Overview
The F. Berg hat factory complex comprises three
buildings – an 1864 three-story, red brick mill building, a former powerhouse
built around the same time and a seven-story concrete building built in 1908.
The old industrial complex covers an entire block in the Valley neighborhood of
Orange, on South Jefferson Street from Nassau Street (across from Libretti’s
Italian restaurant) to Forest Street.
About a hundred years ago, the F. Berg hat factory complex was the most
productive of the 34 firms manufacturing hats in the Valley neighborhood of
Orange and West Orange. When hatting in the Valley declined in the 1920s, the
Berg company moved to Connecticut. Two of the most prominent firms to utilize
the former Berg site were Nite Kraft, makers of pajamas and Foundation Form,
makers of brassieres. By the 1960s the buildings fell into disuse as a series of
owners tried unsuccessfully to make the site productive.
Early manufacturers left behind leaking underground tanks and toxic
contamination from industrial processes and landfill. The three building complex
set a record in Orange for the most fire code violations. In 2002, HANDS took
control of the property and began to prepare it for productive reuse as a
residential and commercial site.
HANDS engaged in a four year environmental remediation and in 2006, the NJ Dept.
of Environmental Protection approved the clean-up and gave its approval for
residential use. Redevelopment of the three buildings will create 29 loft
condominiums, 17 artist studios and commercial and community arts space.
To build out and complete the project, HANDS is partnering with two private
sector developers – Applied Development and The Alpert Group. As
part of HANDS’ investment in the Valley Arts District, three floors of the
concrete building will be operated by HANDS as a community/commercial arts
center with working artist studios, arts program space and retail arts tenants.
A general contractor has been chosen and construction will begin in Fall 2008, with occupancy about twelve months later.
Artists interested in studio space should contact
kelli@handsinc.org.
