"Different World" Could Cost River Edge Transit Village Project

The borough and NJ Transit will have to meet in 2013 to discuss what to do with plans for a Transit Village near New Bridge

For years the redevelopment of the southern portion of River Edge has hinged on two projects - Huffman Koos and a Transit Village. And while progress is slowly moving forward with the proposed trio of retail buildings by Total Wine, the Villege has suffered yet another setback following a lack of responses that meet NJ Transit's strict criteria. Borough redevelopment attorney Francis Regan recently sat down with NJ Transit and appeared before the governing body this week stating that Transit is interested in meeting in the future. He was joined by borough planner Paul Phillips. "Unfortunately Transit makes it very difficult to create an economically viable project proposal," Regan said. "They include certain requirements such as a 650 …

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Leases Inked for Huffman Koos, Funding Remains in the Air

While waiting for news about receiving financial support from the state Economic Development Authority, two leases have been signed for the former Huffman Koos site

Construction may still be months away for the former Huffman Koos site as the owners continue to await news from the state Economic Development Authority regarding financial support. In the meantime though, Route 4 - Main Street LLC has begun inking leases with Total Wine and CVS. Plans for the site call for a trio of retail buildings on site with Total Wine moving further down towards Rt. 4 into a new 30,000-square-foot building on the property. As of this week, CVS has signed an agreement in principal to move from their current location near the River Edge Diner into the current Total Wine store. A third building, approximately 22,000-square-foot, situated in the middle of the property has not yet garnered a potential lessee.  "My …

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Development Projects Slowly Begin to Move Forward

Huffman Koos project seeks Economic Development Authority funding; 7 Eleven set for May Planning Board

Sometime in the near future the empty fenced in three-acre lot where the former Huffman Koos used to sit on Main Street, will become a focal point of activity. The owners of the property, Route 4 - Main Street LLC, has begun the process of seeking financial support from the state Economic Development Authority after spending the past year performingDepartment of Environmental Protection cleanup of trichloroethylene. "The owners spent $3 million on the remediation of the wells on the site," River Edge Borough Attorney Sam Cereste said. The clean-up efforts were a result of a former dry cleaning business on site. "They are taking the first initial step to getting the project going." The Huffman Koos development project for a trio of retail …

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Kinderkamack Road Housing Development Approved

Planning Board gives project the go-ahead after developer offers to finish borough streetscape south to Main Street

With changes to the location of three refuge bins onsite and an offer to complete the remaining 200 feet of Kinderkamack Road streetscape, the Now Atkins LLC project for a housing development at 230 Kinderkamack Road in River Edge received the borough's Planning Board approval. "We've worked diligently to come up with a solution to the problem of the refuge bins and believe we've reached one," project attorney Thomas Barrett said. According to Barrett, the three refuge bins would be moved closer to each of the buildings and be surrounded by a wooden enclosure. Each enclosure would measure approximately six feet high. "By having the three areas instead of the original two, it will reduce the amount of trach that could be placed into the …

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Weekly Review: Housing Development, Waterworks Building and Wally Schirra

Here's what you may have missed last week

Plans for a housing development at 230 Kinderkamack Road in River Edge are nearing the conclusion of its site plan review following Thursday night's Planning Board meeting. With testimony by the projects engineer, landscaping engineer, and traffic consultant, a final vote is set to take place on April 5. With just one week until the Board of Freeholders vote on a controversial move to eliminate $500,000 in Bergen County Open Space funding from the Hackensack Waterworks buildings along the Oradell and New Milford border, the governing bodies in each municipality approved resolutions urging the County Board to rethink their decision. From Schirra Park and Schirra Drive, the community of Oradell prides itself on being the hometown of …

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Plans For 46-Unit Development On Kinderkamack Advance

A proposed three-building, 46 residential unit development along Kinderkamack Road will face an official vote on April 5 by the Planning Board

Plans for a housing development at 230 Kinderkamack Road in River Edge are nearing the conclusion of its site plan review following Thursday night's Planning Board meeting. With testimony by the projects engineer, landscaping engineer, and traffic consultant, a final vote is set to take place on April 5. The project, presented by Now Atkins LLC, calls for 46 two-bath, two-bedroom units, split between three buildings and measuring 1100-square foot. Two of the buildings would face Kinderkamack Road, while the third abutts the nearby railroad tracks and backyards of residents on Elizabeth Street. Each building is expected to measure 39 1/2 feet. "We've made some changes based on comments from the Fire Department, County and others," project …

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River Edge sees light at end of redevelopment tunnel

After years of delay, the southend of town development projects are beginning to move forward

Redeveloper's Agreement Forthcoming for Southern Condos

Paul Imbarrato's redevelopment plan is moving forward in River Edge

With approval already set for Paul Imbarrato's redevelopment plan for 55 Kinderkamack Road in River Edge, the lone hold up in process of moving forward is a Redeveloper's Agreement with the Borough of River Edge. "We received approval in late 2010 and the next step for the project is the redeveloper's agreement," Chris Krasas, CFO of Let It Grow Inc (Imbarrato's business) said. "In the mean time, we've engaged with financial institutions to see what is available for us, engaged with a team to help with the redeveloper's agreement and outlined milestones. We'd like to kick off the process of the initial draft and be designated as the redeveloper." The Imbarrato project calls for a six-floor mixed use building with 72 one and two-bedroom …

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