Media Release
CONTACT: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Kevin C. Rabago, Sr.
Development & Planning
(856) 451-3407
BRIDGETON RECEIVES “GREEN
LIGHT” ON SALE OF PORT WAREHOUSE TO DEVELOPER
In a step that Bridgeton
Mayor Albert B. Kelly described as “significant progress”, the State’s Local
Finance Board, part of the Division of Local Government Services; gave approval
at their August 13th meeting for the Bridgeton Municipal Port
Authority to sell portions of Port property that includes an 83,000 square foot
warehouse to modular home manufacturer Renewable Jersey, LLC.
The approval clears the
way for Titusville-based Renewable Jersey, LLC to move ahead with the
long-planned adaptive reuse that will see the warehouse converted to
accommodate the State’s first modular home manufacturing operation which will
provide up to 120 full-time jobs as part of Phase I development.
“We’ve been working
through issues on this project for over 2 years now; the decision by the Local
Finance Board marks significant progress in our efforts to bring jobs to our
community and while there’s still a number of things to be done before we get
to a ribbon cutting, this was a big hurdle we had to clear” said Kelly.
While the City and the Port
Authority still need to resolve certain remaining issues, the main focus now
will shift to getting the Renewable Jersey
operation up and running and developing a long-term plan for the remaining
parcels owned by the Port Authority.
“The Local Finance Board
wants the City and the Port Authority to work between now and the end of the
year to come up with a plan for any remaining Port property and also to address
the future of the Port Authority itself” Kelly said. “Once we have a
disposition for the property, we can look at the Port’s viability” Kelly added.
For now though, the City
and the Port Authority will be putting the finishing touches on the sale to
Renewable Jersey and with Local Finance Board approval in hand; the focus will
be on getting to the brick and mortar stage of the project.
“At the end of the day,
it’s about jobs. Renewable Jersey has been a steadfast partner with us to get
to this point, but they won’t be satisfied until they are producing modular
homes and I won’t be satisfied until I see some of our residents going to work at
their facility each day” Kelly said.
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