Route 130 Development Gaining Momentum

Mercer Business, May 01, 2003 by Ramsey, Ed

These days, the landscape along the Route 130 corridor near the I-195 interchange paints a new face on Hamilton and Washington townships. Projects including the brand new Buckley Plaza strip mall, additional office buildings at Horizon Center, opening of additional big box stores in the Hamilton Marketplace retail mall, expansion of the giant warehouse facilities at Northeast Business Park and a new traffic interchange are the highlights of the scene.

Traveling north from Yardville, the first site that has recently risen from mounds of earth is the 25,500 square foot, Buckley Plaza. Scheduled for completion in July 2003, exclusive listing agent, Maguire-Burke Agency reports that the shopping center is 60 percent leased with tenants that include a deli, golf shop, beauty and tanning salons, and a child development center.

Proceeding less than a mile north, the mammoth Hamilton Marketplace is hard to miss. Despite the angst that went along with getting the project off the ground, Hamiltonians are flocking to the big box center that features many of the offerings they had to journey to Route 1 for in the past.

Wal-mart at Marketplace is not only the largest Store in the impressive new outdoor mall, it is the largest of the chain's 30 retail, in New Jersey. And although Wal-Mart, with more than 300 employees working in a whopping 142 thousand square feet is the largest retailer in the center, it is by no means the only attraction in the vast one million square foot mall that features traffic controlled easy entrances and exits, and four lane roadways separated by landscaped islands and left turn lanes to keep traffic flow steady no matter how large the crowds.

Other stores in Marketplace are also pen and all are state-of-the-art 21st century operations, some quite traditional in their approach for customers, others different and futuristic. The popular BJ's Wholesale Club is represented as is Lowe's, Pier One Imports, Linens Things, Michael's Arts Crafts, Ross, Dress Barn, Famous Footware, Modell's Sporting Goods and anchoring another end of the mall is a large version of the Kohl's Department Store chain. One other property sure to please many Marketplace shoppers is a Cracker Barrel Restaurant. A favorite with travelers throughout the south, the new Cracker Barrel is the chain's sixth store in New Jersey and one of 470 in 41 states.

An historic house, once the dwelling of Mercer County's first sheriff, built in the 1700's, was a major obstacle since it sat right in the middle of the site and was scheduled for demolition by the builders. But, Hamilton's Mayor Glen Gilmore convinced the developers not only to move the structure, which was in a sad state of disrepair, but to renovate it as well at the builder's expense. He told JDN Realty officials that if they "wanted to be a part of this community, they must act as if they were part of the community." The lesson hit home and an agreement was reached. The cost to the Atlanta-based real estate developers was estimated at "several hundred thousand dollars" and the home now has a new location on Edgewood Road, and will soon open as a Hamilton historic preservation site for the enjoyment of the public. The mayor noted that, "Hamilton is fortunate to have the renovation funded by the builders because the township simply could not afford such a project." He revealed that he had asked that the builders hire an expert architect familiar with the renovation of historic properties to oversee and direct the renovation. This was done.

Gilmore, who is a "hands on" type of leader, insisted from the beginning of the Marketplace project that the brick buildings, spacious sidewalks and landscaped areas be pleasing to the eye. In an interview with Mercer Business he also related that he worked with the builders to make sure that not only were there more than ample parking spaces, but that they should be wide and deep enough to handle any size car or SUV. "We want to make Marketplace a destination of choice in Hamilton," the mayor said.

Gilmore is also proud of the fact that he convinced the developers to donate about half of its available land to "open space." In a state where undeveloped land is fast disappearing, this was a major victory, he said. In addition, there was opposition from some neighbors of the project, but Gilmore convinced many of them that the mall would benefit Hamilton in the long run by providing new ratables and shopping convenience.

On March 13, 2003 Developers Diversified Realty of Cleveland bought the still unfinished mall from the original developers for an estimated $1.02 billion. This firm, a major player in the nationwide mall market owns and operates some 400 shopping complexes nationwide, according to director of marketing and communications Scott Schroder.

In the next phase other stores that are either currently under construction or soon to be constructed, are Shop-Rite, Payless Shoe Source and Party City. The popular Barnes and Noble Bookstore chain will also locate in the new center and will feature a coffee lounge for browsers as found in its other stores.