Wish-granters look to call Monroe home
Castle-like building expected to be part of ballpark complex
BY SETH MANDEL
Staff Writer

An artist’s rendering of the proposed Make-A-Wish headquarters.

Described as the first of its kind on the East Coast, a castle-like facility that would house the Make-A-Wish Foundation is being proposed for Route 33.

The nonprofit organization that helps seriously ill children plans to merge its two New Jersey locations by building a headquarters and “Wishing Place” on a yet-to-be-determined parcel that could also eventually be home to a minor league ballpark.

“This special place will inspire hope, resonate fun, create magic and bring joy to all who enter,” said foundation President and CEO Paul Huegel.

Make-A-Wish, whose current offices are in Cherry Hill and Union, hopes to break ground in Monroe next spring and finish construction in 2007.

The 20,000-square-foot facility will be built on 7 acres, likely along to the west of Perrineville Road. The land is being donated by developer Edgewood Properties. The project is part of a mixed-use development concept that calls for a minor league ballpark, retail establishments and residential housing.

The mayor-appointed Route 33 Land Development Task Force has been looking into possible sites for the complex. Chairman Joe Montanti said that a few properties are being considered. All are west of Perrineville Road along the westbound side of Route 33. He said officials may be leaning toward a 38-acre parcel at the corner of Perrineville Road and Route 33.

Although Edgewood also has property on the eastbound side of Route 33, Montanti said officials would like the Make-A-Wish building to be on the grounds of the ballpark complex.

Councilman and Planning Board member John Riggs said the township’s goal is to designate a large part of the overall project for public use. Some of the land on the property will be dedicated to open space and will include walking trails and parks.

“This means that we’re looking at the ballpark, we’re looking at an outdoor amphitheater, things like that, so that it has a great public benefit, not merely a commercial benefit,” Riggs said.

The “Wishing Place,” which will be located within the Make-A-Wish headquarters, will be designed to stimulate the imaginations of children at the facility.

The building will also contain a volunteer training and development center for over 400 volunteers, a multipurpose room for special events, bereavement counseling, staff offices, a children’s garden and a wishing well.

“The gift of this land is the most significant step to date in our realizing the dream of building a truly magical facility for the children of New Jersey,” Huegel said.

Edgewood CEO Jack Morris said he was born and raised in Middlesex County, and is honored the foundation will call the county its home.

“Make-A-Wish does amazing work on behalf of so many children in the region, and this new facility will only serve to help Make-A-Wish grant more wishes and bring priceless amounts of joy to these children,” Morris said.

Steve Kalafer, owner of the Somerset Patriots minor league baseball team, has expressed interest in operating the team that would play in the proposed stadium in Monroe. Kalafer said the Patriots participate in programs run by the Make-A-Wish Foundation, and that he is happy to again be involved with the organization.

“The Make-A-Wish Foundation is all about making dreams come true,” Kalafer said. “The donation of this property for the headquarters is a reflection of our shared commitment to improving the lives of the foundation’s special children, their families and the entire community.”

The Make-A-Wish Foundation seeks to grant wishes of children between the ages of 2 and 18 who have a life-threatening medical condition. Since its inception in 1983, the New Jersey chapter has granted over 4,100 wishes. This year, the chapter plans to grant more than 430 wishes.

The Route 33 task force recently halted its efforts to allow time for a traffic, finance and tax-impact studies to compare the proposed development with the projected impact of letting the corridor be developed in a slower, less unified manner.

The township’s negotiations with Edgewood for the acquisition of the property have been put on hold as well. Montanti said condemnation of land can be a necessary evil, but it is not likely be necessary in this case.

Riggs said that, by policy, condemnation will never be employed for the construction of retail establishments or condominiums.

“Monroe frowns on condemnation,” Riggs said. “If we can at all avoid it, we will. And if we do it, it’s going to be for the public benefit portion of the property, not for the commercial portion of the property.”

Riggs said no site plans for the Make-A-Wish Foundation building have been submitted. Concept plans have been devised, but only for the purpose of the impending studies.

He said the Make-A-Wish building will still require approval from the Planning Board and, if any zoning changes are needed, from the Township Council.

Although the foundation’s headquarters are to be a part of the ballpark complex, Riggs said it will likely be built independently of the ballpark and its associated amenities.

“The whole thing has to be approved, but I think that they decided that that’s where they want to locate, and that will be made available to them without any conditions upon approval,” Riggs said.