Work Begins on Long-vacant Aberdeen Industrial Site

On Mar 28, 2016

With site preparation now under way, RPM Development Group is set to launch environmental remediation work on the long-vacant former South River Metals Corp. property on Church Street in Aberdeen, a major step toward construction of a three-building residential and community center project featuring senior and all-ages affordable housing, and a new township senior community center.

“Environmental remediation is estimated to take three to four months, after which actual construction will begin,” said Brendan McBride, vice president of development for the Montclair-based RPM. “Pending final permits, we anticipate vertical construction to begin in early fall and are targeting completion by the end of 2017.”

When completed, the 14-acre Hudson Ridge development will feature two, four-story residential buildings with a total of 145 senior and non-age restricted rental units, constructed at a cost of $44 million. The senior (55 years and over) building will offer 75 one and two-bedroom apartments, while the all-ages building will provide 70 one, two and three-bedroom units. Preference will be given to households impacted by Hurricane Sandy.

In addition to activity rooms for residents in each building, the site will include a freestanding 2,500-square-foot senior community center available for use by all Aberdeen residents, as well as open space.

“This is an important project on many fronts,” said Mayor Fred Tagliarini. “Number one is the environmental cleanup on this old industrial site so construction can proceed.  Number two is finally returning this abandoned property to the tax rolls for the benefit of Aberdeen taxpayers.”

“During my six years on the Township Council, the estimated $3 million cleanup cost has been our biggest hurdle because the site is unusable without remediation to state and federal standards,” explained Councilman Greg Cannon. “With the recent availability of disaster relief funding combined with funds from the NJDEP/NJEDA’s Hazardous Discharge Site Remediation Fund and funds from the developer (RPM), we were finally able to find a solution without spending three million of our residents’ tax dollars.”

Beyond the benefits of cleaning up the dormant site, Tagliarini added that “Hudson Ridge will help address our community’s need for senior housing, as well as a modern senior community center to buttress programs already offered at the longstanding George Hausmann Senior Center. It was very important for us to be able to deliver this to our residents.

“Finally, this project will provide jobs for the community,” Tagliarini continued. “RPM will soon be reaching out to Aberdeen-based construction trade and building supply firms to bid on the work, and local residents will have the opportunity to seek employment on the project.”

McBride noted that Hudson Ridge will be constructed with government assistance, including Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Disaster Relief funding, along with 4 percent low-income housing tax credits and a permanent mortgage from the New Jersey Mortgage and Housing and Finance Agency. Wells Fargo Bank will provide equity to the project through the purchase of federal tax credits.

RPM, a leading developer of affordable housing in New Jersey, has worked with cities, suburban communities, local housing authorities, and state and federal agencies to create high-quality affordable housing options for seniors and non-age-restricted residents. The company’s development process has included renovating abandoned industrial buildings and sites and bringing polluted land back into productive use, and turning around historic neighborhoods.

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