By Matti Chiappardi, Staff Writer
HIGHTSTOWN A shopping center that was the focus of some contention last year is under new ownership. And one of the new owner’s says he plans to go ahead with improvements the center’s previous proprietor had apparently planned.
Michael’s Plaza on Mercer Street which houses a pizzeria, music, grocery, and print stores as well as a travel agency was sold in February to a Manalapan-based company called Bobbie International.
The center’s previous owner Glen Fishman had presented a revitalization plan to the Planning Board in July 2006 that included a new façade and several traffic improvements. But he balked when the board told him he would have to float a performance bond to guarantee traffic improvements in order to move forward with the project.
And he said he’d prefer to avoid the traffic improvements altogether if the state Department of Transportation required something too costly.
At the time, Planning Board attorney Gary Rosensweig said the bond would be equal to 120 percent of the cost of improvements and that Mr. Fishman would get the money back when the upgrades were completed. Mr. Fishman had estimated the cost of the improvements at about $325,000 $200,000 of which was his traffic improvement estimate.
Instead of going ahead with the upgrade, Mr. Fishman sold the property to Bobbie International for about $2 million seven months later. One of the new owners, dentist Rajiv Manocha, with an office in East Windsor, said he’s happy to go ahead with the improvements.
But as far as posting a performance bond, he’s not sure.
”It’s hard to say if we would, because we haven’t been asked to do it yet,” Dr. Manocha said Tuesday.
Still, the whole of the improvements is something he said he’s willing to do.
Those improvements, besides the new façade, are a system for truck deliveries at the 12,000-square-foot center, a clearer path for entering and exiting the plaza, and moving parking spots for the disabled closer to the strip’s center.
”We’re willing to do it,” said Dr. Manocha.
”We live in the area and like the property,” he added.
That’s something Planning Board Chairman Steve Misiura said this week that he was pleased to hear.
”This is welcome news. We look forward to him making the improvements,” he said.

