by admin | May 15, 2017 | Articles
Two River Times – Jay Cook May 14, 2017 MIDDLETOWN – A sprawling, untouched parcel of land in Middletown has been the center of conversation over planned development versus conservation for nearly two decades. Whether Route 35 is the way home or the fastest road to the Garden State Parkway, it now seems that Calico the Clown – Middletown’s iconic landmark – is pointing his red-tipped finger toward what could be one of the local area’s largest new developments. “We are trying to build something that blends with the environment and the community, and also something that the community can be proud of,” said John Orrico, president of National Realty & Development Corp. (NRDC) of Purchase, New York. Last week, Orrico met with The Two River Times for an exclusive interview about the status of Village 35, L.P, an entity of NRDC, which is developing the yet-to-be-approved $70- to $80-million commercial project. GETTING INVOLVED Orrico hopes to develop commercial property on 52 of the 119 acres along Route 35 North from Kanes Lane to Kings Highway East, which spans about a half mile. It’s been on the drafting table for years. In 2013, NRDC was approached by Mountain Hill, LLC – the Azzolina-Scaduto family partnership that owns the land – to build the town center they envisioned after a deal with unnamed developer fell through. According to Orrico, that deal called for 460,000 square feet of retail with highway flyovers from each side of Route 35 into the development. He said that project “would never get approved and was too much development for the area.” Two years later, NRDC...
by Donna Justo | May 7, 2015 | Articles
Chain Store Age, April 30, 2015 – The Shoppes at Middletown brings specialty retail and dining to affluent eastern Monmouth County. A unique new shopping center is being designed to bring boutique and specialty retail and dining options to eastern Monmouth County in Central New Jersey. The Shoppes at Middletown, at 380,000 sq. ft., will emerge as a premier town center development when it opens in 2017. The project will be developed on 50 acres of the overall 120-acre project, and will feature 2,200 ft. of frontage on Route 35, the area’s major north-south corridor. Current committed anchors include a high-end specialty grocer and a specialty wine and liquor store offering wine-tasting seminars and programs for wine enthusiasts. Discussions are ongoing with other apparel anchors for the project. “This is a unique area of New Jersey,” said John Orrico, president of National Realty & Development Corp. (NRDC), the developer. “Eastern Monmouth County is home to very affluent bedroom communities. Within 7 miles of The Shoppes at Middletown, 70% of the 211,808 residents hold professional positions. The average household income in the area is more than $130,000 a year.” Eastern Monmouth County residents currently travel to the Short Hills Mall or New York City for high-end specialty shopping, continued Orrico. Through The Shoppes at Middletown, NRDC aims to provide a local alternative. Abutting The Shoppes at Middletown will be a 350-unit housing development. The residential project will connect to the retail center with pedestrian-friendly walkways and roadways. The retail design will feature individual storefronts, each with a separate identity. Units will range from 1,000 sq. ft. up to 70,000 sq....
