For more than seven years, Lackawanna Plaza has sat empty and idle. Montclair has waited long enough!

Move Montclair Forward! is a group of proud, forward-looking Montclairians who believe that Lackawanna Plaza’s redevelopment is critical to keeping the promise of Montclair for future generations. The promise of Montclair is that we will be a stronger community through our integrated diversity, our environmental sustainability, and our economic opportunities for all. Thoughtful developments that integrate public and private, commercial and residential - these are rare, and are hard to pull off, but they are the backdrop of a community where people connect and thrive.  This is what Montclair is and should continue to be and Move Montclair Forward! believes that the Lackawanna Plaza plan meets our high expectations.

Tell the Montclair Township Council to approve the Lackawanna Plaza plan and VOTE YES to:

...a SUPERMARKET that ends the state-declared food desert and gives Montclair residents affordable access to foods they want and need.

...hundreds of JOBS that will be created in the Montclair economy.

...the largest amount of AFFORDABLE HOUSING to be built in Montclair in 50 years. The 20 percent of the residential units that will be affordable housing will put all qualifying Montclair residents – including our SENIOR CITIZENS - first and help our community maintain its socio-economic diversity. 

...10 percent of the residences are designated as WORKFORCE HOUSING, designed for people who work and live in Montclair, providing both income-eligible workforce residents and our older Montclairians a financially sustainable way to stay in Montclair. 

…a RIGHT-SIZED, ECONOMICALLY SUSTAINABLE PROJECT that will last generations on Montclair’s largest redevelopment site. The project is an eight acre property. Montclair’s Historic Preservation Commission is recommending even taller buildings be built than the plan currently suggests, improving sight lines and pulling density away from historic structures. While there are differing opinions on height and density, ultimately, the final plan must allow for enough revenue to be generated so that it will serve the community far into the future.

...more OPEN PUBLIC SPACE. At least 20 percent of the property, 1.6 acres, will be open public space planned for people, not for cars or companies. This intentionally designed public space will bring a new kind of vitality to our town. 

...PRESERVING OUR HISTORY by keeping the station’s historic waiting room, ticketing office, terminal shed, horse watering trough, and highlighting the waiting platform stanchions. The plan even brings the past to life by bringing back an original Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Line train car that used to pull into Lackawanna Terminal.

...ENVIRONMENTALLY-SOUND DESIGN with five buildings that will minimize their carbon footprints in ways never seen before in Montclair.

...CONTAINING THE COST OF LIVING. Montclair residents are the township’s greatest source of revenue. We need the plan’s ability to generate revenue through its housing, office, and retail spaces.

Sign the petition here and add your voice to the many who want to Move Montclair Forward!

Co-authors:
Ashley Few
Dory Hack
Ann Lippel
Marina Miller
Dave Seigal
Norma Tassy