A prominent industrial facility located just north of a walkable retail corridor could be reimagined into a high-end complex for seniors looking to live active lives.
Reuten Associates and Metropolis Property Group have officially submitted an application to redevelop six acres of property at 231 and 239 Herbert Avenue. The land, owned by the Reuten family since the 1940s, houses a collection of buildings known as Reuten Corporate Park.
The envisioned plans look to demolish five obsolete post-World-War-II-era manufacturing buildings and replace them with The Residences at Reuten Park. The 195-unit development would include housing that is designed for independent living, assisted living, and memory care.
The proposed project would include private outdoor social spaces, fountains, an outdoor dining courtyard, multiple indoor dining areas, a café, and an outdoor swimming pool. The potential development would feature other perks like a pond with an elevated wooden deck, a spa and fitness center, a cinema, a game room, community gardens, fire pits, and walking trails.
“We believe that transforming the oldest portion of Reuten Corporate Park from a manufacturing center to a beautiful luxury senior housing community is the ‘highest and best use’ of our land,” said Mike Reuten, owner and managing partner of Reuten Associates. “It will beautify the neighborhood and add a significant asset to our community — benefitting seniors, families, neighbors, and local businesses.”
The developers claim that the project would enhance Closter’s tax base by an estimated $1 million annually, which includes $700,000 for the Closter Public Schools. The proposed Residences at Reuten Park is located within Closter’s Zoning District No. 5 ‘I’ Industrial Area and the companies are requesting that the Zoning Board of Adjustment amend the requirements to allow for a senior housing community.
Pending the zoning board signing off on the changes and the application, the companies say the project will be constructed in approximately 14 to 16 months.
