![M Station Morristown Roundabout Rendering](https://jerseydigs.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/m-station-morristown-roundabout-rendering.jpg)
While the novel coronavirus has forced many companies to implement work-from-home policies, one developer is preparing for post-pandemic life by spearheading a commercial project in one of New Jersey’s most walkable towns.
Just before Thanksgiving, SJP Properties held a groundbreaking ceremony to officially commence the buildout of M Station at Morristown. The endeavor will replace the Midtown Shopping Center strip mall and surface parking lot at 74 Morris Street, just steps from Morristown’s NJTransit train station.
![Midtown Shopping Center 74 Morris St Morristown](https://jerseydigs.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/midtown-shopping-center-74-morris-st-morristown.jpg)
Several businesses moved out of the strip mall earlier this year to make way for the development, which will consist entirely of office and retail space. Drawn up by a firm headquartered in San Francisco named Gensler, M Station been designed to be contextual to its surroundings and will incorporate a contemporary interpretation of Morristown’s historic industrial loft architecture.
![M Station Morristown Morris Avenue Rendering](https://jerseydigs.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/m-station-morristown-morris-avenue-rendering.jpg)
The two-building development will add a total of 275,000-square feet of Class A office space and 33,000-square feet of retail space to the neighborhood. Each building will include large outdoor terraces on the penthouse floor and a 1,000-space parking lot will be constructed behind the structures in an effort to conceal them from the view along Morris Street’s corridor.
![M Station Morristown Rendering](https://jerseydigs.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/m-station-morristown-rendering.jpg)
Both buildings are slated to be LEED Certified and M Station will construct some public improvements and amenities at the property. New service roads and a roundabout designed to ease the flow of traffic will be created, as will a linear park to enhance pedestrian walkability.
![M Station Morristown Street Level](https://jerseydigs.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/m-station-morristown-street-level.jpg)
The project was granted a 30-year Payment in Lieu of Taxes agreement by Morristown’s council in September. The development is expected to generate over $1 million for the town annually and SJP Properties will be contributing $2.5 million to the town’s affordable housing trust fund as part of the deal.
![M Station Morristown Outdoor Penthouse](https://jerseydigs.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/M-Station-morristown-outdoor-penthouse.jpg)
The first phase of the project, M Station East, will be built along Morris Street next to the SoFi at Morristown Station development. The initial portion includes 120,000 square feet of office space and 10,130-square feet of retail.
Expected to be completed by the fall of 2022, financial and consulting giant Deloitte will be taking approximately 110,000 square feet in M Station’s East building. Cushman & Wakefield will be leasing the project’s remaining phase, which does not yet have a timeline for construction.