South Orange Breaks Ground on Former Beifus Site

In a moment that has been nearly a decade in the making -- and that some residents feared might never come -- South Orange officials joined developers Wednesday morning to ceremonially break ground for a new, luxury mixed-use building on the site of the former Beifus car dealership in the center of town.

"This is no longer the Beifus lot, this is 'The Gateway' project," said Matt Glass of the South Orange Village Center Alliance (SOVCA) as he addressed a crowd of trustees, village employees, merchants, residents and dignitaries, including Assemblywoman Mila M. Jasey (D).

After years of controversy and false starts that left the Village with a gaping hole, the new building will have 57 one- and two-bedroom residential units and 9,100 square feet of retail space on the first floor. The building, located at 9 W. South Orange Avenue next to the New Jersey Transit train station, is expected to take about a year to complete.

The project is being developed by EEA Industries, LLC and SWH Residential Partners, LLC. 

"South Orange is on the rise again," said township administrator Barry Lewis. Lewis said when he started his position at the beginning of 2012, he "couldn't escape" being asked about the Beifus lot and when something would be built there.

"Years from now we will look back on this day as one of the cornerstones of South Orange's renaissance," said Lewis.

Village President Alex Torpey echoed that sentiment, calling the occasion "a great day for South Orange."

Torpey noted that South Orange was the state's first designated Transit Village, and said, "We want to make this the premier walkable downtown in New Jersey."

Edward Ayuso, principal of EEA, which is based in South Orange, praised the town's "unique sense of community" and singled out Torpey as a "tireless advocate for the residents and businesses of South Orange."

"It doesn't get better than this site," said Joseph Langan, president of project manager River Drive Construction, noting the proximity to the train station, shops and restaurants, and SOPAC.