Garden State Plaza Plan Shows Importance Of Businesses To Paramus

PARAMUS, NJ — Local officials are optimistic about the effect a sweeping transformation plan for the Westfield Garden State Plaza will have on the local economy.

Mayor Richard LaBarbiera said the plan is a great example of a business owner investing into the greater Paramus community.

"It's real exciting when businesses invest in our community," LaBarbiera said. "The Garden State Plaza has remained a fixture in town, and they've always been ahead of the curve. This is just another leap forward for them."

LaBarbiera understands the relationship that retailers have with Paramus and its residents. Commercial properties make up 50 percent of Paramus' tax base.

"In Paramus, as go our commercial properties, so goes the community," LaBarbiera said. "It's real important that our businesses continue to thrive."

The plan includes the creation of a mixed-used town center of residential development, a transit center, and commercial offices, Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, the shopping center's owner, announced.

The center will include an upscale hotel and apartments, office space, and grocery stores.

Several outdoor amenities include the reclamation of about three acres of green space, the restoration of Sprout Brook, addition of public parks, a seasonal hockey rink, and community gardens, a press release from the plaza stated.

"It’s a bold vision that will enhance Garden State Plaza’s role as a focal point in Bergen County," Stephen Fluhr, vice-president for Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield. "Since the mall’s opening 62 years ago, our shopping, dining and special events have drawn generations of area residents. Now we’re poised for the next step in creating a true ‘town square’ destination in northern New Jersey."

The project is expected to improve traffic flow and parking in and around the plaza. A parking deck will replace some parking lot space near the always-busy confluence of routes 4 and 17.

There will also be a new public transportation hub that will allow people to better get to nearby retailers, other businesses, and their homes.

Announcing the project comes on the heels of major upgrades recently completed at the plaza, including new restaurants, retailers, play space, and a permanent contemporary art collection.

The next phase of upgrades includes making room for 20 new retailers and more "premium" restaurants.

The residential phase of the project will be located in the west parking lot. Those plans, along with the open space aspects and restoration of Sprout Brook, will be unveiled in early 2020. Community input will be encouraged regarding this phase of the project.

"We want to take the time to listen and address our neighbors' points of view," Fluhr said. "This is about community building."

Email: daniel.hubbard@patch.com