Watchung Resolves Issues with Defunct Developer

Work on sidewalks and other improvements at Watchung's Villa Domenico development will be completed, after the Borough Council approved a settlement agreement with builder JDN Properties.

The settlement was approved at the Sept. 27 council meeting, noting the agreement covers construction and landscaping at the age-restricted townhouse development off the Watchung Circle.

The settlement was launched after the borough declared builder JDN Properties III to be in default of its zoning approvals by failing to complete the work. The settlement was reached with the company's insurer, Traveler's Insurance, to complete the work. 

A group of residents of the development attended the meeting, including Schmidt Circle resident Barbara Potashkin, who said Borough Engineer Tom Herits and Borough Attorney Albert Cruz "did a Herculean job for us."

"For whatever reasons JDN failed to finish the job...and left us looking like Potter's Field for a while," Barbara Potashkin, Schmidt Circle, said. "So now, we're hopefully going to be finished and we thank you for that."

The settlement doesn't complete all of the work planned at Villa Domenico, however, but Potashkin sounded a hopeful note that a planned fifth building could be completed once the economy regains strength and the other outstanding work is finished.