Gov. addresses state developers group
NAIOP supports controversial Route 92 project
BY CHARLES W. KIM
Staff Writer, North/South Brunswick Sentinel, March 11, 2004
NEW BRUNSWICK: Gov. James McGreevey
told a commercial developers group last week that they play an
important part in the state's economy.
"You are the salespeople for the state
of New Jersey," McGreevey told some of the 430 members of the
National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (NAIOP) during
a conference at the Hyatt hotel in New Brunswick last week.
The New Jersey chapter of the national organization was formed in 1970.
The national organization has 49 chapters and 11,000 members, according
to the organization.
Chapter Executive Director Mike McGuinness said that the organization
works with investors, owners and developers in the United States and
Canada to help guide public policy and assist in the state's economic
development.
"Our purpose is to protect commercial developers in New Jersey,"
McGuinness said.
NAIOP President Alex Klatskin, who works with his father, Charles
Klatskin of Forsgate Industrial Properties, said that the group is
working throughout the state to solve development issues.
"We intend to work with the
(McGreevey) administration," Klatskin said.
Klatskin and his father have developed
several commercial sites in the region, including warehousing along
Route 130 near the New Jersey Turnpike exit 8A.
"8A is a strong market," Klatskin said.
According to Klatskin, the centralized location of that exit in the
state make it a natural for this kind of development. Klatskin said
that the area could hold a total of 50 million square feet of
warehousing and office space, and that another 10 million-15 million
square feet of building needs to be finished before the area is fully
developed.
"After that, it would be finished," Klatskin said.
Klatskin also said that the NAIOP
supports the turnpike's plan to build the controversial Route 92
project through South Brunswick.
That project, estimated to cost $400 million, would build a 6.7 mile
toll road from exit 8A to Route 1 near Kingston.
Plainsboro and Princeton townships both support the plan, while South
Brunswick and other neighbors vehemently oppose the project.