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Yesterday officials released more details on the greening of College Ave for Rutgers.

Here are some of the highlights - more here

• To begin in 2008, but take many years to be completed
• Two major walking corridors, which intersect in a high pedestrian activity area by the Rutgers Student Center and Brower Commons.
• Creation of new public outdoor gathering spaces, pedestrian plazas, landscaped walking corridors
• The long-range plan envisions a major new pedestrian spine called the Raritan Mall, connects campus to the Raritan River waterfront. The broad esplanade to the river will be represented by a “scarlet carpet” with integrated water features that are intended to symbolically connect the campus with the river.
• The Intercampus Transportation Hub establishes a clear transit anchor at the northern limits of College Avenue Plaza. More than a simple shelter, it is intended to serve as an architectural statement and aesthetic feature of the campus.
• The sections of College Avenue in this phase of work that will not be turned into a pedestrian plaza will be transformed into a promenade.

The first phase of the project includes constructing a new transit hub outside the student center and more landscaping in front of Brower Commons and along the sidewalks, said Antonio Calcado, the vice president of Facilities and Capital Planning.

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by Sue Epstein from The Star-Ledger

New Brunswick officials unveiled plans today for a $650 million development that eventually would include 760 residential units, office space, a four-story hotel, and a supermarket at the southern end of New Street, adjacent to the train station.

The project, which the developers call “The Pinnacle at New Brunswick Station,” would be built on 5.2 acres in phases based on changes in the real estate market. Construction is not expected to start for at least two years. The developer is still negotiating to obtain part of the tract.

“This is another stage in our downtown redevelopment - a pedestrian-friendly use that takes advantage of our mass transit hub,” Mayor James Cahill said. “It will function as a gateway to the health care campuses on the other side of the tracks.”

Voorhees-based developers Thomas Moore and Larry Levy, who created New Street Area Development LLC for the project, said they began negotiating with property owners in the neighborhood about five years ago and have acquired about two-thirds of the land they need. They are in negotiations with most of the other property owners, both residential and commercial.

The residential units would include condominiums, apartments and townhouses and loft offices designed for lawyers who “want more than regular floor-space units,” said Martin Santini, the lead architect on the project.

Santini said a 28-story building would be designed in almost a semicircle, with the other buildings on either side to “create a sense of place.” New Street would be widened and end at the complex. Pedestrian walkways would be added along the road.

Part of the project includes creating a road that connects New and Bayard streets, leading to the Middlesex County government buildings and the courthouses.

Glenn Patterson, the city’s director of planning and economic development, said the city is doing something different with this project because it has been deemed an “area of rehabilitation” instead of redevelopment area.

“What it means is that the city has no powers of eminent domain to take people’s property for this project,” Patterson said. “The developer has to negotiate with all of the property owners himself to obtain the land.”

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Looks like most of the overpasses are complete.
They are tarring the middle section of road.
They are putting up retaining walls - which look VERY plastic.

CLOSURES:
The right lane of Route 18 northbound north of New Street (near the work yard) will be closed between 9 pm and 6 am. The right lane of Route 18 southbound at the Exxon Station will be closed during this same time.

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The reconstruction of Route 18 between Route 27 and Route 1 is likely to affect anyone traveling to the New Brunswick area and Rutgers. If you’re trying to stay in the know - the NJ Department of Transportation has the latest update.

Here are the updates on their website: http://www.state.nj.us/transportation/commuter/roads/route18/