Editor’s Note
At the ready
The issue of so-called stranded assets is a recurring theme in New Jersey commercial real estate, regrettably so, one that often finds public officials on their heels when they’re left with a vacant, obsolete office park or mall. That is seemingly not the case in Bedminster, where local leaders spent nearly a decade preparing for the possibility that AT&T, its largest taxpayer and employer, would vacate its iconic, 1.1 million-square-foot campus in the township.
Supply search
Our April edition highlights the ongoing demand from established pharmaceutical firms, startups and a growing pool of international users for high-quality, turnkey laboratory and manufacturing space in New Jersey — and the opportunity for landlords that can provide it.
Finding a spark
We all know that developing in New Jersey is not for the faint of heart. Just ask any of the countless builders who have endured delays or scrapped projects altogether in the face of pushback by residents and a litany of regulatory hurdles.
The flip side? A supportive local government can go a long way in sparking new investment, as we’ve seen in what appears to be a growing list of municipalities in our state. That group includes the city of Orange in eastern Essex County, where at least 1,000 luxury apartments have been planned near two train stations with Midtown Direct service. As you’ll read in this month’s cover story, the projects have the potential to breathe new life into the town of 30,000 residents in 2.2 square miles, following decades of struggles despite its prime location on Interstate 280 and just west of Newark.
Growth story
As you’ll read in this month’s cover story, Accurate has been prolific in filling its development pipeline, moving decisively to secure new projects in the state and elsewhere. It now has construction underway, approvals in place or sites under control to build another roughly 6,400 apartments and townhomes, including more than 4,000 units in Newark, where it’s leading the sweeping redevelopment of the former Riverfront Stadium property.
Taking the lead
Industrial space may well be the new darling of commercial real estate. Yet, as we’ve seen recently in New Jersey, it’s also now the biggest target for the type of fierce local opposition that was long reserved for apartment builders.
