Court OKs mixed-use redevelopment of Lord & Taylor site in New Jersey
Westfield, N.J.’s six-year-old plan to remake its downtown with a mixed-use center has finally been given a go-ahead by a New Jersey appeals court that has rejected a legal challenge brought by a citizens group, according to NJ.com.
The suit, filed in 2023 by Westfield Advocates for Responsible Development, challenged an ordinance that approved redevelopment of a closed Lord & Taylor property, which the group held conflicted with the town’s master plan.
The goal of town leadership was to reinvigorate its downtown with a plan for new offices, stores, homes, and parks.
Westfield had retained Streetworks Development — developers of Chelsea Market in New York and Ghirardelli Square in San Francisco — to develop and construct the space’s remake into One Westfield Place. The proposed 725,000-sq.-ft. development would include Class-A office space, retail, and public improvements for future generations.
In its suit, Westfield Advocates raised concerns about building heights, traffic, and submitted a detailed memorandum opposing the plan. Since the document was not among official materials submitted to the town council when it adopted the ordinance, the appeals court said it could not be considered in the appeal.
“The consistency of these decisions reinforces our belief in the integrity of the professional and public planning process we have followed—one that has been transparent, thorough, and inclusive of community input from the start,” Westfield Mayor Shelley Brindle told NJ.com.
One community member sure to be happy with the appeals court decision is Donna Zielinski, who worked at the Westfield Lord & Taylor now works for Streetworks.
“I started at this location in in 1991,” said Zielenski in a video shot by Streetworks outside the Lord & Taylor store. “Everything wonderful that happened in my life happened at this location. Was married, had two baby showers here. I was incredibly sad when Lord & Taylor closed. Now I’m so excited about the possibilities.”
