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A long-stalled plan to redevelop a deteriorating New Jersey shopping center is once again before local officials.<\/p>\n
The Raritan Borough Planning Board recently reviewed a new site plan application for “Raritan Lofts.” The proposal calls for a five-story, mixed-use building that would replace much of the largely vacant Raritan Mall in Somerset County, roughly 45 miles southwest of New York City.<\/p>\n
Submitted by Raritan Mall Urban Renewal LLC, the proposal outlines the demolition of the aging strip mall and the construction of a 70-foot-tall building featuring 276 rental apartments and 20,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space, according to planning documents.<\/p>\n
The project would include 42 affordable rental units.<\/p>\n
A view of the deteriorating Raritan Mall in Raritan, New Jersey. (Google Maps)<\/p>\n
MAJOR RETAILERS ARE FLEEING ANOTHER POPULAR MALL<\/p>\n
A separate one-story building on the property would remain and be converted into retail space.<\/p>\n
The redevelopment marks the latest effort to revive the 10.88-acre site, which has struggled since its anchor tenant, Stop & Shop, closed in 2016, according to NJ.com.<\/p>\n
The shopping center is now largely vacant. A 2022 preliminary study described the site as “mostly abandoned” and “dilapidated,” citing vandalism and flood damage, the local outlet reported.<\/p>\n
The proposal, submitted by Raritan Mall Urban Renewal LLC, calls for constructing a 70-foot-tall building featuring 276 rental apartments and 20,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space.\u00a0 (Raritan Borough Planning Board)<\/p>\n
SHOPPING MALLS BETTER ADAPT TO MODERN TIMES TO AVOID TOTAL DEATH, SERIAL ENTREPRENEUR SAYS<\/p>\n
The hearing represents the newest push to revive a redevelopment plan that has stalled for years.<\/p>\n
After the Raritan Borough Council rejected an earlier redevelopment plan, the mall\u2019s owner filed a lawsuit in August 2024. The $100 million suit alleged the vote involved a conflict of interest but was withdrawn in February 2025, NJ.com reported.<\/p>\n
The Raritan Mall\u2019s decline also mirrors broader challenges facing traditional shopping centers nationwide.\u00a0<\/p>\n
TRUMP SAYS AMAZON ‘DESTROYING’ SHOPPING MALLS, HOLLOWING OUT TOWNS<\/p>\n
The Raritan Mall\u2019s decline mirrors broader challenges facing traditional shopping centers nationwide.\u00a0 (iStock)<\/p>\n
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Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, malls were losing ground as online retailers such as Amazon drew customers away from brick-and-mortar stores.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Lockdowns then accelerated the decline by keeping shoppers home. Economic pressures stemming from inflation made matters worse with households tightening their budgets and spending less on discretionary items.\u00a0<\/p>\n
FOX Business reached out to The Raritan Borough Planning Board and Raritan Mall Urban Renewal LLC for comment.<\/p>\n
FOX Business’ Daniella Genovese contributed to this report.<\/p>\n
#Jersey #zombie #mall #torn #apartments<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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