Ewing's former naval facility comes down as redevelopment gets underway

Mercer County is moving closer to the delivery of new industrial options, with demolition underway at the decommissioned U.S. Naval Air Propulsion Center in Ewing Township.

KRE Group is designated redeveloper for the project. The Jersey City-based family-owned firm marked the start to work at the site April 22. Ewing Mayor Bert Steinmann, municipal officials and other dignitaries joined to celebrate. The effort paves the way for a "modern era of industrial innovation, economic opportunity and community revitalization," according to KRE Group.

The redevelopment plan includes four new buildings:

• A single-story 285,152-square-foot warehouse, and



• Three 20,000-square-foot standalone, flex structures.

 

The site will also get improvements, such as new stormwater management infrastructure, planned landscaping and lighting, a new NJ Transit bus stop, surface parking, a walking trail and roadway upgrades to Parkway Avenue. That road along with Jack Stephan Way will also get a traffic circle.

Spread across more than 26 acres, the Naval Air Propulsion Center has deteriorated since its decommissioning in 1997. From 1951 until that time, the site served as a jet engine test facility . Despite that hiatus, the location is brimming with opportunity, according to stakeholders. It is bordered by Mercer County Airport as well as a Conrail railroad line and the aforementioned Parkway Avenue and Jack Stephan Way.

"We are thrilled to embark on this revitalization effort and are proud to be the ones capable of moving this important project forward after so many years of inactivity," KRE Group President Jonathan Kushner said. "This redevelopment initiative, long championed by Mayor Steinmann, will complement the progress already made within the Redevelopment Zone while laying the groundwork for an innovative future."

'At the crossroads of history and innovation'

For Ewing, the work builds on efforts to create a vibrant Town Center. It is the second and final phase of the township's Parkway Avenue Redevelopment Plan. Adopted in 2013, and most recently amended in 2022, the blueprint has served as a catalyst for the area. It spans both the former military site as well as a one-time General Motors plant.

The mixed-use plan will include 350,000 square feet of retail and live-work space, according to Ewing .

Under the agenda, Parkway Avenue serves as the main thoroughfare of the Town Center. Its redesign includes creating an inviting, pedestrian-friendly gateway, according to the proposal.

"Today's demolition day is a long-awaited step in our redevelopment plan that promises to breathe new life into this historic property," Steinmann said. "As the bricks begin to fall, we are at the crossroads of history and innovation, and I am excited about the future."

A redevelopment plan introduced by the township in 2023 seeks to further capitalize on that momentum.

"While the General Motors site has begun construction and Naval Base nears demolition, adjacent property owners have begun to see investment opportunities avail themselves," according to the plan. "As new opportunities and creative ideas are unveiled, the Township too must provide the ability for the area immediately surrounding these major redevelopment initiatives to evolve and compliment them."

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