Just a few months after steel began to rise at The Savoy, the developer that’s heading up several projects in the city has apparently run into unspecified “economic difficulties.”
Tag Archives: The Savoy
Steel going up at The Savoy
Steel began to rise about two weeks ago at The Savoy after months of what appeared to be little tangible activity at the site. Steel for the project had been expected to arrive since February.
Occupancy at one point had been scheduled for June 2007 (according to this December 2006 release), but now is targeted for April 2009, according to Ralph Pascale, sales manager for Maplewood Homes, a division of Dornoch Holdings.
In addition to steel shortages in the construction industry, the project was slowed down by state regulations that require archaeological studies to be done in certain areas. Work is also being done to renovate the sales trailer across the street and remove a pile of dirt from the site, Pascale said.
The four-story project at 1551 Main St. will have 36 two-bedroom and two-bath condos ranging from 1,150 to 2,000 square feet, with street-level retail and underground parking. According to those red banners on fencing at the site (photo left), units will start at $315,000.
Old signs of downtown
AM New York had a neat online feature recently about all kinds of signs — vintage, odd and quirky — around New York City. It reminded me of a few photos taken downtown, as well as a story last year about what was “unearthed” after the buildings across from The Savoy were knocked down. I couldn’t find that original story I saw but The Rahway Center Partnership has something in the window about it (photo, above left) by Tony Giaccobbe:
The mural likely dates to the late 1800s when 
the building stood alone. It was the home of Jay-Dee Furniture and before that for many years the Marks Harris department store.
The mural is since gone (photo left) and the buildings eventually will make way for The Westbury and its parking deck. One of my favorite signs downtown is the old Robinson’s paint sign on Main Street (above, right), which last I heard has plans to become an upscale wine and cheese shop or liquor store at some point. Certainly there are more elsewhere
in Rahway but these are just some shots from walking around downtown.
Downtown looks a lot different than it did even just a few years ago, and with the current and future construction, it’s likely to change even more, but hopefully it can retain some of their character amidst all of the new structures. I’m really only familiar with the Rahway of the last 10 years or so, but I’m sure some of you longtime residents can share some interesting anecdotes and stories about what used to be where.
And then there’s this AMNY story about New York City’s ugliest buildings that reminded me of another potential future post, if anyone has any local suggestions.
The Westbury: 18-24 months
The Westbury won’t be constructed until after The Savoy is completed, which likely means another 18 to 24 months, according to Redevelopment Director/City Adminstrator Peter Pelissier.
Pelissier said as far back as a February Redevelopment Agency meeting (.pdf) that developers of The Westbury were not ready to build and might be interested in a joint venture on the construction of a parking deck. The 150-unit development proposal, along Main Street across from The Savoy in Rahway’s “Gas Lamp Quarter,” includes 17,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space and a 324-space deck.
Steel is expected to be delivered for The Savoy project at the end of May, he said. A quarter of the 36 units were under contract as of last month.
In an interview after the May 7 Redevelopment Agency meeting, Pelissier said if the city were to get involved with building a parking facility, it would then need to charge the developer for spaces, partly for the developer’s project and to absorb the loss of spaces in Lot B behind East Cherry Street.
Waiting for steel at The Savoy
The fences are no longer covered at The Savoy site at Main and Monroe streets, making visible what looks like the beginning of a foundation.
“It appears to be taking a long time,” said Redevelopment Director/City Administrator Peter Pelissier, as was the case with the Park Square project. He reported during last night’s Redevelopment Agency meeting that steel is waiting to be delivered and $300,000 was spent to determine if there were artifacts within 50 feet of the Rahway River. The state requires archaeological studies, which have been done at several of the projects around town. Steel has been an issue beyond Rahway for a few years thanks to China and the whole “globalization” fad.
Pelissier added that there has been some concern that Dornoch, also the developer of The Westbury and other projects, moved its offices out of downtown to a larger facility elsewhere, leaving behind several buildings on Main Street that were improved.
Demolition rather than renovations
Development of Dornoch II 1/2 will involve taking down four buildings along East Cherry Street instead of renovating them.