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Redevelopment may be a two-firm deal
(by Maggie Fazeli Fard - October 24, 2007)
Atkins Companies, the firm selected by the borough to carry out the redevelopment of Emerson’s downtown, has selected a preferred partner in the project: Roseland Property Company, the Short Hills-based urban redevelopment firm responsible for projects throughout the Northeast.
The company, which boasts 220 employees as well as experience in the redevelopment of communities along the Hudson River and
East Boston, Mass. , waterfronts, and on the 100-acre former General Motors plant in Sleepy Hollow, N.Y., could offer financial support and additional resources to the comparatively smaller Atkins.
“I think Atkins really is still unsure [about handling the redevelopment] and they’re a big player,” Mayor Louis Lamatina said Tuesday of Roseland. “To me, it’s a positive thing that they’re coming in.”
Lamatina said that he had been concerned recently by the amount of time it is taking to get the project off the ground. While there have been delays, largely due to a planned roadway redesign by the county and the possibility of moving the NJ Transit train station, Lamatina said he had expected Atkins to begin acquiring properties by now.
That’s not to say that the partnership is a done deal.
“We selected Atkins because they were a smaller company and shared our vision,” said Lamatina. “My concern is that the vision continues.”
Atkins’ redevelopment plan involves adding 133 to 166 residential units, including some town houses, and 45,000 to 61,000 square feet of commercial space. Atkins was one of three firms considered by the mayor and council and was selected for its scaled-back design that focused on aesthetics and buildings not to exceed three stories.
Lamatina said that he is scheduled to meet with Carl Goldberg, a principal of Roseland, on Monday, Oct. 29, and will air his concerns. In addition to maintaining the agreed-upon plan, the mayor said he wants to make sure the architect selected by Atkins stays on board and that Scott Fishbone, a representative from Atkins, continues to be Emerson’s go-to guy for the project.
Additionally, said Lamatina, “the council will need to approve and scrutinize this,” meaning Roseland will go through the same review as Atkins did before it was selected last spring. Carl Goldberg and other representatives from Roseland will be invited to a public mayor and council meeting.
At the last meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 16, the mayor and council authorized Borough Attorney Philip Boggia to draft a developer’s agreement, which will likely be ready for review by the council next week. A meeting to discuss the Kinderkamack Road redesign with the county is scheduled for Oct. 31.
“The key,” said Lamatina, “is getting it all done – not just doing what the redeveloper wants. I will tell Mr. Goldberg that on Monday.”
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