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NJBIA and its flagship publication, New Jersey Business Magazine, are honoring the visionaries behind 10 outstanding New Jersey development projects with New Good Neighbor Awards.
The 64th Annual New Good Neighbor Awards highlights firms, institutions and nonprofits that have contributed to the economic growth in the state and in their respective neighborhoods.
“The winning projects have created more than $80 million in capital improvements, 1,047 construction jobs and nearly 1,000 permanent jobs, providing valuable assets and generating tremendous economic activity,” said NJBIA President & CEO Michele Siekerka.
“These winning projects improve our quality of life, revitalize neighborhoods, provide valuable services and resources and bring communities together. We are grateful for the benefits these projects have brought to New Jersey and congratulate the winners.”
The list below provides a brief description of each winning project. Reporters or editors who would like images of any winning project can contact communications@njbia.org.
Full summaries, and the criteria for how winners were selected, can be found in the July issue of New Jersey Business Magazine.
AllShifts
When AllShifts decided to expand its U.S. headquarters during the pandemic, the nation’s leading nurse staffing agency looked no further than its home city of Newark.
In fact, AllShifts stayed in the same building – 494 Broad Street – growing from 3,000 to 17,000 square feet as it took over an entire floor to accommodate the agency’s rapid growth.
Architectural firm the Kimmerle Group created a relaxed, open-concept floor plan with bench workstations, glass-front offices, a theatre room with stadium seating, and game room with TVs, lounges, and a cozy café. Custom reclaimed wood tables add character to the space, and exposed red brick walls found during construction give it a raw, industrial feel.
The $1.2 million project, which involved 150 construction workers and was completed in January of 2022, also celebrates AllShifts’ national reach, with each space named after a U.S. city/region.
Architect: Kimmerle Group, Morristown
Builder: Fidelco Realty Group, Millburn
Blanquita B. Valenti Community School
In early 2020, a search for the perfect place to build the new Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey/Jack & Sheryl Morris Cancer Center led the New Brunswick Development Corporation (DEVCO) to 165 Somerset St., home of the overcrowded Lincoln Annex School.
In exchange for the property, DEVCO negotiated with the project’s major partner, RWJBarnabas Health, to commit $55 million to build a new school at nearby 50 Jersey Ave. on land donated by the chair of the RWJ University Hospital board and developer Jack Morris.
Ground was broken in May of 2021 on the Blanquita B. Valenti Community School – named after a longtime central New Jersey educator.
The 126,000-square-foot community school, which employed 300 workers during construction and now has a staff of 110 full-time employees, was completed last September – just in time to welcome the inaugural class of 800 students.
Architect: DMR Architects, Hasbrouck Heights
Builder: New Brunswick Development Corporation
D’Boathaus
On the shores of Greenwood Lake in Hewitt sits D’Boathaus, a “farm to table” establishment that opened in July 2023 and is a destination for boaters and food enthusiasts throughout the region.
Architect David Smith worked with Major Renovation Management to bring the 3,074-square-foot space to life. The $1.8 million project created 15 construction jobs and has since led to full-time employment for 16 people.
D’Boathaus sources fresh, local ingredients that not only make dining there a one-of-a-kind experience, but also supports the area’s agricultural sector. Boaters can pull up to one of 30 slips on the property to either dine in or pick up takeout.
D’Boathaus makes it a point to support local causes and activities, hosting a 2023 Halloween Party as well as weekly live music from area artists, industry nights to create networking opportunities, and public service nights to give back to the people who keep the community afloat.
Architect: David Smith, West Milford
Builder: Major Renovation Management, Hewitt
Everside Health
In 2022, Everside Health transformed an old facility in Willingboro into a state-of-the art medical clinic, expanding its footprint in New Jersey to 13 locations.
This 3,000-square-foot facility, renovated at a cost of $500,000, was completed that November – a full 60 days ahead of schedule – bringing an easier, less expensive healthcare option to this quiet suburb of Philadelphia and part of the state’s South Jersey region.
Everside is a network of primary care providers offering a complete care solution to employers and unions with onsite, near-site, and virtual options.
Under the direction of architect Kraig Beilharz, Trenton-based Scozzari Builders used 13 workers to complete the project, which is bringing a wide array of primary and mental healthcare services to patients in Willingboro and surrounding Burlington County towns. These include preventive screenings, chronic condition management, care for acute illnesses, mental health support, onsite lab work, select no-cost medications and 24/7 virtual access.
Architect: Kraig Beilharz, Defiance, Ohio
Builder: Scozzari Builders, Trenton
Manasquan Bank
Manasquan Bank’s new branch in the heart of Metuchen represents a dichotomy between tradition and progress.
The bank decided to relocate from 442 to 429 Main St. – taking with it a 10,000-pound antique Mosler Safe Company vault door that dates to its founding in the 1880s and serves as a centerpiece in the vestibule.
The new main building, which was completed in May of 2023, features 5,360 square feet of modern amenities and services that reflect a commitment to functionality, efficiency, and enhancing the client experience.
The construction project employed 47 people, and the resulting $3.7 million facility has replaced conventional teller counters with innovative desk-like pods, while also featuring two drive-through lanes, an ATM and a bike rack.
