Sports facility moving to Mantua

Tuesday, July 08, 2008
By Jessica Driscoll jdriscoll@sjnewsco.com
MANTUA TWP. The township recently acquired a 16-acre redevelopment parcel on Lambs Road that will soon become the site of a sports and wellness facility.

"On July 3, the township purchased the property from Lambs Road Associates for $1.5 million and then sold the parcel to Loftus Land Acquisitions," said Phyllis Bross, the township's redevelopment counsel. "The construction of Total Turf Experience will begin shortly with probable completion in 2009."

The developers of Total Turf Experience approached the township last year about transforming the vacant property once thought to be contaminated into a facility that would include six professional-grade indoor sports fields, two full-sized outdoor fields, and an operations building that would include physical therapy, sports medicine, a karate school, a speed and agility school, a fine foods bistro and a sporting goods store.

In October, after the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection determined that the site is safe, the township committee amended its redevelopment plan to meet the project's specific needs. And on Thursday, the land transfer was completed.

"Through the efforts of the Mantua Township Economic Development Team, the township committee and the other agencies that partnered with us, we can look forward to a revitalized redevelopment area that has been underutilized for over 20 years," said Michelle Bruner, the township's economic development coordinator.

"This is something our community can be proud of."

Bross said the project could not have been nearly as successful without such strong teamwork.

"Both Total Turf Experience and Loftus Land Acquisitions assisted the township in paying back taxes owed on the property for several years, and the NJDEP offered a prospective purchaser agreement that eases our mind that the site is safe," said Bross.

"This acquisition is wonderful for the township because we've been looking for ratables to upgrade the area and we believe that this property presents one of the most exciting opportunities for the township and the county in quite some time. It is an important recreation project for the whole county and will offer something for everyone from young children to seniors."