Visions for Vacancies: What Should Fill Rehab Center

Driving along Route 10 in the last several weeks, we've come across quite a few vacant storefronts — the Pathmark at the Village at Livingston, the Linen N Things, the car dealership, the Office Depot and now the site of the former Kessler Rehabilitation Center.

The building has been vacant for some time. We'd like to see a business go in this space and fill out the strip it currently occupies.

So, this week's Visions for Vacancies focuses on the space the rehab center formerly occupied, just west of the Livingston Circle on the south side of Route 10. The company did not go out of business; it moved just down Route 10 to 320 W. Mount Pleasant Ave. 

The comments keep pouring in to Livingston Patch regarding your visions for vacant spaces around the township.

For the larger spaces, like the Pathmark or Linen N Things, readers want an alternative to the current supermarkets in town. For the smaller spaces, like our choice this week, readers have asked for places like Little Gyms or Imagine That or a Funplex. 

Each week we’ll present a new vacant building and ask you to tell us what you think would be the best use of the vacant space.

Here's the fun part: Forget what zone it’s in. Ignore setback regulations, as well as dump lot coverage rules and all the other zoning jargon that puts most people to sleep.

Our bottom line: If you had your way, what would you like to see there? What would be the best use of the space for the community?

To make this work, this can’t be a one-sided conversation. We want to hear from you in our comments section. And, please, let us know if there’s a vacant space/building you know of as well we can feature in a future column.

Send emails about vacant buildings or stores to Essex County Associate Regional Editor Jack Durschlag at jack.durschlag@patch.com.