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Thomas Strowe, Director of Redevelopment
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Scotch Plains Leaders Take Historic Leap Forward in Downtown Redevelopment 

The Township Council has proactively taken steps to revitalize our downtown and drive economic development and investment in Scotch Plains. This includes negotiating, evaluating, and adopting redevelopment plans and zoning updates to ensure that Scotch Plains has a solid, pro-growth framework for downtown revitalization. In today’s economy, with competition between municipalities for jobs and investment, it is critical that Scotch Plains has a comprehensive vision for our downtown and business districts, based on sound, smart planning.

On November 8, 2021, the Township Council adopted a Downtown Redevelopment Plan for downtown public properties. From March 7 to June 30, 2022, the Township issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to assess the qualifications and proposals of potential redevelopers interested in the acquisition and redevelopment of the Redevelopment Plan Properties. After review and evaluation of 11 submissions, on June 13, 2023, the Township Council designated Woodmont Properties, LLC as the Conditional Redeveloper for approximately 9 acres of downtown public property based on Woodmont’s experience, architectural design, parking proposal, public open space, financial strength and economic benefits. Click here to read the recommendation report.

Woodmont Properties has nearly 60 years of experience planning, engineering, constructing, and managing residential and commercial properties. Woodmont Properties has completed major residential and mixed-use redevelopment projects in the region. During the evaluation process, Woodmont Properties presented detailed financial documents and data showing financial strength and capacity to fulfill all requirements in the redevelopment plan. The developer will use their own financing and in-house team of professionals. The Plan requires the developer to respect the character and history of Scotch Plains. Consistent with the Township’s vision, Woodmont Properties has proposed a maximum building height of four stories, plenty of parking and new public open spaces that further enhance the Alan M. Augustine Village Green. Woodmont Properties shares in the Township’s vision of creating a community hub for art fairs and expositions, the farmer’s market, and other community-centered activities.

In July 2023, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) adopted new Flood Hazard Area (FHA) and stormwater management rules impacting all proposed land development projects in New Jersey. Since the adoption of the new rules, the Township’s engineers and Woodmont’s engineers have been working collaboratively in perfecting a plan that respects and is in alignment with the goals and objectives of the NJDEP’s FHA rules. The Township and Woodmont have had several productive meetings with NJDEP officials in 2023 and 2024 to discuss the requirements for a FHA permit application. In August 2024, the Township received Line Verification approval from the NJDEP which determined the design elevations for use in engineering the project. The Township and Woodmont are now working on the Individual Permit Application with the NJDEP after another successful meeting with the NJDEP in October 2024.

With NJDEP approval and resiliency planning, the Redevelopment Plan will ultimately redevelop approximately 9 acres of underutilized and inefficient land with new buildings and structures that will be engineered to withstand flooding. The Plan’s implementation will also ensure that our affordable housing obligations can be fulfilled downtown, which will preserve and protect our residential neighborhoods.  

Future updates will be provided on this webpage. The conceptual renderings and plan proposed by Woodmont Properties can be found below which are subject to change based on NJDEP approval. For information regarding other redevelopment plans in Scotch Plains, please use the directory on the right.

Conceptual Renderings and Plan Proposed by Woodmont Properties

In August 2024, Township officials joined Elite Properties in a ground breaking ceremony for a new mixed-use project being constructed at 1776 East Second Street. The project is the result of a redevelopment plan adopted by the Township Council in 2022 and will jump-start the revitalization of East Second Street. The project consists of a three-story building with a total of 40 units with six designated as affordable, along with 2,140 square feet of commercial space, 67 interior parking spaces, amenity space for residents and streetscape improvements. Estimated completion of 18 months, subject to change.

Photo Credit: John Mooney

Rendering Credit: Elite Properties

As part of Scotch Plains' redevelopment efforts, the site of the former Jade Isle is now home to the latest generation of QuickChek stores, including a fuel station. A ribbon cutting ceremony was held in 2023 at the Terrill Road location, with dignitaries in attendance to celebrate the big moment.