What happened to The Abbey project?

And weren’t the Red Bulls supposed to build a soccer complex at the former Honeywell tract?

These two questions are heard all the time in Morris Township, about major redevelopments approved back in the pandemic.

In his newsletter this week, Township Committeeman Jeff Grayzel says both really will happen.

He states:

Both of these marquis projects have each been delayed by over a year for their own reasons. However, I am pleased to report that both projects are now ready to commence.

For the Red Bulls, who are transforming the old Honeywell office complex into a large soccer training facility, the company’s founder passed away in late 2022. That left a power gap at the company that took a while to be filled.

The Red Bulls now have shovels in the ground as they start to do grading work in preparation to install the playing fields. They will concurrently be heading back to the Planning Board to seek a reduction in the size of one of the proposed buildings along with other minor modifications to their approved plans. This hearing before the Planning Board will be heard next month, and the revised project plans will be posted online at that time.

As for Restoration Hardware, who are transforming The Abbey on Madison Avenue into a showroom and restaurant, the President of Real Estate Development had retired which put the project on hold. A replacement for that role was finally filled at the beginning of 2024 with the hiring of a new Chief Real Estate & Development Officer. RH should re-start work later this month and they project to be opening the showroom in October 2025.

Both of these projects are important “anchor projects” for our town that I hope will attract additional investment to Morris Township.

Stay tuned.