company in default over several stalled projects in town, including the planned $3.8 million EMS building.

Catalyst Experiential LLC of Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, has until the end of the year to remedy the situation, according to a town council resolution shared with the Courier Post.

Plans called for Catalyst to build a Mount Laurel Emergency Medical Services headquarters on Route 73 as well as two other large, high tech digital displays in town, but the projects have been halted.

On Sept. 12, Township council members voted to issue a default notice and notify the company that if it works with the township to restart the project, it has to be done by Dec. 31.

“It is really a fight between the developer and their new finance company,” township attorney George Morris said in an email with the Courier Post, explaining that Catalyst refinanced during the project.

“Now some of the contractors have sued because they weren’t getting paid. Mount Laurel tried to stay out of their fight and give them time to resolve their differences and finish our project."

But, if work doesn't get restarted soon, the township will go to court, "to litigate to end its relationship with this developer.”

What did the project call for in Mount Laurel?

This is a rendering of Mount Laurel's new EMS building that was planned for a location along Route 73 South, but construction has been halted. The deal is with redeveloper Catalyst Experiential.
This is a rendering of Mount Laurel's new EMS building that was planned for a location along Route 73 South, but construction has been halted. The deal is with redeveloper Catalyst Experiential.

Catalyst Experiential’s website describes itself as “redefining the physical form of communication by integrating visual communication technology with local landmarks, infrastructure and community experiences.”

The company did the landscape monument and clock tower in Pennsauken on Route 38 and is constructing a Maple Shade Monument in the center of Maple Shade.

Clock tower greets drivers Heading up Route 38 from Airport Circle? Look for giant Pennsauken welcome clock tower

In Mount Laurel, the plan called for the digital monument display signage to be featured in three redevelopment projects in town, including a new state-of-the-art emergency services building. The EMS was to move there from Church Street.

The deal was for the developer to construct an EMS facility at no cost to the township. The trade-off was that Catalyst would have the right to sell ads on the digital screens.

The other sites for the display signage include a Midlantic Drive redevelopment zone and the Route 295 redevelopment zone. The former is vacant land at the intersection of Route 38 and Midlantic Drive, while the latter is a plot of land situated along Pleasant Valley Avenue between the turnpike and Interstate 295.

What has happened with the Mount Laurel EMS project?

Construction of the EMS building was suspended in 2022 by a contractor, Bannett Group Ltd., about a year after it started. The contractor sued Catalyst in state Superior Court in Burlington County citing they had not been paid all of the money due for part of the job.

The resolution by Mount Laurel Township Council said the “projects remain completely stalled and lifeless and all the while the taxpayers and visitors are stuck viewing unfinished products and the EMS squad still awaits its long overdue facility.”

Mount Laurel Township Council declared a Pennsylvania-based company is in default over several stalled projects in town, including this partially built EMS building on Route 73.
Mount Laurel Township Council declared a Pennsylvania-based company is in default over several stalled projects in town, including this partially built EMS building on Route 73.

“Catalyst/L&P (holding company) and their sub-companies have not displayed the ability, resources and commitment to complete these projects and the township no longer possesses the confidence that Catalyst and or L&P are capable of serving as the redeveloper.”

“The ball is still in the developer’s court, as they say, to do the right thing and remobilize and fulfill their obligation to the township, ML EMS, Inc. and the residents and visitors who are dependent upon emergency services,” Morris said.

Attempts to reach Catalyst for a comment were unsuccessful.

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This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: Mount Laurel says Pennsylvania firm in default over EMS building