Brief: Borough Breaks Ground for 'Fanwood Crossing'

Fanwood Mayor Colleen Mahr and Elite Properties, of Warren, held a ground-breaking ceremony Wednesday morning for what's been heralded as the next step in the borough's downtown redevelopment: a three-story mixed-use building at the corner of Martine Avenue and South Avenue, built in a vibrant Victorian style to match the Fanwood Train Station.

“Today with one shovel in the ground, we will take a giant leap forward with our efforts of bringing to you a vibrant downtown where people will live, work and spend time with their family and friends,” Mahr said.

The building, named "Fanwood Crossing," will feature retail space on the first floor, apartment complexes on the upper levels, elevator service and other amenities. If the properties are filled and prove successful, the building could inject millions of dollars into the local economy, Mahr stated.

Assemblywoman and former Fanwood Mayor Linda Stender (D-Scotch Plains) was also on hand to celebrate the groundbreaking.

“I had a headquarters here for a while and the building was really in bad shape then,” Stender said. “So knowing that this time it will bring new life to this community is fabulous.”

Once construction begins, the project is expected to be completed within 12 to 18 months, Mahr said.

contributed to this report.