News Release: June 11, 2002Replacing a landmark is a tricky business. In Woodcliff Lake, residents had a strong attachment to a community farm and vegetable market along Chestnut Ridge Road. To build a shopping center on that site and have the public welcome it required a design that was creatively designed and aesthetically pleasing.
The Montoro Architectural Group P.C. of Saddle River came up with just such a design. Mr. Montoro's talent and innovative approach combined with the craftsmanship of builder March Associates of Wayne have helped Tice's Corner Marketplace of Woodcliff Lake win a 2002 New Good Neighbor Award from the New Jersey Business & Industry Association.
To design the marketplace "our community leaders needed someone who fully understood the history of the site and the emotional attachment that the local public had with the old Tice Farm," said Woodcliff Lake Mayor Josephine C. Higgins, who nominated Tice's Corner. "From the beginning, Mr. (John) Montoro's design promoted and echoed the wants and the needs of the local residents."
"This is an outstanding example of a project that contributes to a community both aesthetically and economically," said NJBIA President Joe Gonzalez. "The beautiful, versatile design is one of which any town would be proud. At the same time, this project provides millions of dollars in private investment and about 500 new jobs."
The Marketplace creates the feeling of a downtown village center by using individual buildings and quaint shops, as well as amenities like decorative streetlamps and various facades and textures-all integrated by design, giving the center a "streetscape" feel.
Because Marketplace is centrally located, it must be attractive as viewed from all vantage points. This led to an unusual beautification of the rear working and loading areas.
Tice's Corner Marketplace was honored June 11 at NJBIA's Annual New Good Neighbor Awards Luncheon at the Sheraton at Woodbridge Place in Iselin.
The New Good Neighbor Awards program, now celebrating its 42nd year, recognizes newly built or renovated facilities that have created jobs and contributed to the quality of life in their communities. This year's 13 winners were selected from 45 projects that represent more than $1 billion in combined construction value and will house 13,600 permanent full-time workers.
A panel of independent judges painstakingly reviewed the projects and selected the winners based on architectural merit, jobs created and community involvement. Project nominations were made by a variety of people, including mayors, a state senator, local economic development officials and a chamber of commerce president.
