TOWN TOPICS, PRINCETON, N.J., WEDNESDAY, JULY 26, 2017 • 12
Montgomery Area Life Residential, Retail, and Commercial Construction Underway in Montgomery Township and Belle Mead An upsurge in construction of residential housing and retail and commercial building is underway in the Montgomery Township and Belle Mead area. Buyers, sellers, real estate professionals, developers, and builders are all in the midst of this ongoing activity. “We have had several new communities sell out in recent years, and we have one large community that just opened its sales office this spring, so for another year or two, there will be new construction options available,” reports Joel Winer, sales associate with Callaway Henderson Sotheby’s International Realty. New housing focuses on residential communities, he adds, but a limited number of single home construction is also available. “We do have new single family homes, and there is variety. Along with the McMansions, there are smaller family homes being built. Also, a new townhouse community recently sold out, and there is also an affordable option in that community.” Unlike Princeton, teardowns are rare in Montgomery, he adds.
Important Reason The excellent school system is an important reason for the increasing development in Montgomery, points out Mr. Winer. “Most buyers are families wanting the schools, and we see most of these buyers coming from other communities in New Jersey that have school systems perceived to be lesser. “And Montgomery is a very nice community. In addition, you can get more home and land for the money in Montgomery than in Princeton.” Fox Brook at Montgomery is an example of a very successful residential community. Opened in 2015, it includes 22 executive-size houses on acre-plus wooded sites. “Fox Brook is private and wooded, with large homesites,” explains Danielle Tampier, marketing coordinator of Country Classics, the Fox Brook builder. “Large homesites for new construction are hard to find in New Jersey. We currently only have six homes remaining before the community is sold out.” School System Ms. Tampier points out that the growing reputation
of Montgomery Township as an attractive and desirable area for families and the award-winning school system continue to draw people to Fox Brook. In addition, the location between Princeton and Somerville, as well as convenient access to New York and Philadelphia, are other features contributing to its increasing popularity. Another successful residential community is Estates at Waverly Place in Belle Mead, a project by Staats Farm Road Developers LLC. This upscale community includes seven luxury homesites on one acre-plus land. Houses feature four and five bedrooms, four-and-a-half bathrooms, and three-car garages. Many other amenities and highlights are offered. A few houses are still available. Retail and commercial construction is also increasing in Montgomery and Belle Mead. According to a recent report from the Montgomery Township Planning Department, the Master Plan focuses on growth in two places along the northern-most and southern-most ends of the Route 206 corridor.
Future development at the southern end along Route 206 by Princeton Airport will require the developer to build off-site improvements to ease traffic flow around the corner of Route 518 and Route 206, notes the report. Open Space Regarding the northern section of development, known as Country Club Meadows, the report points out that it “is a mixed-use development along Route 206 in the northern end of Montgomery Township. Development will begin construction
in September. The retail portion includes Pike Run Plaza with stores anchored by a CVS Pharmacy; and Belle Mead Plaza, a mixed-use shopping center of smaller storefronts, also featuring 28 apartments above. The residential area will include a neighborhood of 108 single family homes on half-acre lots, and 40 patio homes on average 6,000-square-feet lots.” An effort has been made to balance appropriate growth while at the same time retaining open space in the area.
According to the report, “Country Club Meadows will provide needed services to local residents and provide new housing to the Township of various kinds. Completion of Belle Mead Plaza is planned for the fall of 2017, with Pike Run Plaza to follow.” In addition to residential, retail, and commercial construction, a bit further north, the area offers a new assisted living facility, All American Assisted Living at Hillsborough. Expected to open in Continued on Next Page
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