Construction under way at former Meyer's mall Toys 'R'Us, Babies 'R'Us to be anchor stores at Summerhill Square BY VINCENT TODARO Staff Writer For those who'd like to see signs of life at the former Meyer's shopping center site in East Brunswick, construction on a new building has finally begun. Developer Robert Pagano has broken ground on Summerhill Square, a 150,000-square-foot shopping center that will consist of three buildings, at Route 18 near Arthur Street. Many township officials and residents have been eager to see the project, which was approved by the township Planning Board in 2005, come to fruition. "It's wonderful," said Mayor William Neary. "I'm glad to see that after all these years they are starting to develop that property." The anchor stores of the new shopping mall will be a Toys "R" Us and a Babies "R" Us, according to Councilman David Stahl, who noted that the parking lot was recently ripped up and grading is now being done on the site. The Toys "R" Us and Babies "R" Us stores will be connected internally and considered a combination retailer, Neary said. Combining the stores internally is a new style for the company, officials noted. Still, the two stores will each have their own storefront and entrance. Toys "R" Us is expected to close its store in the Loehmann's Plaza, also on Route 18, in order to move to the new mall, according to Planning Board Chairman Shawn Taylor. The mall, fronting on Route 18 but with additional access from Summerhill Road, will replace the old Meyer's Shopping Center. The storefronts in the old plaza had beenmostly abandoned over the past decade. Neary said the construction of Summerhill Square is a good sign for the business climate in the township. "Once again, I think it proves Route 18 is a really great place to do business,"Neary said. "I think it's a real testament to Route 18 that in these difficult economic times we really have a low vacancy rate," Taylor said. "It's nice to have them back on the tax rolls," he said. While taxes have always been paid on the property, its current assessment is low due to its vacant, dilapidated state. Pagano, who bought the property in 2004 from the Branciforte family, came before the Planning Board several times in 2005 and 2006. Most recently, he received extension of a minor subdivision related to a portion of the site that is behind and separate from the main shopping center. The area, adjacent to Summerhill Road and Arthur Street, will have a 15,000-squarefoot retail building. Councilman Donald Klemp, who also sits on the Planning Board, said the developer has all the necessary approvals. "It's gone through a number of revisions," Klemp said of the plans. "I'mglad to see the construction actually start. I know it's been a difficultmarket.He's been trying to get this place built and it's been dragging out." Taylor said the Toys "R" Us/Babies "R" Us combination store will comprise about 64,000 square feet, and the plan is to have it in operation by late fall. Pagano told the board that he is close to finalizing a contract for a Raymour&Flanigan furniture store to operate at the mall, according to Taylor. Pagano has other clients lined up but was not ready to disclose them publicly. The new mall, which will be about 150,000 square feet over three buildings, will eventually comprise about 20 stores, Taylor said. Designed to have a Main Street-like appearance, the mall will have walkways with pavers, benches and streetlights. "We wanted to make it look like more than a regular strip mall," Taylor said. Neary noted that there will be a roadway between themall's twomain buildings so that the front parking lot can be easily connected to Summerhill Road in the rear of the shopping center. He said the separated buildings would give the mall a more "upscale" look, in addition to making it operational from both roads. "Residents can get there without going on Route 18," he noted. When completed, the property will be reassessed by the township because its value is will increase dramatically, Neary said. The higher assessment will mean more tax revenue for the township.