At the base of the Route 35 Victory Bridge in Perth Amboy, work is underway to transform the city’s entry point.

Denver-based Viridian Partners‘ $110 million “Gateway” redevelopment effort got started April 9 with the demolition of a boarded-up building at 535 Smith St. Costs include acquisition, cleaning and stabilizing contaminated land parcels between the bridge, Smith Street and Riverside Drive. The area will transform to mixed-use space.

Mayor Helmin Caba was on hand for the event, along with leaders of the Perth Amboy Redevelopment Agency. According to Caba, the milestone sets the stage for a new chapter in the Middlesex County municipality, one that replaces blight with potential.

“This key entrance to our city, once tarnished by decay, is now the focal point of our redevelopment efforts,” Caba said, standing in front of an excavator. “With the collaboration of Viridian Partners and the Perth Amboy Redevelopment Agency, we are starting to witness the transformation of this critical area into a thriving, dynamic hub.”

Starting point

Officials envision a mixed-use space at the site that reflects the seaside city’s spirit and aspirations. It’s also seen as a instigator for further potential redevelopment and investment as well as economic growth.

Elsewhere in the city, the historic Perth Amboy NJ Transit rail station is undergoing a $45 million overhaul.

“Perth Amboy is poised to become a beacon of growth and opportunity,” PARA Executive Director Tashilee Vazquez said. “And the particular corner we’re focusing on today offers a blank canvas — a canvas upon which we can paint a vibrant, mixed-use community that enhances our quality of life and generates substantial tax revenue.”

On site

Upon completion, the Gateway project expects to create more than 400 long-term jobs and over $1 million in local tax revenue, according to the city.

Viridian Partners Principal Michael Cahn said the site fits in with the firm’s investment thesis, which seeks environmentally distressed properties near the Turnpike and other major roadways.

Closed for 25 years, the Smith Street site formerly housed a roofing company that manufactured asbestos shingles.

About 25 acres will house a one-story, 471,000-square-foot Class A warehouse. The city said it will restrict truck access to Riverview Drive at the Smith Street intersection. That move aims to minimize traffic in business and residential areas. Berms, buffer landscaping and other natural screens will also minimize impacts.

“What excites us about the Gateway project is its phenomenal proximity to highways; it is a perfect fit for our model of remediating complex properties,” Cahn said. “We are eager to move forward with Mayor Caba and PARA, breathing new life into the entire neighborhood and directly addressing a blighted eyesore awaiting redevelopment for decades.”

The plan includes more than 9 acres of remediated and “pad ready” land for the city at no cost. Officials will determine the best use of that space abutting the Smith Street business corridor. Caba said a future Request for Proposals will source ideas for the area.

Viridian Partners will remediate and improve another 9 acres for passive resident recreation. That area will include natural areas around Sonnaman’s Creek. Additionally, trails will lead to a hilltop lookout over the Raritan River.

Long time coming

According to Perth Amboy Housing Authority Executive Director Doug Dzema, the Gateway efforts date to 2014. The work has required Viridian to assemble 28 parcels in accordance with the redeveloper’s agreement.

“Over the past 10 years, our concentrated efforts in the Gateway Neighborhood through two revitalization neighborhood grants have resulted in substantial improvements, showcasing our ability to drive positive change,” said Dzema, who runs the nonprofit PARTNER program. “Today marks a pivotal point in our journey as we witness a major redevelopment project that symbolizes this area’s physical and neighborhood revitalization, reinstating its role as a critical entry point to our city.”

On Tuesday, Dzema also announced $400,000 New Jersey Neighborhood Revitalization Tax Credit program award.

“The work being initiated today extends beyond a mere redevelopment project; it is a testament to the collective dedication to revitalizing the Gateway neighborhood, transforming it into a hub of opportunity, community, and progress at the threshold of our city,” he said.

The city has been proactive about making sure redevelopment efforts benefit all its residents. Last summer, PARA issued the first award from its Affordable Housing Trust Fund. Locally collected developer fees funded the nearly $1 million grant.