Millburn downtown redevelopment archived
Jul 3, 2008 at 4:04am
I think it looks nice. Change is always hard, but Millburn downtown needs a big shot in the arm.
Posted By: mschweberSuch a development may work in South Orange or Summit or even Livingston but not downtown Millburn.
Funny - I think of Millburn's downtown as way more built up than South Orange's downtown. I don't see how this would be more suitable in SO
Posted By: crabbyappletonI think it looks nice. Change is always hard, but Millburn downtown needs a big shot in the arm.
No one denies that downtown Millburn has issues but putting dense blocks of 5 story building right in the middle of 2 and 3 story buildings that are smaller and more diverse is not the answer. Also, who is going to fill all that retail space? 20 more nail salons? With the Short Hills mall in town Millburn is never going to be Westfield. National retailers are not going to come to downtown and local businesses are not going to be able to pay the rents that a developer would want. Sur La Table could not make it at the Livingston town center project and I think that is a bad sign for the viability of this type of development. Maybe some restaurants but there really is no shortage of restaurants in downtown Millburn now so I do not know how many more it can support.
Posted By: BeePosted By: mschweberSuch a development may work in South Orange or Summit or even Livingston but not downtown Millburn.
Funny - I think of Millburn's downtown as way more built up than South Orange's downtown. I don't see how this would be more suitable in SO
Guess it is just a matter of perception. While the commercial area of Millburn sprawls more, somehow SO always struck me as much more built up in its core. I did not mean to imply anything or to try to advocate this type of development in SO.
As long as they are getting rid of that fugly, defunct department store building then I would be all for it, the rumor I heard is that several chain stores have already been approached about going setting up shop, and have given favorable replies.
What I can't believe is that no one has chastised whoever put that planning board pdf together, he, she, they should be forever banned from doing one again.
What, it's so much harder to put the text between the photos where it can be more than easily read, friggin' morons everywhere.
What I can't believe is that no one has chastised whoever put that planning board pdf together, he, she, they should be forever banned from doing one again.
What, it's so much harder to put the text between the photos where it can be more than easily read, friggin' morons everywhere.
Posted By: MonsterAs long as they are getting rid of that fugly, defunct department store building then I would be all for it, the rumor I heard is that several chain stores have already been approached about going setting up shop, and have given favorable replies.
What I can't believe is that no one has chastised whoever put that planning board pdf together, he, she, they should be forever banned from doing one again.
What, it's so much harder to put the text between the photos where it can be more than easily read, friggin' morons everywhere.
If you are talking about the former Saks site it is actually in Springfield and what is going on there is a long story. In any event it is nowhere near where the redevelopment would be.
Depends what you mean by chain store. There is currently quite an uproar about PetSmart going into the Whole Foods site (though I have no problem with that) so there are many chain stores that would create a lot of opposition (though it seems as if a lot of people in the town were hoping for a Trader Joes in the Whole Food site so that would be popular) and the ones that would not are already in the mall.
I agree with you about the text placement.
you mean all these years I thought that was part of Millburn, I really need to look at a map sometime.
Posted By: Monsteryou mean all these years I thought that was part of Millburn, I really need to look at a map sometime.
Its right on the border. In fact the stores next to it (Cait and Abbey, etc) are in Millburn and all of Millburn Avenue is in Millburn (which is one of the issues in redeveloping the site).
Posted By: USMNTFanWhere are they moving the DPW to?
They have not come up with a location yet but I think I have read that the composting area on JFK is a leading candidate. Is is by watershed area however so I do not see how that can work.
Anyone ever think of using that site as a park & ride or an auxiliary lot (with shuttle) for the Short Hills train station? If they can get some new merchants in there, fine, but if they can't, NJ is starved for train parking there's a huge empty lot less than half a mile from a station. It'd be a way for Millburn to turn that land into some revenue. 2 + 2 = 4?
Fredct - which site? The old Saks site along Millburn Ave, not too far from Morris Tpke? As noted above, that lot is in Springfield township so turning it into parking for the train station is unlikely. Plus, my understanding is that's owned by the company that owns Stop and Shop and there's been several years of lawsuits to delay/shut down the building of one there.
As to where the DPW is going, shouldn't that get figured out before they start any phases? I can't imagine the environmental impact studies that need to/should be done are quick and easy things.
As to where the DPW is going, shouldn't that get figured out before they start any phases? I can't imagine the environmental impact studies that need to/should be done are quick and easy things.
Yeah, the old Saks lot. Seems being controlled by Springfield would make it easier to become a train lot. Springfield currently runs their jitney from the Springfield pool, but that lot is closer (less gas for the jitney & quicker trips), appears to have substantially more parking, and wouldn't conflict with other users (not sure if there's ever parking issues between commuters & pool users on weekdays afternoons). Collecting a few bucks for each car would be better for the township (Springfield & Millburn) than having it sit empty for years.
P.S. Which reminds me, I drove around the Short Hills station lots recently to figure out the story. Is it true that its free on the weekends for anyone, or do you still need a town/commuter permit? I wasn't 100% sure based on the sign wording, which says its free, but I was wondering if it means 'free only if youre a resident' or something.
