Route 571 Stores
To Be Demolished
As the revitalization of Route 571 becomes a growing concern for residents as well as a campaign issue in the upcoming municipal election, Mayor Shing-Fu Hsueh has announced the Dreher Group has agreed to demolish the two vacant buildings on the corner of Cranbury and Princeton-Hightstown roads.
In addition, the mayor has confirmed that the deal between the Nassau Street-based development company, named after its president Richard Dreher, and the family who owns the now-vacant Acme site has been terminated.
“Unfortunately, Richard Dreher and the property owners couldn’t bring that to the final deal,” he said. “The agreement had been terminated.”
The store closed in May, and Dreher had reportedly been under contract to purchase the entire shopping center, which, according to tax records — is assessed at $9,572,000 — from descendants of the Courtney family, the original owners of the center. Family members also have remained tightlipped on the deal.
The family hired a new management company, Silbert Real Estate and Management Inc. of Millington, in September, to handle leasing of the Windsor Plaza shopping center. Messages left for David Marconi, of Silbert Realty, were not returned.
A memo from Business Administrator Robert Hary, released October 20, gives details about the progress with the Acme shopping center, the proposed Rite Aid project, the redesign of the road, intersection improvements, the Ellsworth Center, and the Valero gas station at Alexander Road.
First, the memo states that the township has been in contact with the McDowell family, which currently owns the Acme center. Hary mentions in the memo that making contact has been “challenging” because the property owners are the grandchildren of the long-time owner, and because they live in different locations throughout the nation, including Missouri and California.
The memo also said that township officials have been in contact with Silbert Realty, and “it was conveyed to us that they are actively pursuing new tenants, including a food market anchor for the complex, as well as refurbishment of the building, sign, and site upgrades.”
Hary states he will be in contact with Silbert representatives to set up a follow-up meeting within the next few weeks to further discuss the progress. “Simultaneously, redevelopment attorney Ed McManimon has made contact with the attorney representing the property owners, who we anticipate will be a part of future meetings,” Hary wrote.
Hsueh said it was important for Silbert to “have a plan and they need to have good coordination and communication with the township. It’s a top priority for us to work with them. They need to meet all of the requirements in terms of the township ordinances and the redevelopment plan.”
When Dreher was under contract for the property, it was rumored that he wanted to bring in a high-end supermarket like Kings. It was also rumored that he planned to make renovations and upgrades to the parking lot and signage of the property, and not tear down the buildings and put them closer to the curb on Route 571.
“I don’t expect the whole implementation of the redevelopment plan will happen overnight,” said Hsueh. “It has to do with financial situations. As long as they are moving in a direction toward the objectives and goals of the redevelopment plan, we will work with them,” he said of Silbert’s plans.
With regard to the Rite Aid property, Hary said that a meeting had been scheduled with the Dreher Group for October 21 to review its progress with the site. “At that time, we will be reminding Mr. Dreher that we have requested an architectural rendering of the project be placed at the corner of the property advising residents of the details of the upcoming project.”
Back in May, the council sent a letter to Dreher saying it wanted the buildings to be torn down and the eyesore of the property lining the gateway into the township to be dealt with as soon as possible.
According to Hary, township professionals have continued to be in contact with Dreher, but one request the Dreher Group had was that it be allowed to build the Rite Aid building first and the retail building later, a proposal accepted by the township.
The project, he said, is currently in “compliance review,” as there are a few landscape issues that need to be addressed as part of the site’s approval from the Zoning Board. The engineer’s cost estimate for the performance bonds is also still incomplete. “The developer is awaiting a phasing plan from their engineers, which should be available in the next few weeks, at which time the resolution compliance review will be completed,” Hary wrote. “The project has approval from Mercer County, and will be submitted to the Mercer County Soil Conservation District once the plans are complete.”
The memo also states that the building facade will be close to the street, similar to the new CDNJ/Chase Bank building at the intersection with Sherbrooke Drive. It also includes a list of improvements associated with the property. “They have to give us the engineering report so we can approve it,” Hsueh said. “That is a top priority.”
The memo also stated that plans for the redesign of Route 571 — which call for one lane in each direction, a center turning lane, and sidewalks and bike lanes on both sides — are in the hands of the Mercer County Engineering Office. After it goes through the process there, it will be sent to the Federal Highway Administration.
The improvements to the intersection of Cranbury and Wallace roads and Route 571 — which include crosswalks with curb ramps, pedestrian activation countdown lights, a left turn lane coming off the bridge, a pedestrian crossing over the bridge on the south side to Washington Road, and a crosswalk at Washington Road — are scheduled for the spring of 2010, the memo states.
With regard to the Ellsworth shopping center, the memo states that Hsueh spoke to the owner of the property and found that “the owner was required by the township to resolve intersection improvements of Cranbury, Wallace, and Route 571 with the state and county before a certificate of occupancy could be issued.” The memo states that the township’s Community Development department worked with the state and county to resolve the issue, and then worked with the owner and the Planning Board to waive the requirements so that the owner could move forward.
In March, 2008, a new permit for the smaller of the two buildings was issued, and work resumed on the site, the memo states. But when the economic downturn occurred, the owner once again walked away from the project, Hary wrote. “Code Enforcement left a number of messages for the developer in January and February of 2009,” he said. “We have most recently asked our township attorney to contact the developer about his intent in reference to the property.”
With regard to the Valero gas station, the memo states that the owners have approval to construct a 24-hour convenience store on the property based on a court decision overturning the Zoning Board. “The township is waiting for the owner to initiate this project.”
Hsueh said township officials have considered the improvement of the esthetic streetscape along Route 571 a top priority. First on that list, he said, is the demolition of the Rite Aid buildings.
When asked about the timing of Dreher’s cooperation, Hsueh said it is he has been talking with the firm “on a very regular basis.”
Although they have been very cooperative, he said, “I told them at some point that if they don’t do anything, the township is going to take a stronger position.” And while they have responded and the township is doing everything it can, “we cannot help them with regard to the financial aspect.”
“After I got re-elected, we had a lot of meetings,” Hsueh added. Hsueh said he also wants to ensure the new management company’s plans for the site will follow the basic rules and principles laid out in the redevelopment plan. “They have to get through the recruitment of tenants,” he said.
