Lord & Taylor Redevelopment Plan Gets Mixed Response From Westfield Residents

WESTFIELD, NJ — In an effort to reimagine the former Lord & Taylor building in Westfield, developers have laid out a plan to include office space, retail, residential apartments and much more at the new development.

Members of Streetworks Development — the real estate development arm of Hudson's Bay Company — presented their development plan to "revitalize" the old Lord & Taylor site and two train station parking lots at the Westfield Town Council meeting Tuesday night.

The 731,000 square-foot complex, dubbed "One Westfield Place," is proposed as a mixed-used development with increased walkability, pedestrian access to open spaces, tree-lined sidewalks, "picturesque" main streets and buildings designed to complement the "unique charm of the town."

The proposal includes the following elements:

• 100,000 square-feet of next-generation, flexible Class-A office space through the adaptive reuse of the former Lord & Taylor building
• State-of-the-art mass timber building that offers 210,000 square-feet of Class-A office and amenities to benefit employees
• A total of 27,000 square-feet of street-level retail distributed across the development
• 154 high-quality residential apartments and townhomes targeted to 55 and older residents
• 69 residential apartments catering to families and young professionals
• Affordable housing units planned in accordance with housing requirements in both Westfield and the state of New Jersey
• Two new parking garages for public use on North Avenue and South Avenue that can accommodate over 450 vehicles
• Expertly designed and landscaped Town Green and Town Square, north and south of the Train Station, to be revitalized public spaces that enable significantly enhanced community programming and to feature tree-lined green spaces, seasonal planters, water features, and improved pedestrian and vehicular access
• Comprehensive streetscape and sidewalk improvements including the beautification of Quimby Street
• A state-of-the-art mobility hub connecting the north and south sides of the Train Station that improve access to alternative modes of transportation with features including ride sharing, bike stations, storage, and pickup/drop-off service locations

Carolina Simon, vice president of development at Streetworks, said the "mobility hub" will house over 300 parking spots.

In addition to improving the Town Green, Town Square and Quimby Street, Streetworks would collaborate with the Downtown Westfield Corporation and others to develop program events and activities in the public spaces and gathering areas.

Westfield Mayor Shelley Brindle said in a statement, “This innovative proposal presents us with a unique opportunity to address our long-standing traffic, parking, and congestion challenges; provide much-needed spaces for community gathering, art, and events; and bring in unprecedented new sources of tax revenue to the town that will mitigate the tax burden of our residents for generations to come.”

Through using a PILOT program, HBC said this project would general several million dollars per year to the town for a total of more than $200 million in additional revenues over 30 years, which would help stabilize taxes, fund public improvements and support other municipal projects.

HBC estimates that the project will also create over 2,900 jobs during construction, as well as 1,700 jobs when operational.

Simon said HBC is focused on creating a sustainable development by creating bike paths, alternative modes of transportation, reducing stormwater runoff and creating energy-efficient buildings.

In addition, Simon emphasized that the 138 units for people aged 55 and up is an opportunity to allow residents to "age in place."

"To be able to cater to that segment of the population and we feel that the Lord & Taylor site is the perfect book end to the neighborhood immediately north of it,” Simon said.

HBC argues that the development will have a negligible impact on Westfield's school system, as the proposed residents are planned for the 55 and older community.

Across the street from the Lord & Taylor site, the plans calls for 16 townhouses, which Simon said will be four stories tall to be mindful of the community that is located behind the complex.

The plan also includes a number of traffic improvements at main intersections and pedestrian crossings to enhance connectivity between the development and the downtown.

All of the proposed office, retail and residential developments in the plan include dedicated private parking for tenants and visors, according to HBC. Many of those spaces will be available to the public on nights and weekends.

HBC plans to conduct a traffic impact study that will eventually be reviewed by the town's experts, as well as the New Jersey Department of Transportation.

Councilman Mark LoGrippo, who previously voted against this redevelopment, complimented the renderings that HBC provided but expressed concern over how it make change the character of the town.

"I think the concern is transforming a suburban type atmosphere more into Hoboken,” LoGrippo said. “Most people move to Westfield to be part of a suburban town.”

Former Councilman Tony LaPorta, who spoke during the public comment portion, disapproved of the development plan and proposed instead that a fine arts center and a luxury hotel should be built at the Lord & Taylor space.

He mentioned that Morristown and Red Bank have these sorts of facilities, which bring in more people to the town.

He also expressed concern about building parking garages by the train station.

"One of the beautiful things about living in Westfield, and commuting out of Westfield, is that it's so easy to park," LaPorta said. "You park, you walk briskly, you run for your train. A parking deck will add 10 minutes at the minimum onto both sides of the commute — going to work and coming home."

LaPorta said some residents may feel unsafe going to their car in the garage if they exit the train late at night. He suggested that a referendum should be made and that residents should decide if they want this development.

Michal Domogala raised concern about the height of the stores proposed along South Avenue.

"Four stories is quite high," Domogala said. "I'm not necessarily against an office space and bringing more people to the community ... but I think the size of this building should be brought down."

Resident Matt Lipski said he was happy that HBC considered walkability as a major aspect of the new development.

"As someone who moved to Westfield because it is walkable ... I was pretty excited to see the degree to which the team put thought into the walkability in the town," Lipski said.

That said, Lipski urged the council to "pressure-test" the developers, as well as engage experts in the town.

Resident Frank Lisaro asked where the new firehouse would be, as the plan includes refurbishing the existing one.

Douglas Adams, senior vice president of development at HBC, said the town plans to upgrade its secondary firehouse on Central Avenue. He said the redevelopment would generate revenue that the town could use to pay for the firehouse improvements on Central Ave. or at another location.

HBC created a website for the project where residents can schedule a tour to visit the preview center starting in October.

You can learn more about the project and see renderings of it by watching the town council meeting on Facebook.

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