Rowan Celebrates Opening of Rowan Blvd. Apartments
Rowan University, SORA Holdings and the Borough of Glassboro invite the South Jersey community to join us as we celebrate the opening of the Rowan Boulevard Apartments.
Friday, August 28
10:00 a.m. – Noon
Ribbon cutting ceremony followed by tours.
The four-story apartments are located on the corner of Rt. 322 and Main Street, Glassboro. Parking for the event is available at Rowan’s Mansion Park Apartments on the corner of Main and Carpenter streets.
For more information, call 256-4240.
Years of careful planning by the Borough of Glassboro and Rowan have led to the creation of an ambitious redevelopment plan that officials believe will propel both the University and Borough forward for decades to come.
Glassboro Mayor Leo McCabe, municipal officials and Rowan President Donald Farish unveiled plans for Rowan Boulevard, the roadway being constructed at the east edge of campus to the borough’s historic downtown, at a March 2008 press conference.
The plans call for the construction a mixed-use corridor lined with shops and restaurants on the street level, topped by apartments and offices. Key anchors to the project are an apartment complex for Rowan University students, a Barnes & Nobel college superstore and a hotel.
A Public-Private-Public Partnership
While Glassboro and Rowan have a strong working relationship, Rowan Boulevard could not be possible without private investment. SORA Holdings, a commercial real estate developer, will invest more than $70 million in the construction of the bookstore and housing complex and another $15 million in the construction of a 100-room Holiday Inn Express.
Rowan will lease both the bookstore building and the apartment complex from SORA, and in the case of the bookstore, subleasing it to Barnes & Noble. The student-housing agreement has Rowan leasing the apartments for 20 years, with the University managing all residence life activities. SORA will, in turn, pay property taxes on both properties to Glassboro.
The Grand Plan
Rowan Boulevard, where the apartment complex, bookstore and hotel will be located, along with retail and office space, is only a portion of the planned redevelopment by Glassboro. The Master Plan for the Downtown Redevelopment also includes the designation of West High Street as a retail and professional services area and East High Street as an arts and entertainment district.
The Downtown Redevelopment/Rowan Boulevard project is being partially funded by $3.4 million in federal and state grants, $5 million from the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority and $1 million—to be paid over 10 years—from the Rowan Foundation for studies and expenses that will support and enhance the plan.
Glassboro officials expect the greater redevelopment plan to create 125 new retail stores and restaurants, and more than 400 new local jobs.
As Glassboro goes…
“This project addresses many of our most pressing needs,” said Farish. “Students, both prospective and current, are demanding safe, upscale apartment-style housing—which Rowan desperately needs more of. They want something to do beyond our borders, but close to campus. And, those who want or need to work while enrolled here want to have more opportunities nearby. This project provides it all.”
“Dr. Farish and I firmly believe that as Glassboro goes, so goes Rowan—and vice versa,” said Glassboro Mayor Leo McCabe. “This project will be a boon to the borough and the University, leading to a transformation many college towns will want to emulate.”
To keep up-to-date, please visit http://www.downtownglassboro.com <http://www.downtownglassboro.com> .
Ground was broken in August 2009 for a Barnes & Noble Collegiate Superstore that will be located at the center of the Rowan Blvd. corridor. The 36,000-square-foot building will be configured like a standard Barnes & Noble, complete with a Starbucks, but also will carry textbooks and Rowan apparel.
One of only two collegiate superstores in New Jersey, the store will offer more that 75,000 volumes. The café’s street presence will allow it to begin to open for extended hours, providing indoor and outdoor seating. The store is scheduled to be completed in Summer 2010.
Two buildings, four-stories each, will house 884 students in 28 one-bedroom efficiency units and 214 four-bedroom suites that will include two bathrooms, a kitchen, breakfast nook and living room area. The complex also contains exercise and weight rooms, meeting rooms, laundry facilities and a Public Safety satellite office. Phase one of the complex, 560 beds, was completed in August 2009. Phase two is scheduled to be completed by August 2010.
To keep up-to-date, please visit http://www.downtownglassboro.com.
