Visions for Vacancies: What Should Take Office Depot's Place?

In the short time we’ve been running Visions for Vacancies on Livingston Patch, we’ve run the gamut of comments and suggestions for what to do with vacant properties. 

Via email and comments, we’ve learned Livingston Patch readers want a supermarket — in the worst way. We’ve heard your pleas for Whole Foods, Wegmans and Fairway Markets.

Others want restaurants  — P.F. Changs, Houstons, Rosa Mexicana and Maggiano.

But your choices have also included other interesting possibilities  — a Christmas Tree Shoppe, an indoor amusement park and an upscale butcher or fish market.

We’ve featured large vacant properties, such as the Pathmark in the Village at Livingston and the Linen N Things on Route 10 as well as the smaller vacant properties like the former Enterprise Rent a Car and the retail property we featured last week on South Livingston Avenue.

We've heard from a variety of interested residents — from everyday Livingston people, your neighbors and friends, to the exclusive property agent for one of the vacant properties.

This week, we return to a large, vacant property here in Livingston at 585 W. Mount Pleasant Ave., the site of the former Office Depot.

In the column, 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.