Mironov still hopeful of Route 130 arrival
By Anthony V. Coppola, Staff Writer
EAST WINDSOR If all had gone according to plan, a large Kohl’s department store, with more than 200 jobs, would be set to mark its one-year anniversary in the township.
But the economy has stalled a lot of plans.
A little less than two years after the Planning Board granted approval to Hickory Corner Associates to build a retail center on a 17-acre site along Route 130, construction has yet to begin.
“The economy has impacted a lot of projects, not just this one,” Mayor and Planning Board member Janice Mironov said Tuesday. “I’ve remained in touch with the developer every few weeks and they have indicated to me discussions are ongoing.”
Several calls to Kohl’s and HCA were not returned, and Mayor Mironov declined to comment on any specifics of what she called “negotiations” between the developer and Kohl’s.
The two-story, 105,000-square-foot store on a site also bordered by Routes 33, Hickory Corner Road and Bear Brook, was set to be the latest addition to the southern portion of Route 130, the main business corridor in the township. Wal-Mart opened a store there in 2005 and a Home Depot is located across from the planned Kohl’s site, on Route 33.
In June 2007, when it was known an October opening that year would not be realized, HCA targeted an opening date for spring 2008. The construction time for the department store was expected to be nine months.
“We remain hopeful an agreeable arrangement will be worked out and the township will certainly assist in facilitating that process in any way possible,” the mayor said this week.
Kohl’s has reported the opening of 28 stores this year, raising the company’s total to 957 across 47 states. In Mercer County, there are Kohl’s stores in Hamilton and Princeton.
Established township companies also are experiencing roadblocks as a result of the economy.
Just last month, John Mayorek, senior vice president of Conair the township’s second largest employer blamed the economic downturn for a delay of a 450,000-square-foot warehouse expansion on a 27-acre lot directly across Milford Road from Conair’s existing warehouse.
The project, which Mr. Mayorek was hopeful would start in early 2007, was expected to add 200 to 500 jobs to an existing workforce of close to 600.
In his 36 years with the company, Mr. Mayorek said this was the worst economic recession he has seen, before adding he still expects the expansion to happen at some point. And he said does not anticipate any changes in the scope of the project.
Residential developments are struggling to get off the ground too.
In July, the Planning Board granted a second extension for Enchantment at East Windsor a development of more than 100 single-family houses for residents aged 55 or older. The first extension was granted in May 2007.
Robert Geiger, a sales and marketing representative for the Red Bank-based Robertson Douglas Group, said the firm would examine the economy more closely this fall to try to decide when to start construction. He added that the firm is hopeful of breaking ground in the spring of next year.

