WOODBRIDGE – More and more companies are recognizing and capitalizing on the “strategic importance” of Woodbridge Township – the sixth largest township in the state – as the crossroads of New Jersey with all of its major highways and proximity to Newark Airport and the ports of Newark and Elizabeth, Mayor John E. McCormac said.
This is evident by the number of warehouse development and redevelopment projects on the horizon in the Avenel, Sewaren, Keasbey and Hopelawn sections of the township.
McCormac outlined some of the projects during his State of the Township address to the Woodbridge Metro Chamber of Commerce (WMCC), the Woodbridge Economic Development Corporation (WEDCO), regional corporate business community, state, county and municipal elected officials and township residents at Delta Hotels by Marriott Woodbridge on Jan. 21.
Duke Realty is overseeing a new 190,000-square-foot warehouse on nine acres of vacant land and the renovation of another warehouse, both on Paddock Street in Avenel, The Black Creek Group is overseeing the renovation of a warehouse on Paddock Street and a new 122,000-square-foot warehouse on the Proctor and Gamble site; and Old Dominion is overseeing a new warehouse on South Inman Avenue in Avenel.
Two different companies are overseeing the development of three warehouses totaling a million square feet on Pennval Road in Sewaren.
Three warehouses totaling 120,000 square feet are in the works on the Gintempo site on Smith Street in Keasbey and Woodmont is overseeing the development of a new 101,000-square-foot warehouse on New Brunswick Avenue in Hopelawn.
In addition, McCormac explained that at least three major chemical plants are being analyzed for warehouses as the township’s contaminated brownfield sites are being cleaned up.
SJP Properties plans a major renovation of the office building at 200 Wood Avenue in Metropark and there is a plan for a comprehensive review of traffic flow around that train station by New Jersey Transit.
The township is also taking steps to make downtown Woodbridge proper successful.
“Towns all over the state on commuter train lines are planning for the future and we are too,” he said. “Demolition has started at the Riffy’s and Stern Tower sites in downtown Woodbridge and other projects are in various stages of approval. We cannot let Main Street fail and absent any investment in bringing people downtown who spend money it will. We know it is controversial and we know that people are sometimes reluctant to see changes. But we also know that we will have failed in our responsibility as elected officials if we don’t keep moving Woodbridge forward.”
The township is expected to close on their purchase of the bank building at 106 Main Street next month, which will be marketed to restaurants.
“We are also in negotiations to purchase additional lots for parking off Main Street,” McCormac said. “We engaged a restaurant/retail broker to help attract the right mix of companies to locate within our borders. We plan to keep Woodbridge moving forward and a healthy and vibrant Main Street is essential if we are to be successful with these plans.”
McCormac told the crowd to fasten their seatbelts as the township is forging ahead at record pace with no chance of slowing down.
“And we will keep working, because we still have more to do,” he said adding they will continue more ground breakings and more ribbon cuttings to events Woodbridge has been known for from the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Veterans and holiday parades to the 50 free summer concerts and New Jersey Senior Olympics.