After years of delay, hotel project may go ahead

Six-story, 160-room building proposed for site off Route 1 and Meadow Road

By: Greg Forester
   WEST WINDSOR — The township moved closer to bringing a significant commercial ratable onto the tax rolls Wednesday night, giving a thumbs up to a developer’s plans for the township-required safety features of an access road of a planned 160-room six story hotel off of Meadow Road and Route 1.
   But the required safety features would go beyond the boundaries of an easement, previously granted by the owners of the Meadow Lane Apartments, requiring their permission for an extension of that easement.
   Township officials said that given the history of the apartment complex owners objecting to requests made by the developer, there could be another objection coming the developer’s way.
   Township officials said they were prepared to use certain measures — including eminent domain — if the property owner raised further objections to the plans for the proposed Greenview Corporate Center, demonstrating their interest in seeing the hotel complex finally come to West Windsor.
   "This would be a very nice ratable for the township, and it will offer significant amenities for the West Windsor community," said Planning Board Chairman Marvin Gardner, who said the developer could finally get started on the project after years of delays. "If we make any changes they may need additional approvals, but beyond that, once they get the permits and create plans they could begin moving on this project."
   The major cause of over seven years of delay on the multi-million-dollar project have been the owners of the nearby Meadow Lane Apartments complex, from which the developer was required to get an easement for the construction of an access road with the appropriate safety features, as requested by township officials.
   Township officials said any denial on the part of the owners of the complex about the easement would meet action from the township, with the last resort being eminent domain.
   Township Engineer Jim Parvesse said that besides eminent domain, there were other bonding stipulations from earlier agreements that the township could use to require the complex’s owners to comply with the plans for the easement.
   The hotel complex was to be served by one entrance directly off of northbound Route 1, plus the additional access road from Meadow Road, whose path would skirt the northern edge of the apartment complex property and require an easement from the complex owners.
   The plans presented Monday night — mainly for safety features and the details of the access road — still need approval from the apartment complex owners.
   Township professionals said the proposed hotel would be much better served by having the additional access road off of Meadow Road instead of being solely accessible from northbound Route 1 north.
   "There are other reasons for having access from Meadow Road besides the obvious safety issues," said Township Planner John Madden. "The access road would provide less circuitous access for those coming to the complex from other directions, and it would also provide direct access for the apartment residents to the new development."
   While the Meadow Lane Apartments owners originally agreed to provide a sewer easement and the easement for the planned access road, they have since objected at nearly every stage of the planning of the development, bringing both the developer, Switzenbaum Realty, and the township to court, Planning Board Chairman Marvin Gardner said.
   Despite losing that case, the owners of the apartment complex have continued to stonewall Switzenbaum Realty despite repeated attempts by Switzenbaum employees — and Samuel Switzenbaum himself — to speak with the property owners, Mr. Switzenbaum said.
   "I have developed $1 billion worth of real estate and I have never experienced anything like this before," said Mr. Switzenbaum. "I have already spent $2 million on this project, and we will pay whatever cost the township incurs through construction or the use of eminent domain."
   Switzenbaum Realty officials said Wednesday that they have been in contact with the Hilton hotel chain and the company has continued to express an interest in the proposed hotel complex despite the delays in getting the development going.
   The developer has been in front of the Planning Board for years getting approvals for the plans, but continued objections by the apartment complex owners have repeatedly delayed its plans, despite the developer receiving constant approval from the Planning Board and even winning the lawsuit, Planning Board officials said.
   Mr. Gardner said the earlier proceedings were highly contentious, with counsel for both the developer and the apartment complex owner calling Mr. Gardner "your honor," in addition to making objections and demanding rulings from the Planning Board chairman.
   Despite their presence at earlier hearings, the apartment complex owner did not have representation at Wednesday’s meeting.
   Switzenbaum Realty has worked on projects, including a 279-room Hilton Garden Inn in Philadelphia and a 240-unit apartment complex in New Castle, Del.