Housing and Neighborhood Development Services, Inc.

Central Valley Redevelopment Plan Proposal

In December, 2005 the Orange City Council approved a Redevelopment Plan designed to transform 10 blocks of the “Central Valley.”  The Plan calls for about 1000 new condominiums residences and neighborhood shopping in the area around the Highland Avenue train station.  In response, HANDS assembled a partnership with Applied Development and The Alpert Group, two very capable urban developers and jointly we submitted a plan to redevelop five blocks on Jefferson Street from Central Avenue South to Nassau Street. The two “bookends” of Jefferson Art Walk are the Harvard Printing/Monroe/Calculating site on Central Avenue and the former F. Berg hat factory complex on Nassau Street.

As Designated Redeveloper the HANDS partnership will create up to 500 condominiums, 100 arts spaces, a public greenway along the east branch of the Rahway River, and neighborhood shopping and other commercial uses.

Our proposal preserves all of the important historic vintage structures within the Central Valley and opens up the stream to create a pedestrian/bicycle path. Our proposal absolutely minimizes residential displacement and provides for relocation opportunities within the Valley.

The HANDS partnership already controls about 25% of the real estate along Jefferson Street, so we will begin construction on our first project as early as Spring 2008 at the F. Berg hat factory with 29 loft condominiums, 17 artist studios and community art space.

Our Jefferson Art Walk proposal calls for artist live/work space with street level entrances along Jefferson Street so that artists can open up their homes for showing and selling art.

HANDS has a strong plan and very capable partners. Our proposal builds upon the distinct character and unique history of the Valley and preserves what’s left of its heritage as the hatting capital of the world 100 years ago.

Copyright © 2007 Housing and Neighborhood Development Services, Inc.