A plan spearheaded by Clarion Partners and MRP Industrial is redeveloping the former Burlington Center Mall property in Burlington Township with new industrial and retail space, apartments and a full-service hotel. — Courtesy: Clarion/MRP
By Joshua Burd
Construction is set to begin on 500 new apartments that will mark another key piece of a plan to redevelop the long-vacant Burlington Center Mall property in Burlington Township.
The joint venture behind the project, Clarion Partners and MRP Industrial, said Tuesday that it was eyeing a late 2025 delivery for the project at Bromley Boulevard and Hancock Lane. Jefferson Apartment Group is spearheading the new phase after purchasing the land from the partnership, with plans calling for 20 buildings with a mix of one-, two- and three- bedroom apartments and townhouses and amenities such as two standalone clubhouses, two courtyards with swimming pools, a playground and a dog park.
The new homes would follow the start of earlier phases that call for more than 2.5 million square feet of new warehouse space, some 135,000 square feet of retail space and a 153-room hospitality component, helping to revive to the sprawling site after the mall’s closure in 2019. Clarion and MRP are spearheading the project known as The Crossings, located along Route 541, with assistance from Moonbeam Capital Investments.
“The Crossings was made possible by the cooperation of Burlington Township and county elected officials, who recognized the opportunity to transform a blighted shopping mall into an integrated, vibrant and economically viable mixed-use development that satisfies the needs of a wide diversity of stakeholders,” said Dan Hudson, managing principal of MRP Industrial. “Our plan was deliberate and intentional and was based on critical feedback and input from the local community and key representatives to ensure that the development plan satisfied the region’s long-term vision and approach to redevelopment initiatives.
“We believe that The Crossings will serve as a national model for smart growth strategies that involve public-private partnerships working together to achieve goals that best meet the needs of the community.”
Clarion and MRP noted that the 800,000-square-foot Burlington Center Mall, which opened in 1982, was home to more than 100 stores at its peak before falling victim to shifting consumer behavior, the arrival of newer retail options in the area, the failure of multiple retail concepts and the overleveraging of debt. The firms acquired the failing property from an affiliate of Moonbeam after it closed in 2019, part of a redevelopment effort that is some six years in the making.
An initial phase has included three modern industrial buildings totaling more than 2.3 million square feet, capitalizing on the site’s location near Interstate 295 and the New Jersey Turnpike. The projects so far have attracted Walmart and Maersk as tenants, while MRP and Clarion are planning a fourth and final 210,000-square-foot facility.
Also under construction is 135,000 square feet of new retail space developed by Ferber Co., which comprises a collection of pad sites along Mount Holly Road. Freddy’s Frozen Custard and Steakburgers and Raising Cane’s are now operational, as are Panera Bread and SleepNumber in a separate shared building, while Discount Tire is expected to open soon.
“As the central gathering place for so many years, it was painful for everyone to watch its demise and, we took our time to support the new vision, because it was critical to get it right the first time,” Burlington Township Mayor E.L. “Pete” Green said. “The original proposal for an outlet mall, an asset class that lost favor nationally, never materialized and paved the way for the new mixed-use strategy incorporating a range of essential and product types producing long-term value.
“The lesson we learned is the importance of collaboration, transparency and trust to arrive at a result that serves many important stakeholders and stands the test of time. The Crossings has breathed new life into a once abandoned site, and this has been a rewarding and immensely satisfying journey that benefits many audiences.”
The master developers, meantime, noted that the new multifamily component is meant to help satisfy Burlington Township’s affordable housing obligations by reserving 20 percent of the units for lower-income renters. Additionally, the firms are in the final stages of negotiations for a 150-room, full-service hotel with conference and meeting facilities.
“Our redevelopment and repurposing plan successfully reinvigorated a site that was removed from the tax rolls and was generally creating blight over an entire region,” MRP Industrial Senior Vice President Brian Peterson said. “The resultant program, which moved forward with the endorsement and support of Burlington County officials, creates minimal additional stress on local county services, while adding sorely needed jobs, taxes and housing that benefits all residents.”
Ferber eyes 1.9 million sq. ft. industrial park, retail space at ex-Burlington Center Mall site
