Morristown, New Jersey, picks SJP for long-stalled downtown redevelopment
Proposal would replace former Century 21 store with housing, retail and commercial space
SJP Properties, which has completed several major projects in Morristown, New Jersey, has been selected by the municipality to redevelop a long-vacant downtown site that includes a former Century 21 department store.
The New York-based real estate firm plans a mixed-use project with roughly 120,000 square feet of commercial space, 200 housing units and retail. The Morristown Council this week designated SJP as the conditional redeveloper of the site.
The redevelopment area includes the former Century 21 store at 1 N. Park Place and nearby properties at 17-21 N. Park Place, 11-23 Washington St. and 2-10 Washington St., all on or near the historic Morristown Green. Century 21 closed the store in 2020 after the retailer filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy during the pandemic.
Several redevelopment efforts for the properties, including the former department store, stalled over the years, sparking litigation. Town officials said SJP’s track record in Morristown helped secure its selection for the latest attempt to move the project forward.
SJP previously developed M Station East and M Station West, office buildings now occupied by accounting firm Deloitte and global healthcare company Sanofi. The developer also built Valley Bank’s headquarters at 52-74 Speedwell Ave.
Under SJP’s proposal, the North Park Place buildings would be replaced with a mixed-use development intended to revitalize a prominent stretch of downtown. Additional details, including architectural plans, site design and potential commercial tenants, will be released as the project moves through the planning and approval process, according to SJP and town officials.
“M Station has been a transformative development for Morristown, and the redevelopment of North Park will advance our long-standing vision for a more vibrant and elevated Morristown Green,” Steven Pozycki, SJP founder and CEO, said in a statement. “Through the arrival of a skilled workforce, high-quality retail, and premier housing, we’ll reactivate this area and restore its place at the center of the town.”
Morristown designated the North Park properties as an area in need of redevelopment as part of a broader effort to reinvest in downtown and revitalize the area surrounding Morristown Green. Officials said at the council meeting that SJP is under contract to acquire the properties from owner David Brown.
“This is an important step forward for a part of downtown that has been waiting for new life,” Morristown Mayor Timothy Dougherty said in a statement. “These properties occupy a highly visible location in the heart of Morristown, and their redevelopment will have a tremendous impact on our downtown. This proposal gives us an opportunity to bring new housing, commercial activity and retail to the area while creating a more vibrant and connected downtown for residents, businesses and visitors.”
