Bridgewater, New Jersey

Project at a Glance:

• Multi-faceted project located in Bridgewater, New Jersey. Whitman worked for the seller and buyer in multiple capacities to investigate, remediate, and redevelop the property.
• Environmental concerns included USTs, asbestos, ISRA compliance, and soil and ground water characterization.

Project History

Whitman has worked on this site since 1996, when a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment was conducted for the prospective buyer, Steiner Equities Group, a New Jersey developer. Simultaneously, an extensive asbestos survey and inventory was performed for the owner, Harris Semiconductor Corporation.

In 1997, Whitman conducted an Environmental Impact Statement (also for the buyer) that evaluated the impact of the proposed development on many issues, including noise, traffic, and wildlife.

In 1998/1999, Whitman performed a major removal of underground storage tanks for Harris Corporation as part of their preparation for the sale of the property and its restoration as a regional retail and office mixed-use development.

Site History

The property was originally developed by RCA Solid State in 1955 for the design and manufacturer of semiconductors. For the next twenty years, RCA expanded the property and used it for a variety of functions, including administration, engineering, fabricating, and testing.

In 1986, the property was sold to General Electric, who consolidated the facility into its Solid State Division. In 1988, Harris Semiconductor, through its purchase of the Solid State Division of GE, acquired the property.

Redevelopment Plans

On April 15, 1999, Harris sold the property to Steiner, who demolished three of the buildings and is constructing Bridgewater Towne Center, a 550,000-square foot mixed-used retail and office center complex.

The property is centrally located to the Bridgewater office market near Routes 202, 206, and 28, about two miles south of the Somerville circle. This location makes it a prime development opportunity. The entire site is about 84 acres in size, and the existing four buildings comprise a total of 505,000 square feet.

Environmental concerns associated with the property include:

• ISRA approval
• Removal of USTs
• Asbestos characterization/removal
• Soil & groundwater contamination
• Building demolition

To assist Steiner Equities Group in facilitating the redevelopment of the property, Whitman has prepared and implemented four strategic plans that enable the developer to deal with environmental issues as they arise, without affecting the progress of the construction of the new facilities. These are:

• Contingency Plan - to be enacted if unknown hazardous materials are encountered.
• Health and Safety Plan - to guide contractors and workers in safely handling hazardous materials
• Communities Plan - to assist Steiner in conveying direct, accurate information to municipal officials and the public.
• Plan for Protecting Ground Water Monitoring Wells - to avoid damage to facilities necessary to complete the environmental remediation.

A Whitman engineer supervises the removal of a 15,000 gallon #4 heating oil tank from the property.