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Township of Aberdeen
The former South River Metal Products facility, originally owned by the Matawan Steel and Iron Company, had been in operation for over 100-plus years. In the 1980s the factory experienced several major fires that gutted the existing structures and caused major safety concerns for police and first responders. Subsequently, the Township acquired the property in 2001 through foreclosure as an acknowledged Brownfield's Site and initiated efforts to prepare the property for redevelopment.
The Township retained a demolition contractor, Mike Giordano Inc. of Brick for the demolition of the entire site at no cost to the Township due to the amount of recyclable metal materials on the site. The abatement of existing asbestos materials within the buildings was performed at the same time under a special approval from the New
Jersey Department of Environmental Protection [NJDEP] in order to initiate and expedite the site remediation process.
Aberdeen has been awarded, through the State's Hazardous Discharge Site Remediation Fund, multiple grants that cover environmental investigation, planning, and remediation activities. The grants as awarded are the result of applications and documentation as submitted by CME Associates and its Environmental Division, Icon Engineering. Remedial investigation work and a Remedial Action Work Plan have been completed and approved by the NJDEP.
The Township designated RPM Development, LLC as the Redeveloper to facilitate the remediation and development of the property with 70 affordable family units, 75 age-restricted residential units and a 2,545 sf senior center on a 5.17 ac. parcel, with an 8.27 ac. conservation parcel, that will provide affordable housing in a key area of the Township. The project was cmpleted in the Summer of 2018.