Woodbridge landmark Hess building up for sale

• The Hess building off Route 9%2C along with more than 50 acres of property%2C is up for sale.
• Mayor John E McCormac said the sale of the Hess property gives the township an opportunity to redefine downtown Woodbridge with a mix of retail space%2C restaurants%2C office space and high-end housing.
• Hess is one of the town%27s largest taxpayers. Several office buildings and labs on West Avenue and Milos Way in Port Reading%2C as well as the landmark Hess office building along Route 9 south pay almost %241.33 million in property taxes annually. The Hess properties have been designated as areas in need of redevelopment.
• The township also has been working with the state on development plans for the former Woodbridge Developmental Center property on Rahway Avenue. The state facility for people with developmental disabilities closed Jan. 1.

WOODBRIDGE – For years the bold green letters spelling Hess on top of the towering 10-story building along Route 9 south and upper Main Street have been a township landmark.

But that landmark, visible from the New Jersey Turnpike, will be fading from the township's landscape now that the building, along with more than 50 acres of property, is up for sale.

"Hess is actively marketing the property through Cushman & Wakefield and there has been tremendous interest from dozens of development groups throughout New Jersey and the country," Mayor John E. McCormac said during his recent State of the Township address delivered at Hotel Woodbridge in the Iselin section of the township.

And McCormac said the sale of the property gives the township an opportunity to redefine downtown Woodbridge with a mix of retail space, restaurants, office space and high-end housing.

In 2013, Hess closed its Port Reading oil refinery and sold its network of terminals, including one in Port Reading, to Buckeye Partners. McCormac said Buckeye Pipeline has dismantled the refinery to expand its terminal and tank-storage capabilities.

Hess is one of the town's largest taxpayers. Several office buildings and labs on West Avenue and Milos Way in Port Reading, as well as the landmark Hess office building along Route 9 South pay almost $1.33 million in property taxes annually. The Hess properties have been designated as areas in need of redevelopment.

McCormac said the township's main goal in working with Hess or any developer the company chooses, is to link the future development with the downtown Main Street businesses.

The Hess property is one of many in the township where change is expected.

McCormac said demolition is about to get underway at the General Dynamics site on Avenel Street next to the Avenel Train Station. Station Village at Avenel, a 500-unit apartment complex is planned for the 25-acre site. Construction, scheduled to start later this year, will be done in phases. Arts-themed retail space and an arts center also are planned.

"New Jersey Transit will increase stops at the train station as more and more units are built and ancillary development will occur on Avenel Street and Rahway Avenue," said McCormac who expects the number of school children at the development to be minimal, but added nearby schools do have capacity for additional students. He said the township will reimburse the school district for their incremental costs for educating these students.

McCormac said it will cost the new owners more than $10 million to clean up the site and more than $1 million for a new traffic light.

McCormac said the township has been working with the state on development plans for the former Woodbridge Developmental Center property on Rahway Avenue. The state facility for people with developmental disabilities closed Jan. 1. The last residents were moved out in mid-December 2014.

No warehouses or apartments are planned for the site, the mayor said.

"Because of our large and growing senior-citizen population, we envision some sort of health or medical related use there. More than 50 acres area available for senior housing; an assisted-living facility or nursing home; perhaps an acute-care facility or a medical complex with a multitude of doctors offices. Some interest by companies offering a continuum of care facility also has been shown." he said.

McCormac said the township has contacted four local hospitals to see what the market is for health-care operations. He said the right medical-related facility would improve the quality of life for all residents, particularly seniors.

Luxury apartments, a hotel/office complex and retail space also is planned near the MetroPark Train Station on the corner between the Prudential and Siemens buildings. Construction on the first phase of the project is expected to start this year.

Staff Writer Suzanne Russell: 732-565-7335; srussell@mycentraljersey.com