Fanwood Mayor Colleen Mahr, members of the Borough Council and Planning Board, and developer Landmark Companies broke ground June 22nd, 2017, on a project more than a decade in the making, the redevelopment of the parcel of land at 2nd Street and LaGrande Avenue known as the former Dean Oil site.
Station Square at Fanwood, a 35-unit townhome style rental project, is the final piece of the Borough’s award winning Downtown Redevelopment Plan. Although the planning for this project began at the same time as the surrounding development parcels, environmental issues followed by market and other conditions delayed the construction. The site underwent a million dollar, multi-year clean-up under the direction of NJDEP and thereafter a full redesign based upon changing market demand. Now, at long last, the development site is ready and the funding in place. Landmark will be investing more than $10 million to construct the 35 one, two and three bedroom apartments, 7 of which will be affordable to low and moderate income households in furtherance of the Borough’s court approved, Affordable Housing Plan. With features such as spacious great rooms, car ports, garages, and balconies, the units are sure to have terrific market appeal.
“We have transformed the face of Fanwood for decades to come,” said Mayor Mahr at Thursday’s groundbreaking ceremony. “This project represents yet another major investment in our community. I am especially proud that along with the 28 market units, we will have 7 affordable housing units built on the site. The affordable housing is a really important piece for us because we believe that whoever would love to live here in Fanwood, should be able to afford to be here in Fanwood.”
Among those attending today’s groundbreaking were Fanwood Councilmembers Jack Molenaar and Tom Kranz, Fanwood Development Advisor Liz Jeffery, Planning Board Vice Chairman Dennis McSherry and members John Steigerwald and Hans Ruhlandt, Union County Freeholders Al Mirabella, Bruce Bergen and Angel Estrada, Landmark Companies owner Michael Gottlieb and company officials Jeff Weinflash, Benjamin Harvitt and Matt Leshetz and site contractor Scott Tomaro of J. Tomaro Construction.
