I hope everyone had a fantastic Halloween with family and friends. As we move closer to the holiday season, I would like to provide an update regarding the negotiations the town council has held regarding the development of a proposed edge data center and why we have decided to no longer pursue the project.
Here is some background on our decision.
Over the past two years, Moorestown has worked to revitalize a long-vacant property along New Albany Road, approximately 25 acres known as the former Pulverizer Services site, or the New Albany Business Park Redevelopment Area. The site includes Block 1400, Lots 13, 14, and 15, located south of New Albany, and Block 900, Lots 3, 7, 8, and 9, located north of New Albany Road.
The parcels have remained unused for over 20 years and have not generated any tax revenue during that time. In 2022, council designated the site as an Area in Need of Redevelopment and adopted a formal Redevelopment Plan that outlines council’s commitment to restoring the property to productive use. We believe that aligns with our redevelopment plan and limits disruption to the Lenola neighborhood.
In 2024, the township issued a public Request for Qualifications and Proposals seeking a qualified redeveloper to transform the site. After reviewing several submissions, New Urban LLC emerged as the initial preferred proposal based on its concept for an edge data center.
After both parties executed a Memorandum of Understanding, the township over the following year engaged in continuing good-faith discussions to evaluate that proposal and refine the terms of a potential redevelopment agreement.
A draft redevelopment agreement was provided this year to New Urban LLC, reflecting the initial proposed development as modified by the discussions between all parties. New Urban then returned a red-lined draft with a project description that materially changed the scope of the project. All references to a classification for the data center were removed, as was the solar array component that was to cover half of the property.
This is not the project that was initially proposed to the township. Moreover, after New Urban had previously advised the township that an agreement for payments in lieu of taxes (PILOT) would not be requested as part of the project, the returned draft of the redevelopment agreement contained a contingency requiring a PILOT arrangement.
The drastic changes to the essential terms that induced the township to enter into negotiations on a redevelopment agreement – evidenced by New Urban’s numerous, substantive revisions in the draft agreement – have resulted in the township determining it was not in taxpayers’ best interest to extend the Memorandum of Understanding with New Urban beyond Oct. 31.
While we appreciate New Urban’s engagement in the process, the township believes it is time to take a step back and reassess our options as we pursue the highest and best use for this property. My fellow council members and I remain fully committed to redeveloping this site. Returning it to productive use will not only eliminate a long-standing blight, but also strengthen the Lenola Fire District’s tax base by generating new ratables and supporting Moorestown’s local economy.
We plan to re-engage in the Request for Qualifications and Proposals process in 2026, to explore uses that serve the long-term interests of our residents and business community. Redevelopment takes patience, collaboration and community input. Thank you to every resident who has engaged with council during this process.
My colleagues and I are committed to getting this right. Together, we’ll continue building a more vibrant community by reactivating our vacant commercial areas and transforming former brownfield sites like the New Albany Business Park Redevelopment Area into assets that benefit Moorestown taxpayers.
