Rt. 18 Project To Give East Brunswick A 'Cohesive Look:' Officials

EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ — Michael Hughes the Executive Director of the East Brunswick Redevelopment Agency provided a review and update to the community and council on the current status of redevelopment projects in town.

Hughes made his presentation during Monday’s Council meeting. He began by giving a background on how and when the Redevelopment Agency was formed. He said the agency focused on “Area in need of Redevelopment.” This designation helped “unlock tools and incentives” for buyers and sellers.

Hughes told the community that the Payment In Lieu Of Taxes (PILOT) project was implemented after the Redevelopment status was achieved by the Township. The goal of the program is to help with redevelopment - be it commercial, residential or industrial – by updating dilapidated or underutilized properties. The program helps restore a tax base and revenue into the municipality, benefitting residents. Hughes cites various examples of how this would benefit the township.

“This is really the only mechanism we have to inspire and ultimately create new investment into redevelopment areas in town,” Hugh said. He noted that when redevelopment areas are done there’s a “waterfall” effect on surrounding businesses.

The executive director noted that the PILOT program does not impact the funds the school district, the library, the police department or other public services receive from taxes.

Hughes presented three examples of the PILOT agreement in the township – the FedEx Facility, the luxury apartments and the building on the Wonder Bread Factory site.

The half-a-million-square-feet industrial site on 39 Edgeboro Road has been occupied by FedEx for some time now. This location previously paid $80,000 in taxes and now pays $800,000 through the PILOT program, Hughs said. The company is not only planning to move to an all-electric delivery trucking system but has also purchased an adjoining lot which will provide a greater tax benefit to the Township.

The Wonder Bread Factory site paid $200,000 in taxes to the township but is now expected to generate $2,000,000. “They are paying for an improved traffic signal at the corner of Renee Road and Tices Lane,” Hughes said.

“Vermella East Brunswick,” the luxury apartments planned in East Brunswick is expected to bring in $4,500,000 in taxes for the Township. Earlier, the site paid $1,000,000 in taxes. The property is being developed by Russo Development and River Development.

Hughes said the aim of the Rt. 18 redevelopment project was to give East Brunswick a “cohesive look and plan” that runs through the entire area. “It’s purposely done not to look piecemeal,” Hughes said. “It will be one unified piece of property that once it is complete you won’t realize where the property lines every used to be.”

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