Introduction

A 125-acre property with proximity to New York City, the Curtiss-Wright Manufacturing Facility accounted for more than 20 percent of the land area of the Borough of Wood-Ridge in Bergen County, NJ. The main building covered more than 30 acres alone.

THE OPPORTUNITY

Somerset Development acquired the decommissioned Curtiss-Wright aircraft manufacturing facility, an essential aircraft production facility during World War II and the namesake for “Rosie the Riveter.” As a first phase of repurposing the site, Somerset Development sought to develop a multifamily residential development inclusive of a new train station providing direct service to New York City.

THE CHALLENGE

Although a substantial tract of land, the parking lots had been constructed as tiers to address the long slope across the site. Development of the tract would necessitate extensive earthwork and retaining walls to accommodate the master plan as developed by a previous design team.

THE PS&S SOLUTION

PS&S evaluated the existing site conditions in a more responsive assessment working with the existing slopes as much as possible rather than across the slopes as was previously planned. The benefit of this planning was an extensive reduction in the amount of earthwork, reduction in the amount of retaining walls, and a 66 percent increase in the number of dwelling units that could be constructed on the property.