Work Hitting 'High Gear' At Former Roche Site In Nutley, Clifton

Major work is almost done at the future home of Ralph Lauren, developers said.

Originally appeared on Patch.com on Sep 16, 2019

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ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — The transformation of the former Hoffmann-La Roche campus on Route 3 is kicking into "high gear," with major work nearing completion at the future home of Ralph Lauren, developers recently announced.

Construction at the new complex in Nutley and Clifton – dubbed ON3 – has been picking up speed this summer. Several key projects have either "hit the midway point" or been completed, according to Bloomfield-based Prism Capital Partners.

That includes work at the future headquarters of international clothing retailer Ralph Lauren, which received a 10-year, $33.1 million tax break from the New Jersey Economic Development Authority to move to its new location at ON3. About 225 new jobs – and more than 1,000 workers in all – are predicted to come along for the ride.

Last week, Prism Partners said its renovation of ON3's 100 Metro Boulevard – which will house Ralph Lauren – is in its "final stages." Construction at the seven-story building included a complete lobby redesign with 30-foot ceilings, a new entryway, a courtyard with communal areas for social and business gatherings.

Construction on a 2,500-space parking garage that will serve both 100 Metro Boulevard and neighboring 200 Metro Boulevard will be finished for the company's anticipated October move-in, developers said.

"Ultimately, 100 and 200 Metro Boulevard are key components of the next-generation, mixed-use complex we envision at ON3," said Edwin Cohen, a principal partner at Prism. "The work being completed at both buildings, and the introduction of the first structure parking in the campus' history reflect the major steps forward we are taking."

Prism Partners bought the property in 2016, three years after Hoffmann-La Roche vacated the premises. Since then, the revamped site has welcomed a new, four-year school of medicine run by Hackensack Meridian Health and Seton Hall University, as well as other tenants such as Modern Meadow, a biotech company that produces animal-free leather from living cells, and Quest Diagnostics, which is developing a 250,000-square-foot diagnostic testing facility at ON3.

Prism Partners said corporate tenants and users at the site are expected to employ more than 5,500 people by 2021, while the ongoing redevelopment is already creating hundreds of construction jobs.

In addition to attracting new tenants to ON3, developers have been adding to its infrastructure. Recently Prism added and re-branded streets on the east portion of the campus, installing new sewer and storm water systems and orchestrating electrical grid enhancements. On the west side, Prism has incorporated a roadway network.

Throughout the entire ON3 redevelopment process, municipal involvement has been critical, developers said.

"We place the highest value on input from municipal officials in Nutley and Clifton, and the ongoing transformation of ON3 is a reflection of those strong public-private partnerships," Cohen said.