P.S. Which reminds me, I drove around the Short Hills station lots recently to figure out the story. Is it true that its free on the weekends for anyone, or do you still need a town/commuter permit? I wasn't 100% sure based on the sign wording, which says its free, but I was wondering if it means 'free only if youre a resident' or something.
There is no parking control at the Short Hills lot on weekends so feel free to park there.
As to the Saks site, Springfield would have to pay big bucks to Stop and Shop to acquire it under eminent domain so that's not happening.
Under court order Stop and Shop has approval from Springfield for a supermarket. But since the road onto which cars go is totally in Millburn the courts have also ruled that Stop and Shop needs Millburn approval. Strangly, over a year has passed since everything was resolved with Springfield and nothing has been filed with Millburn so everyone is wondering what is going on. The filing had been expected almost immediately after the resolution of the situation with Springfield.
As to the Saks site, Springfield would have to pay big bucks to Stop and Shop to acquire it under eminent domain so that's not happening.
Under court order Stop and Shop has approval from Springfield for a supermarket. But since the road onto which cars go is totally in Millburn the courts have also ruled that Stop and Shop needs Millburn approval. Strangly, over a year has passed since everything was resolved with Springfield and nothing has been filed with Millburn so everyone is wondering what is going on. The filing had been expected almost immediately after the resolution of the situation with Springfield.
I think that Millburn center is definitely in need of updating. So much business was lost to the MASH over the years. Time to get back some decent stores.
I have been thinking of opening a store in Millburn, with stuff for home and garden. There is a lot of available space right now. Why is that? I think of Millburn as a place in transition but with a lot of good potential for a store since there is so much restaurant traffic. Do others agree?
fabulouswalls, what is the MASH?
fabulouswalls, what is the MASH?
I'm major league skeptical until I'm shown the value of an 8 figure outlay. As towns go, its pretty healthy. Stores other than restaurants struggle but I don't see how a a big plan will change that or, frankly, why I should care enough to subsidize someone else's business, especially in the perilous economic and budgetary climate we are in.
Have you checked out the rent? I am sure it is quite high. Home and garden might be a good idea but you need quite a bit of business to cover the overhead and make a profit.
There is a garden store in downtown millburn already (and I don't mean a florist shop). Between where the old JALM used to be and the schoolhouse office building.
I have looked at rents and Millburn is no more than Maplewood Village rents these days. So relatively it seems the value might be better? I'm not sure. Lot of people walking in the Village but a lot of crosstown traffic in Millburn.
The redevelopment plan look to me as a plan that will change the town forever and not add anything. Businesses have come and gone but as far as most downtown area in towns of equal size Millburn offers as much or more of a variety as any of them To citify the downtown area would be a hugh negative for the town
As this would be a huge change for the town, shouldn't this require a voter referendum?
I thought it was interesting that just this week the Summit zoning board turned down a proposal for a 5 story building in downtown because it was too tall.
Yet the Millburn redevelopment plan calls for 5 story buildings that will tower over the surroundings.
I certainly hope that the 5 story buildings at least are removed from the plan.
Yet the Millburn redevelopment plan calls for 5 story buildings that will tower over the surroundings.
I certainly hope that the 5 story buildings at least are removed from the plan.
From what I've heard, that redevelopment plan is under heavy edits right now. It is highly unlikely that the plan, as presented, will move forward at all. I think the plan is to literally go back to the drawing board and come up with a more suitable redevelopment that is more of a refreshening than a total redevelopment. If you think there was opposition to Stop n Shop and Petsmart, this current redevelopment plan would have been met with even fiercer opposition.
Posted By: leavingthecityFrom what I've heard, that redevelopment plan is under heavy edits right now. It is highly unlikely that the plan, as presented, will move forward at all. I think the plan is to literally go back to the drawing board and come up with a more suitable redevelopment that is more of a refreshening than a total redevelopment. If you think there was opposition to Stop n Shop and Petsmart, this current redevelopment plan would have been met with even fiercer opposition.
I certainly hope you are correct.
Way back when the idea of the town buying property along Essex for a new town hall first came up it was presented as a modest plan to redevelop just the site of the current town hall to better utilize its Millburn Avenue frontage.
From there it morphed into a monster (remember when the establishment of a redevelopment zone was first proposed and the zone was huge -basically covering all of downtown and some residences as well)
I do not think that many people would argue against a "refreshing" of downtown. Certainly in comparison to many surrounding towns the street scape downtown is lacking in charm. But, IMO, the proposed grandiose plan is crazy.
Wondering out loud what constituency drives this kind of proposal. Is it the commerical landlords? Their tenants?
probably not the tenants or landlords but maybe a member or members on the TC who have there own agenda
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What started as a project that was to be a way to replace an inadequate town hall, that is not handicapped accessible and was not built to be a town hall and then redevelop that one plot of land has morphed into the monster that wants to eat Millburn.
The process needs to be slowed down, scaled back and rethought to come up with a plan that will actually benefit downtown Millburn. The attempt was to put this on the fast track and ram it through while people are away for the summer and not focusing on it but it seems that these attempts have failed as consideration will wait for the fall but still IMO efforts have got to be ramped up to get this plan changed. Dense blocks of 5 story buildings are not appropriate for downtown Millburn. I looked at the renderings in the proposal, saw haw they loomed over everything else and was appalled.