During their lifetimes, recent generations of Newarkers had only seen the Krueger-Scott Mansion in a state of abandonment. However, over the last year, changes have been occurring around the 133-year-old Central Ward house as developers move forward on a distinctive project.
The Makerhoods development involves bringing “co-working, office space, event space, workshops, and community-centric events” to the existing edifice along with a new five-story building next door with “66 mixed-income apartments, 16 maker shops, a greenhouse, a demonstration & commercial kitchen, a courtyard, and event space,” according to the project website.
Few changes to the mansion itself are currently visible from the street, but the frame of the new building along Court Street where an urban farm previously operated has topped off. Signage posted along Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard advertises that the complex is coming to fruition in December of this year.
Newark Makerhoods Urban Renewal, which is registered out of an address on Central Park South in Manhattan, is currently listed in municipal tax filings as the owner of the Krueger-Scott Mansion property and neighboring 129-145 Court Street. Both were previously in the hands of the City of Newark.
Jersey Digs first revealed that there were development plans for this historic site four years ago. A groundbreaking ceremony for the Makerhoods project was held back in September 2020 and applications for live/work units were due on June 13. The project website says that makers who have been selected to join the project will be notified in August.
