By Charley Falkenburg, Packet Media Group
BORDENTOWN CITY — It appears Ocean Spray’s final parting gift to the city will be its 6.2-acre property on Spring Street, locally known as Spring Street Park.
After about four months of negotiations, Ocean Spray has officially agreed to take the property off the market and dedicate it to the city.
The City Commission cemented the victory by passing a resolution March 11, which formally recognized the land conveyance agreement.
”This is a very critical piece of property for open space, youth activities and whatever else the municipality should do with it in the future,” Mayor James Lynch said.
It’s a bittersweet tradeoff for the city, which still is grappling with Ocean Spray’s impending relocation to Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania, in early 2014. Faced with losing its biggest tax ratable along with 250 jobs, the city was unwilling to let go of the piece of property without a fight.
Although the city is only just getting the title now, the property has essentially been municipal property for the last century.
Ron Morgan, the city’s affordable housing and redevelopment attorney, explained that various property owners have been leasing it to the city for $1 for the past 100 years — including Ocean Spray, which acquired the land in 1975.
However, the renewal process appeared to have been forgotten because the city has been operating the property under an expired lease for the last three years.
To keep the park, the city agreed to convey a .34-acre parcel on East Park Street to Ocean Spray. By swapping property deeds, the company now is able to adjoin the parcel with its East Park Street landholdings site.
The city’s plan is to continue to use most of the property for Little League baseball fields. However, it will be subdivided to give a small portion to affordable housing company Mission First to allow enough room for a parking lot and onsite stormwater management in its upcoming redevelopment initiative.
Recently, the city gave Mission First the green light to convert the 122-year-old Eagle Shirt Factory at 1 Spring St. into a 48-unit complex for senior citizens as well as those with special needs.
Because of the historic nature of the factory, it is considered a tax credit project, and the city will get 6.28 percent of the gross income generated from the rentals minus utilities.
The old factory has become somewhat of an eyesore with its overgrown weeds and dilapidated structure during its many years of vacancy and neglect. City officials remain confident this $10 million redevelopment project is just what the city needs to revitalize this area of the community.
”This is a critical project — it’s not a tax-free property, and there will be no more additional kids in the school system,” Mayor Lynch said. “That whole area now has a vision.”
Mr. Morgan has seen Mission First’s concept plans and agreed the project would make a big difference for the better.
”It’s quite a dramatic improvement in the appearance of the building, and it should uplift the whole neighborhood,” Mr. Morgan said. “It will serve as a catalyst to redevelop that whole area.”
The initial draft of Mission First’s project plans already have been informally reviewed by the Planning Board. Mr. Morgan said the city hopes the plans are finalized soon so they can be ready for an April 1 public hearing.
The application deadline for low income-housing tax credits is June 21, however, Mr. Morgan was confident the Planning Board would give the necessary approvals by April or May.
”If they’re happy with the redevelopment plan, which they seem to be,” he added.

