Photo by DI Content Studio
(WEST ORANGE, NJ) -- Following a recent landmark decision to grant approval for establishing a cutting-edge film studio in West Orange, NJ, West Orange Township Council has approved Matrix Development Group's purchase of a 12-acre tract of land, flagged for redevelopment, that will be the home to the proposed film studio, along with a new corridor connecting the film studio to the Downtown.
West Orange Mayor Susan McCartney stated, “West Orange Township is standing at a transformative threshold with this $10 million dollar investment in our Downtown. This agreement offers financial stability by bringing down our debt, generating tax-paying revenue, and works toward the necessary, needed remediation of the site. I believe this agreement will create a positive impact for our business owners and residents, and the economic vitality it will produce to effectively market ourselves as a premier film & TV production destination that will resonate for the Township for years to come.”
The land is located behind the Thomas Edison National Historical Park, near the Edison Lofts. The film studio project, a collaboration with Matrix Development Group of Monroe Township, NJ, is set on approximately 12.2 acres within the town's Film Services Overlay District. The project aims to diversify West Orange's mixed-use development and economic foundation by fostering film production activities, specifically 'studio use,' adjacent to the historic site of the world's first film production studio.
The envisioned studio will span between 150,000 and 350,000 square feet and feature three to six production stages ranging from 20,000 to 30,000 square feet each. These stages will be equipped with on-site production services, including grip and electric equipment, props, set building, location catering, cleaning services, and security. Additionally, the facility will include office and support spaces, as well as parking facilities capable of accommodating 200 to 400 cars and 30 to 60 trucks. Once fully operational, the film studio project is expected to create 300 to 600 new full-time jobs, significantly boosting the local economy.
West Orange Councilwoman Michelle Casalino, a key advocate for the development of a Downtown corridor that will connect the film studio to the heart of the Downtown, emphasized the significance of the project: “Connecting the film studio to our vibrant Downtown is a crucial step in drawing more visitors to experience and explore the exceptional small businesses and events that make Downtown West Orange so unique.”
Matrix Development Group will have 18 months to close on the property. This advance in the project enables Matrix Development to seek and secure a movie studio partner. Once the purchase is complete, MDGC will undertake the necessary environmental remediation of the property, in conjunction with the Township, which is currently investigating various sources to assist in the cleanup and remediation. Mayor McCartney, Chair of the Township's Brownfields Development Steering Committee submitted a grant application to NJ Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) in July 2024 for Brownfields remediation.
Matrix Development Group has secured redevelopment rights for this film studio project, paying $400,000 to the Township, which mirrors the expected property taxes for the year 2023. Matrix Development has committed substantial additional funds during the due diligence period to negotiate with a film studio partner and obtain the necessary state tax benefits for a viable project.
Those interested in learning more about the film studio project and investing in the Downtown West Orange area can contact Downtown West Orange Alliance Executive Director Megan Brill for more information at downtown@westorange.org.
Film Ready Community Designation: Complementing the exciting announcement of the new film studio is West Orange's recent designation as a Film Ready Community by the New Jersey Motion Picture and Television Commission (NJMPTVC), part of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA). Our designation positions West Orange to better accommodate movie and television producers, and effectively marketing ourselves as a premier film destination.
The film studio project and the Township’s recent ‘Film Ready Community’ designation signify a pivotal moment in West Orange's history, marking the dawn of a new era in cinematic innovation and economic development. The community eagerly anticipates the unfolding of this cinematic journey in the birthplace of the modern film industry.
The Downtown West Orange Alliance (DWOA) is a nonprofit organization that manages the town’s Special Improvement District. The Downtown West Orange Alliance was formed in August 1998 through the ordinance that created the Special Improvement District. Recognizing the unique contributions by the residential, historic, and commercial properties that collectively form our “downtown,” the Township of West Orange created the Special Improvement District to encourage economic revitalization of the neighborhoods of Tory Corner, Eagle Rock, and St. Mark’s, and the Valley.
The Downtown West Orange Alliance has followed the Main Street Four Point Approach™, which is a volunteer-driven, historic preservation-based, economic development program. A nationally successful model for revitalizing downtowns entirely dependent on grants, donations, and volunteer muscle, the Main Street Approach™ stresses historic preservation as the underlying design principle for the revitalization effort. Main Street efforts nationwide aim to maximize the economic potential of each historic commercial district while preserving its authentic character. For West Orange, the volunteer-led teams are critical to the success of the program and involve stakeholders – residents, business owners, and property owners – in making decisions about the future of the Downtown.
West Orange, NJ is a historic suburb less than 20 miles from Manhattan with lots of open space and old-fashioned charm, the Watchung Mountain ridges and Manhattan skyline are the backdrops for this Essex County enclave, where some 48,000 people live within its 12.5 square miles. The community boasts spectacular views of the South Mountain and Eagle Rock reservations, five-star golf courses, 12 beautiful public parks, four public tennis courts, an outdoor amphitheater, a dine-in multi-screen movie theater, a state-of-the-art public pool and recreation center, a waterfront recreation complex, a zoo, and a skating arena.
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