By The historic Clark Cotton and Thread Company Mill in East Newark will be transformed into a mixed-use development, bringing hundreds of new residents to one of New Jersey’s tiniest towns.
Eight buildings that were once home to the largest thread manufacturer in the nation will be renovated and converted into a dynamic complex with 616 residential units and nearly 100,000 square feet of retail space.
Paul Jemas, the attorney representing East Newark Town Center, did not provide details on the project.
At just .11 square miles, East Newark is the second smallest municipality in New Jersey by land mass, larger only than Shrewsbury Township in Monmouth County. And with only approximately 2,600 residents, East Newark is far and away the least populous town in Hudson County.
Joseph Smith, who has served as East Newark’s mayor for the last 32 years, could not be reached for comment on the project that has been in the works for more than a decade. Dina Grilo, who upset Smith in June’s Democratic primary, also could not be reached for comment.
Built on the banks of the Passaic River in 1875, the complex is located between Passaic and Grant avenues along the Kearny border.
In addition to the extensive renovation, the redevelopment plan also calls for the construction of a four-story parking garage with a roof top terrace for recreational purposes, as well as 1,354 off street parking spaces.
Over 91,000 square feet space will be dedicated for retail and another 105,769 square feet of vacant space will be set aside for a use that has yet to be determine.
The property is part of the Thread Mill District East Newark redevelopment plan that was first adopted in 2007 and updated in 2017. According to the plan, residential projects in the redevelopment zone must have at least two-thirds of their units designated as one-bedroom apartments and no more than one third of their units classified as two-bedroom apartments.
The average size of a unit will be 1,200 square feet, the plan states.
Mills were a key factor in the formation of East Newark as a borough in 1895 and also brought an influx of Scottish and Irish immigrants to West Hudson. The Clark Cotton and Thread Company formed when two local mills merged and remained in operation until 1931.
The Clark complex had the nation’s fourth-tallest chimney. It was 335-feet tall on a 40-foot square cement base that stood until the 1980s. It took eight bricklayers and their assistants 150 nine-hour working days to complete at a cost of $30,000.
The property isn’t the only East Newark landmark getting an update. Located across Central Avenue, Top’s Diner has plans to undergo its own revamping.
In April, the owners of the beloved restaurant applied to knock down the existing building and rebuild the eatery, which was once named the best diner in America. Tops will remain one-story but will triple in square footage, increase its parking lot by 35 spaces, and hire 18 more employees.
