New Owner, Old Concerns For Lackawanna Plaza In Montclair

MONTCLAIR, NJ — A new chapter has begun for a long-running real estate development project in Montclair.

On Tuesday, Montclair-based BDP Holdings announced that it has acquired the 7.6-acre development site known as Lackawanna Plaza.

BDP Holdings provided some background information about the property in a news release:

“As the largest development site in Montclair, Lackawanna Plaza consists of two parcels separated by Grove Street. The parcel to the west side of Grove Street includes a nearly vacant enclosed mall, former supermarket and office building. The east side parcel currently serves as surface parking. Built in 1912, Lackawanna Terminal served as the Montclair Branch of the Delaware Lackawanna and Western Railroad from 1913 until 1981 and helped to establish Montclair as a location of major importance just 12 miles from New York City. The terminal was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.”

“As a Montclair resident myself, I understand both the historical and current significance of Lackawanna Plaza for the community,” said David Placek, managing partner at BDP Holdings.

Some Montclair residents might recognize Placek as the local landlord who offered his tenants a three-month break from paying their rent when the coronavirus pandemic first hit New Jersey.

There has been debate in Montclair about how Lackawanna Plaza should be developed.

For years, The Hampshire Companies and Pinnacle Companies tried to redevelop the site, which is home to a historic, former train terminal. After getting approval from the Montclair Planning Board in 2019, the companies announced that a 216,772-square-foot, mixed-use project was in the works, including residential, retail and office spaces.

There were plans to make 20 percent of the residential units "affordable housing." In addition, developers announced they landed a tenant to replace the vacant Pathmark supermarket at Lackawanna Plaza – later revealed as German chain Lidl.

• See related article: Lidl To Fill Supermarket Void At Lackawanna Plaza In Montclair

The project was expected to kick off later that year. But it hit a major roadblock when a group of local advocates launched a lawsuit to stop development, seeking to reverse the previous decision from the planning board and nix the project's site approval, sending everything back to the drawing board.

• See related article: Montclair Group's Legal Battle Over Lackawanna Plaza Continues
• See related article: Lackawanna Plaza Plans Hit Big Speed Bump In Montclair

Some local residents have also argued that there are key historic elements that need to be preserved; the site was recently put on a list of the “10 Most Endangered Historic Places in New Jersey.”

But according to Placek, BDP Holdings will be keeping Lackawanna Plaza's historical importance in mind as plans for the site evolve. And yes, a grocery store is still on the to-do list, he added.

“BDP is very excited to acquire this extraordinary property, and we look forward to realizing its full potential, which includes bringing a grocery store back to the neighborhood,” Placek said. “It's an incredible opportunity for us to bring a fresh vision to the property, while still paying homage to the history of Lackawanna Terminal.”

Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com

Don’t forget to visit the Patch Montclair Facebook page. Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site. Sign up for Patch email newsletters.