Gov. Mikie Sherrill spoke in April in Kearny at an event to mark the arrival of the first new NJ Transit Multilevel III railcar. — Photos by Tim Larsen / Governor’s Office
By Joshua Burd
State officials are looking to jumpstart development around two train stations, in Bayonne and Linden, as they ramp up efforts to both expand housing and monetize government-owned land.
Gov. Mikie Sherrill said as much Wednesday, announcing the release of requests for qualifications and proposals for the two sites. They include more than four acres adjacent to the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail’s 34th Street station in Bayonne and a commuter parking lot
at 101 West Elizabeth Ave. in Linden, adjacent to the NJ Transit station.
The solicitations, which are being managed by NJ Transit and the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, respectively, dovetail with one of Sherrill’s top policy priorities. And they follow an Executive Order signed in late April that launched a new council to accelerate housing production and reduce barriers to development, requiring multiple agencies to marshal their resources and submit recommendations by late September.
“From Day One, I have been relentlessly focused on making New Jersey more affordable for working people,” Sherrill said. “New Jersey has not built enough housing to keep pace with the needs of our growing state, and families are paying the price. If we are serious about making New Jersey more affordable, we have to be serious about building more housing.
“Today’s announcements show that my administration is not waiting around for a report to take action. Before the ink is even dry on responses to my housing executive order, I am pleased to see agencies taking clear and decisive steps toward building more housing.”
According to the governor’s office, NJ Transit is seeking a qualified developer to transform two surface parking lots directly south of Bayonne’s 34th Street station. Its goals for the roughly 4.3-acre site include new apartments with at least 20 percent reserved for low- and moderate-income households, as well as the creation of a vibrant, transit-oriented station area with pedestrian-friendly, ground-floor commercial or retail space, inclusive public spaces, commuter parking, bus connections, micromobility enhancements, bicycle infrastructure and streetscape improvements.
The RFP is the latest step in a push to transform NJ Transit’s vast real estate holdings into new revenue streams, increase access to opportunity and boost ridership — goals outlined in what’s known as the LAND Plan: Leveraging Assets for Non-farebox Dollars. The 34th Street station is an important hub on the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail, the agency said, noting that some 1,484 customers board there each weekday for service between major population and employment centers and connections to New York City and throughout New Jersey.
“Transit-oriented development is critical to creating economically robust, vibrant communities in New Jersey while at the same time providing an important source of non-farebox revenue to NJ Transit,” said Kris Kolluri, the agency’s CEO and president. “Under Governor’s Sherrill’s leadership, we are providing much-needed housing in accessible, transit-friendly ways.”
NJ Transit will host a site visit on July 21 at 10:00 a.m. Interested parties must submit a Notice of Intent by Aug. 18 at 4 p.m., while proposals are due on Sept. 23 at 4 p.m.
Respondents will receive information and instructions for submitting proposals upon submitting the Notice of Intent.
“The City of Bayonne appreciates NJ Transit’s interest in developing a portion of the 34th Street light rail station property,” Mayor Sharon Ashe-Nadrowski said. “We look forward to seeing the results from the upcoming request-for-proposals process.”
In Linden, where the Economic Development Authority has purchased the West Elizabeth Avenue property from NJ Transit, the agency is soliciting proposals for the purchase or lease and redevelopment of a commuter parking lot at the train station. Proposals should include plans for transit-oriented housing that is vibrant and walkable community, the EDA said, adding that the lot sits between two active, mixed-use developments on the southbound side of the station.
In addition to transit-oriented housing, plans should include resident and commuter parking, energy-efficient design and pedestrian connectivity for NJ Transit customers that use the station for service on both the Northeast Corridor and North Jersey Coast lines, the EDA said. Respondents must submit a detailed development concept and narrative, market data supporting proposed rents or sales, funding sources and a 10-year operating pro forma, as well as a project schedule showing key milestones.
“Within the first few months of her administration, Governor Sherrill has taken bold steps to increase housing production and make living in New Jersey more affordable for families,” said Evan Weiss, the authority’s CEO. “The NJEDA’s purchase and request for proposals for redevelopment of the Linden site will deliver mixed-income, transit-oriented housing in the city’s downtown. I look forward to continuing to work alongside Governor Sherrill, NJ Transit and local officials to redevelop underutilized properties, expand housing, strengthen the local property tax base and attract private investment.”
The EDA added that qualified developers must demonstrate experience delivering and financing projects of similar size and scope and a team with relevant mixed-use or transit-oriented development experience.
All questions must be submitted no later than 5 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 3, on the EDA’s Bidding Opportunities page. Answers to questions submitted will be publicly posted on the authority’s website as addendum, while all RFQP responses must be submitted no later than 2 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 28, on the Bidding Opportunities page.
“We are excited to see the NJEDA move forward with this important redevelopment opportunity,” Linden Mayor Derek Armstead said. “As One West approaches completion, we look forward to another exceptional project that complements our downtown, enhances the area surrounding the train station, and continues to attract residents, businesses, and visitors to Linden. We are confident this site can become another cornerstone of our City’s continued growth and revitalization.”
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