Major Redevelopment Plan Presented To Morristown Council

MORRISTOWN, NJ — Morristown residents got a preview of a redevelopment plan for North Park Place, a mixed-use project aimed at transforming vacant storefronts into vibrant, active spaces.

At the town’s regular council meeting on Tuesday, the public got its first look at official renderings for the project, which will replace the old storefronts near the historic Morristown Green.

The North Park Place redevelopment will include more than 150 housing units, 15 percent of which will be designated as affordable housing. There may also be opportunities for homeownership through for-sale units, officials said.

Morristown adopted a North Park Place Redevelopment Plan back in February to revitalize this area, which is adjacent to the Morristown Green but "has languished in recent decades" with tenants moving out and the buildings falling into disrepair, officials said.

The 11 properties in the redevelopment area include several lots on Washington Street and storefronts on North Park Place adjacent to the Morristown Green.

These buildings include a Charles Schwab office, the former Jos. A. Bank store, and a Century 21 department store, which had been at the corner of Speedwell and North Park Place for 65 years before it closed in 2020.

Representatives from North Park Place Holdings, the developer negotiating a sale with property owner Dave Brown, attended the council meeting to present their redevelopment plan to both the council and community members.

The plan “envisions a dynamic and vibrant mixed-use development” across the 3.2-acre site, officials said.

On Tuesday, officials proposed replacing the former Century 21 building with a five-story mixed-use development, featuring 90 residential units and 31,000 square feet of ground-floor commercial space.

The plan also includes retaining the existing five-story office building at 10 North Park Place and adding another new five-story mixed-use building.

A key feature of the design, according to project architect Dean Marchetto, is a publicly accessible rear courtyard intended for outdoor events, such as dining and markets.

The courtyard, spanning approximately 15,000 square feet, would be accessible from North Park Place via two new pedestrian corridors, which would also connect to the Dalton garage on Cattano Avenue.

"This space will be a hidden treasure for Morristown,” Marchetto said. “This can become a cool, hip gathering spot with an urban vibe—maybe a Christmas market or a farmers' market kind of place."

Mayor Tim Dougherty previously said that progress on the redevelopment plan marks another major milestone "in our efforts to enhance our beloved Morristown." The mayor's office reviewed the submissions and recommended this one to the council.