The Elm Street Logistics Center sits on what was 90 acres of highly contaminated property. The former steel plant now houses a million square feet of innovative warehousing and distribution space for Home Depot—a $100 million private investment into the City. 

From the outset, it was important to the City that this former brownfield be reintegrated into the community and open the waterfront that had been inaccessible for over 100 years to residents. As a result, the final project has over a mile in new public greenways, 9 acres of open space, a state of the art amphitheater, and a new satellite office for the City’s Department of Recreation. This project is a model for how today’s industrial users can be a part of the community they’re located in and not isolated on the outskirts. This project is one block from the City’s downtown (and its amazing array of restaurants and shops) and the NJ Transit train station.

Serving as the redevelopment planner for the Perth Amboy Redevelopment Agency, Topology was able to ensure this project had minimal impacts on the community, created unforeseen benefits for the end user and community alike, all while keeping a tight timeline to secure Home Depot’s first operation of this type in the state. 

Insight: With efficient, focused project management and strong leadership from city administration, even the most difficult sites can be repurposed through effective public-private partnerships.