Developers Laud Essex Green Plan, But Activists Are 'Dubious'

WEST ORANGE, NJ — A real estate firm has high hopes for its plan to transform the “tired and dated” Essex Green Shopping Center in West Orange into a vibrant, productive and fully occupied shopping plaza. But according to a local group of activists, Clarion Partners’ proposed renovation plans may leave the community “substantially less green.”

On Thursday, Jan. 31, the West Orange Zoning Board will convene for a special meeting that will add the latest chapter to the saga of one of the largest redevelopment projects in Essex County. Learn more about the redevelopment of Essex Green here.

According to local activist group Our Green West Orange, the meeting agenda will include a hearing for the Essex Green project, including testimony from West Orange Township Forester John Linson.

Representatives from Clarion Partners will also be in attendance at the meeting and will share their latest renderings and ideas, a company spokesperson told Patch.

Lauren Holden, managing director and head of retail for Clarion Partners, provided the following statement in advance of the Jan. 31 meeting:

“Clarion made a significant investment in West Orange when we acquired Essex Green Shopping Center, and we are increasing our investment further as we strive to revitalize a tired and dated shopping center with significant vacancy into a vibrant, productive and fully-occupied shopping plaza that better addresses the needs of the community.”

Holden continued:

“As with all redevelopment projects Clarion pursues, public safety and sustainability are central to our planning. We are exploring several ESG initiatives with this project such as solar roofing and white reflective roofs, EV charging stations, new LED lighting, native landscaping elements, crosswalks that allow for connection to surrounding properties, and much more. Because we are still in the early planning stages, we have not yet had an opportunity to finalize those details and share them broadly. We look forward to sharing our latest renderings and project ideas at the Jan. 31 meeting, and to ultimately transforming the Essex Green property into a welcoming new gathering place for residents.”

After Clarion Partners purchased the shopping center in 2016 for $97 million as part of "one of the largest retail sales in New Jersey in the last two years," developers announced plans for a large facelift at the property, citing a double-digit vacancy rate among its tenants.

The shopping center has seen a mix of national, regional and local tenants, including ShopRite, Macy's Backstage, an AMC Theatre with dine-in service, Total Wine & More, Sears Appliance/Outlet, Petco, TGI Fridays, Panera Bread, GameStop and GNC.

In August 2018, West Orange Mayor Robert Parisi announced that Clarion Partners isn't asking for a payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) to redevelop the property, which the Town Council designated as an "area in need of redevelopment."

• See related article: West Orange Mayor: No PILOT For Essex Green Shopping Center
• See related article: Essex Green Redevelopment Gets Key Vote From West Orange Council

ACTIVISTS: PUBLIC IS ‘DUBIOUS’ ABOUT PLAN

The plans to renovate Essex Green have seen protracted criticism from some West Orange residents.

Earlier this month, members of Our Green West Orange hosted an Essex Green “walk and talk” to show residents what they called “deficiencies” in Clarion Partners’ proposed plans. West Orange Town Council members Cindy Matute-Brown and Jerry Guarino were in attendance at the event. (See video below)

The deficiencies in the current version of the Essex Green plan include “drive-throughs, a dangerous traffic layout, lack of sidewalks and removal of 148 trees,” according to the group.

“Over objections of some zoning board members and a dubious public, Clarion Partners is requesting variances to create two new drive-throughs and to permit excessive signage,” Our Green West Orange stated in a recent news release. “According to zoning laws, these variances can only be granted if the applicant proves that the drive throughs promote ‘public health, safety, morals and general welfare’ to the community… Clarion Partners describes their plan as a Town Center theme, but the citizens don’t see any sign of that concept.”

Van Wyck, a West Orange resident, said that if Clarion were to present evidence of town-centered planning, then variances might not be an issue.

“But to grant them these variances in the hope that they will provide the town-centered planning, is foolish,” Van Wyck added. “These C and D variance do the opposite by permitting drive-throughs and big, flashy signs. They are encouraging transients as a cheap fix in West Orange. No other local town in our area allows such development.”

• See related article: No 'Cheap-Looking Mall' At Essex Green, West Orange Group Demands

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Photos: Our Green West Orange