Waterfront Redevelopment Management - Sayreville NL

NJ Society of Municipal Engineers
Project of the Year


PROJECT HISTORY:
As one strolls through an open field on a beautiful afternoon, they might not realize the years of hard work their Municipal Engineer withstood to provide this moment. Such is the case in the Borough of Sayreville, Middlesex County, New Jersey.

The Borough of Sayreville's Economic and Redevelopment Agency (SERA) is presently in the process of redeveloping the 400 acre former site of National Lead Industries, located along the scenic waterfront of the Raritan River. The redevelopment plan consisting of a mix of retail, office, hotel and age targeted residential units continues to move forward while most projects of this size in the state and nation are not. As complexities through the years have enumerated, their Municipal Engineer David J. Samuel, P.E., P.P. & C.M.E. has continued to manage all aspects of this redevelopment project from its beginnings over twelve years ago.

Throughout the redevelopment concept process and selection process of a redeveloper for the site, Mr. Samuel recognized the need for open space and land preservation and therefore designated an area on the redevelopment concept plan for that purpose. During this process, negotiations between Mr. Samuel and the County Open Space Program, New Jersey Green Acres Program, and the Borough of Sayreville Open Space program helped produce additional funding for the open space element of the project.

CLIENT REQUIREMENTS:

• PRESERVE OPEN SPACE WITHIN THE BOROUGH OF SAYREVILLE
• SECURE OUTSIDE OPEN SPACE FUNDING
• WORK WITH THE REDEVELOPERS ENGINEERS AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTISTS TO
• PROVIDE A FINAL PRODUCT BEST SUITING THE BOROUGHS GOALS
• MANAGE THE REMEDIATION AND CLEANUP PROCESS
• PROVIDE OVERSIGHT AND MANAGEMENT OF THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE CAP INSTALLATION AND THE WETLANDS RESTORATION
• REPORT PROGRESS BACK TO THE BOROUGH'S ECONOMIC AND REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY

• UNIQUE OR UNUSUAL DESIGN FEATURES:

• MADE OPEN SPACE PARCEL PART OF THE REDEVELOPENT CONCEPT WHILE SEEKING OUTSIDE REDEVELOPERS FOR PROJECT
• SOUGHT AND OBTAINED OPEN SPACE FUNDING THROUGH THE COUNTY OF MIDDLESEX AND NEW JERSEY GREEN ACRES PROGRAM IN ADDITION TO THE BOROUGH'S OPEN SPACE PROGRAM
• CREATED OPEN SPACE CONCEPT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE BOROUGH'S GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
• SITE PRESERVED AND REMEDIATED THROUGH REDEVELOPMENT PROCESS
• PROVIDED OVERSIGHT AND MANAGEMENT OF THE REDEVELOPERS TEAM THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE PROJECT

THE RESULT:
Through the management efforts of their Municipal Engineer and his staff, the Borough of Sayreville is nearing completion of the first phase of this major redevelopment project. With the completion of remediation of clean up of "Parcel A" the Borough of Sayreville has fixed and preserved an open space parcel of land, previously contaminated and dorment, and has transformed it into a passive recreation area for its residents to enjoy for many years to come.