New Businesses, Bigger Park Planned for Florham Park Corner

New development plans are coming to Columbia Turnpike, including reconstructing a property that currently houses five businesses and extending Prudden Park, the Florham Park Borough Council authorized at its latest meeting.

The council approved on Aug. 16 an agreement for Florham Park Properties LLC to reconstruct the 177 Columbia Turnpike property that houses Natale's Deli, The Man Cave Salon, Afton French Cleaners, The Better Half and Luxury Nails.

The two-story building will be completely revitalized with a new design and new windows, and it will be extended with a space for four new tenants. Borough officials don't know what businesses will fill the space yet.

The property is right next to the vacant lot at the intersection of Ridgedale Avenue and Columbia Turnpike, where a to open in March. The same owner owns both of these properties.

Under the same resolution to reconstruct the Columbia Turnpike property, the borough also authorized to extend Prudden Park—which is across the street from the Little Red Schoolhouse—by 3,700 square feet.

Councilman Mark Taylor said the borough plans to extend the park across the street and connect it to the vacant lot where TD Bank is going to go. There will be a clock tower put in the middle of the space, with a brick path around all of the buildings.

The sidewalk will extend around the lot and the Columbia Turnpike property once its reconstructed.

While Taylor said he doesn't know exactly when the development will start, he said he anticipates it to begin soon. Before any reconstruction starts, the borough first needs to do a sewer line upgrade through the property.