The vision for the old Wheatena property on Elizabeth Avenue has gone through a number of iterations for more than a decade, from some 300 townhouses to 130 condominiums.
Continue reading Two developers in talks about Wheatena property
Tag Archives: West Grand Avenue
Capodagli named redeveloper of Wheatena site
The Redevelopment Agency conditionally designated Capodagli Property Company as redeveloper of the former Wheatena and Quinn & Boden sites on Elizabeth Avenue.
Continue reading Capodagli named redeveloper of Wheatena site
Concept for ‘The Brownstones’ at Wheatena site
The developer of two downtown projects under construction presented a new concept for the former Wheatena site at the corner of Elizabeth and West Grand avenues.
Continue reading Concept for ‘The Brownstones’ at Wheatena site
Flood-prone W. Grand properties to be acquired
A state program to buy out flood-prone homes will fund the acquisition and demolition of two West Grand Avenue properties near the Wheatena section of Rahway River Park.
Continue reading Flood-prone W. Grand properties to be acquired
Interest in Wheatena site
City officials were scheduled to meet last week with a developer interested in the former Wheatena site.
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City Administrator and Redevelopment Director Peter Pelissier told the Redevelopment Agency last week that he and Redevelopment Agency attorney Frank Regan were scheduled to meet with American Properties last Thursday. The company, which has several developments around the state, previously had expressed interest in the property, according to Pelissier.
Matzel & Mumford recently terminated a redevelopment agreement for the 8-acre parcel at the corner of Elizabeth and West Grand avenues, where it once had planned as many as 300 units before scaling back to 130 units and ultimately dropping the project.
Wheatena development scrapped
Due to unfavorable market conditions, the developer of the former Wheatena site on Elizabeth Avenue issued a notice to terminate the redevelopment agreement.
Salon fills former gallery, frame shop
A new hair salon took up the space formerly occupied by Debbie’s Grand Gallery. The gallery, at the corner of West Grand Avenue and Fernote Street, closed earlier this year.
Beyond Perfection Total Hair Care is only about a block away from Rahway Barber Shop, which opened last summer. If you’re wondering how a salon could open so close to a barber shop, you’re not alone. Almost two years ago, the Redevelopment Agency rejected a zoning overlay request to allow a full service salon on Irving Street, within the Arts District and within 1,000 feet of a similar business.
The city prohibits personal service businesses within 1,000 feet of each other, but that only applies to the B-4 (Service Business) zone, which is where the Irving Street space is located.
The West Grand Avenue salon is in a B-1 zone (Neighborhood Business), while Rahway Barber Shop is located in an R-2 zone (Medium Density Single-Family Residential). The salon also is a pre-existing non-conforming use, which is allowed, according to Richard Watkins, city construction official.
A couple of other retail/commercial moves to catch up on this summer:
* Def Def, what appears to be an urban men’s clothing store, opened on Main Street in June, replacing Charlie’s Flowers, which closed and left the space in February.
* Shake It Up Nutrition Club opened in a space on Elizabeth Avenue.
Anyone notice any others? Check back next week for an update on some tenants coming to downtown later this year.
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Not related to redevelopment, but it’s pretty cool when a local resident plays in the NFL. Check out this training camp story on Antonio Garay with the San Diego Chargers.
West Grand Avenue boasts new 6-Eleven
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I’m no trademark attorney but my first impression is that the new 6-Eleven on West Grand Avenue might just be inviting a lawsuit from 7-Eleven. Then again, maybe it’s related to this 24-year-old, Houston, Texas-based company.
Either way, it’s a new convenience store and deli that’s a big improvement aesthetically over the dilapidated property that sat vacant for at least 10 years near the intersection of Irving Street.
The Zoning Board granted several variances about two years ago and the property underwent some renovations that were completed last year. Below is what the property used to look like. The ground floor has about 1,700 square feet of retail space with two two-bedroom rental apartments on the second floor.