Architect: Longo Architects & Associates, New Providence
Builder: Vericon Construction Company, Mountainside
New Beginnings
In October 2023, the New Beginnings by Jackie hair salon in Fair Lawn cut the ribbon on a new storefront façade, leading to an uptick in business.
This project, which cost just under $12,000 to complete, was part of the Fair Lawn Storefront Improvement Program created through the Main Street New Jersey program to help the town’s business owners better compete post-pandemic.
To date, nine of Fair Lawn’s 300 storefronts have been upgraded, including Garden Pharmacy, Morlot Wine and Liquors, Metro Bowl and Haus Café, with four more underway. Fair Lawn Main Street grants each business up to $12,000 for storefront improvement, which ranges from upgraded facades to cohesive signage.
Overall, the project has elevated Fair Lawn’s visual appeal and created a more welcoming environment for residents and visitors, leading to increased foot traffic, higher sales for local businesses, and a renewed sense of pride in the community.
Architect: Jamie Izurieta, Montclair
Builder: Signs Pro, Saddle Brook
Sportsmans Moosehead
In early May, Major Renovation Management put the finishing touches on a makeover of Sportsmans Moosehead Marina in Hewitt, a full-service facility on Greenwood Lake offering everything from slip rentals and winter storage to routine maintenance and repair.
The $1 million project, which involved 10 construction workers, included an overhaul of the 4,442-square-foot marina building, complete with customer bathrooms and showers; the addition of barbecue grills; completion of a large, modern repair facility across the street; and installation of a new, lower-maintenance EZ Dock plastic floating dock system for boats and personal watercrafts.
Founded in 1952, Sportsmans Moosehead attracts fisherman and boating enthusiasts from throughout New Jersey and the surrounding areas. New owners took over in 2015 and decided to restore the marina to its former glory. The marina currently has close to $1 million in new and used boat inventory.
In addition, the new and improved Sportsmans Moosehead has given a boost to the local economy as a key employer and by sourcing from area businesses.
Architect: David Smith, West Milford
Builder: Major Renovation Management, Hewitt
Switlik
Two weeks before Christmas 2023, Scozzari Builders completed the new Trenton-based headquarters of Switlik, a manufacturer of inflatable safety and survival products for the aviation, marine, and military/government markets.
The 40,000-square-foot building, constructed with a crew of 30 workers for $4.8 million, represents another step forward for this family-owned business that has been a fixture in Trenton since 1920.
Switlik brings a great sense of history to the area. In the 1930s, the company became the nation’s largest manufacturer of parachutes, outfitting the expeditions of Amelia Earhart and Admiral Richard Byrd, and later assisting the U.S. government in producing parachutes for World War II, the Korean War, and Vietnam War.
The installation of solar panels is one of the company’s key environmental policies, with renewable energy helping power the new facility.
The business, run by the founder’s descendants, holds active contracts with all branches of the U.S. military, while also serving an extensive corporate client base within the commercial airline, aviation, and oil and gas sectors, as well as selling direct to consumers.
Architect: Clarke Caton Hintz, Trenton
Builder: Scozzari Builders, Trenton
The National
This Colonial Revival-style structure that became The Montclair National Bank in 1926 and later a Chase Bank was sold in 2021 to The Bravitas Group, a real estate company known for repurposing architecturally interesting buildings.
With a construction staff of 72, The Bravitas Group transformed the 6,400-square-foot building – now called The National – into boutique office space and restored the façade by installing wood windows with trimmed panels echoing the original design.
Other changes included replacing the modern entryway with double glass panel doors reminiscent of a prior era, restoration of the building’s old clock, and repair of original brick and stone elements of the façade. The developer was also able to add usable square footage to the interior by renovating unfinished space on the lower level and adding a mezzanine in the unfinished attic.
After construction was completed in February of 2023, The National became home to Montclair Speech Therapy (MST), a company with 28 full-time employees, with the main bank vault being repurposed into a children’s occupational therapy room.
Architect: Sionas Architecture, Montclair
Builder: Jack Finn & Company, Montclair
Valley Bank
When Valley Bank decided to relocate its headquarters from Wayne to downtown Morristown, developers zeroed in on a row of vacant retail shops on Speedwell Avenue, just off Morristown Green.
In October, Valley moved into its new multi-million-dollar home, which brings about 660 employees to the downtown area, stimulating the economy and attracting corporate employers looking for highly amenitized workplace ecosystems.
The 124,000-square-foot building has prime access to the area’s many restaurants and retailers, as well as the NJ TRANSIT hub. It features glass, metal, and warm brick undertones in line with the masonry of historic Morristown, in addition to floor-to-ceiling windows, skyline views, operable glass walls that open to three outdoor terraces, and a dramatic lobby entrance.
The forward-thinking designers also included MERV filtration and UV light purification, solar reflective roofing, low-flow water fixtures, and energy-efficient lighting.
Valley’s new building has boosted the community by employing about 400 during construction and working with the Town of Morristown to ensure no residents were displaced by this development.
Architect: Gensler, Morristown
Builder: SJP Properties, Parsippany |
