Plans for an expansion of Westfield Garden State Plaza in Paramus include a first phase with 575 luxury apartments built by Mill Creek Residential and a walkable, one-acre town green adjacent to the iconic shopping and dining destination. — Rendering courtesy: Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield
By Joshua Burd
A long-awaited plan to expand and diversify Westfield Garden State Plaza in Paramus is moving ahead with construction set to begin on a new public plaza and 575 luxury apartments.
The mall’s owner, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, joined Mill Creek Residential on Wednesday for a groundbreaking ceremony adjacent to the iconic shopping and dining destination. That will be the future site of what they described as a walkable, one-acre town green and two five-story rental properties with a combined 50,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space, part of the project’s first phase that will connect to the mall via a pedestrian walkway on the west face of the center.
“With shovels in the ground, we are beginning an exciting journey to create a new town center for Paramus at Westfield Garden State Plaza — a vibrant, one‑of‑a‑kind sustainability-oriented mixed-use destination for the community to live, work, shop and play,” said Stephen Fluhr, senior vice president of development for URW. “Since its origins as a retail pioneer in the 1950s, Westfield Garden State Plaza has continually evolved alongside the Paramus community. This next chapter builds on that legacy, blending the spirit of the center with a community‑driven vision for the future.”
According to a news release, the Garden State Plaza transformation incorporates features designed to enhance Paramus by creating a true downtown destination. The new central town green is meant to serve as a vibrant community hub for residents, URW said, including a main street-style outdoor district featuring restaurants, everyday conveniences and essential services that reduce reliance on automobiles while fostering a more connected, livable community.
The center will also activate the town green with family-friendly activities such as seasonal events, concerts and festivals, the news release said. URW, meantime, is exploring a hotel, medical offices and senior living in future phases.
Initial work consists mostly of ground and site preparation followed by construction of Modera at Garden State Plaza, the new Mill Creek Residential project. Cushman & Wakefield’s Equity, Debt & Structured Finance team including John Alascio, Alex Hernandez, Alex Lapidus, Chuck Kohaut and Chris Meloni arranged financing for the multifamily development.
“Westfield Garden State Plaza has long been one of the most iconic destinations in the Northeast, and we’re incredibly proud to help shape its next chapter,” said Doug Arsham, executive managing director of development in the east for Mill Creek Residential. “This community represents everything Mill Creek does best, bringing thoughtfully designed homes to a location where residents can live, dine, shop, and connect. We’re committed to delivering an all-encompassing living experience that becomes the heart of the Paramus community for generations to come.”
The development is designed to reduce its carbon footprint, promote sustainable practices and minimize waste by incorporating renewable energy, natural materials and increasing access to public transportation, retail and entertainment, the news release said. In the first phase, the project will have electric vehicle charging stations, while future plans include significant upgrades to public transportation networks.
To honor Westfield Garden State Plaza’s rich history, the development team on Wednesday unveiled street names for the mixed‑use development. The names, which connect defining moments in the center’s legacy with its future, include.
- Marquee Lane, which pays tribute to the drive-in movie theater that was once a part of the Westfield Garden State Plaza site and celebrates the enduring spirit of entertainment, nostalgia and shared experience.
- Bambergers Lane, honoring the iconic Bamberger’s Department Store that helped fuel the mall’s early success, bringing metropolitan sophistication and retail innovation to the heart of Paramus
- Sprout Green, as the new town green is known, in tribute to the nearby Sprout Brook
- Sprout Crescent, the loop that wraps around Sprout Green to evoke a sense of continuity and connect the residences, retail and gathering spaces in the new development
- Plaza Passage, a symbolic corridor that will connect the iconic Westfield Garden State Plaza with its next chapter as a vibrant, walkable neighborhood.
