Politics & Government
CentroVerde Groundbreaking Marks Start of Gateway Transformation
Developers and elected officials gather at Montclair Gateway Redevelopment site.
The rebirth of an area of Montclair Center where vacant car dealerships stood for years was marked Tuesday with a groundbreaking ceremony attended by developers as well as local, county and state officials.
The first phase of CentroVerde — part of the 4.1 acre Montclair Center Gateway Development Plan — will consist of two mixed-use, six-story buildings at 638 Bloomfield Ave.
The project includes 259 residential units and 571 parking spaces, as well as 23,055 square feet of office space and 22,340 square feet of retail space.
"This project is really a perfect balance of what we need here in Montclair," said Third Ward Councilman Sean Spiller. "It's really going to make Montclair even more vibrant."
Pinnacle Companies CEO Brian Stolar said the project is about five years in the making, and will be a model for green-building in the state.
"We are not aware of any large scale, multi-family LEED property in New Jersey," Stolar said.
LCOR Senior Vice President James Driscoll said his firm is committed to the long-term success of the project.
"We look forward to seeing people live here, work here and shop here," Driscoll told those gathered for the groundbreaking.
In addition to Councilman Spiller, elected officials in attendance included Mayor Robert Jackson, Councilman-at-Large Rich McMahon, Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo, Essex County Freeholder Brendan Gill, and State Assembly members Sheila Oliver and Thomas Giblin.
Mayor Jackson said the project brings ratables to the township's coffers, and marks a transformation for the long-dormant area.
The site was considered in 2008 for off-campus housing for Montclair State University students, but the idea was scrapped in favor of on-campus dormitories.
The township then set forth to create a redevelopment plan in conjunction with developers. In mid-2011, the redevelopment plan was complete and a year later the site plan got the green light.
A request to bump one of the buildings to eight-stories was denied by the Township Council last month after strong opposition from residents and business owners.
Phase 1 is anticipated to open in 2015.
A site plan has yet to be presented for Phase 2, which could bring a six-story residential building or eight-story hotel to the corner of Bloomfield Avenue and Orange Road.
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