By Joshua Burd
Officials in Berkeley Heights are pushing to attract new private investment, while highlighting a wave of new development already taking place in the Union County township.
The municipality, which recently launched its “Rising to New Heights” campaign, says it aims to help businesses find new opportunities and bring them to fruition. It’s doing so through its Economic Development Commission, which is also tracking commercial real estate activity in the town while working to create connections between developers and landowners, as it advocates for streamlined regulatory processes.
The campaign comes amid several notable projects that are underway or in its pipeline, including:
The addition of more than 1,000 apartment and condominium units in the downtown district in connection with the completion and current construction of at least a half-dozen residential and mixed-use projects
The Connell Co.’s ambitious reimagining of The Park, the 185-acre business campus along Interstate 78 formerly known as Connell Corporate Park, where plans call for more than 325 residential units and 190,000 square feet of entertainment, dining and retail offerings
Construction of a new 60,000-square-foot, three-level municipal complex that houses the town library, community center, police department and township administration offices
Construction of a new 40,000-square-foot Berkeley Heights YMCA facility that delivers a modern health and wellness programs and childcare curriculum, amenities and the new Olympic-size, seasonal heated outdoor Berkeley Heights Community Pool. The project represents the first new YMCA branch built in New Jersey in more than 10 years.
“Thanks to our pro-business environment and the investments we are making in our town’s infrastructure, Berkeley Heights has emerged from the global pandemic with unprecedented economic momentum,” Mayor Angie Devanney said. “We remain focused on building on this solid foundation and continuing to bring more jobs and opportunity to this great community.”
Berkeley Heights is already home to several well-known corporations and organizations, including Fiserv Inc., L’Oréal, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Nokia, Hewlett-Packard and Summit Health. It’s seeking to highlight those businesses and other assets in a video that it unveiled alongside the recently launched marketing campaign.
“The continued expansion in Berkeley Heights is a testament to the support of the business and local community, both critical to our long-term economic success,” said Brian Kraut, chair of the Economic Development Commission. “The opportunity is substantial for new businesses in Berkeley Heights. Don’t miss it!”
