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Design of Newark’s Riverfront Stadium Site Development Released

Riverfront Stadium development rendering

Design details have been released on the redevelopment of the site of Bears & Eagles Riverfront Stadium, the former home of the Newark Bears

Bears & Eagles Riverfront Stadium originally opened in 1999 as the home of the Bears, then of the indepdendent Atlantic League. The Bears were greeted with solid attendance figures in their early years–and big names such as Jose Canseco, Rickey Henderson, and Jose Lima suited up for the team–but an eventual decline in attendance could not be stopped, even after the club switched over to the Can-Am League for the 2011 season. The final version of the Bears folded following the 2013 season, and all assets were liquidated, leaving the city with an asset with $14 million in debt. From there, the ballpark hosted high-school, Rutgers UniversityNewark and New Jersey Institute of Technology baseball.

In a plan that has been in the works for some time, Lotus Equity will demolish the ballpark. That will clear the way for a mixed-use development at the site, including apartments and office space. More from Bloomberg:

Lotus Equity Group named four architecture firms that will collaborate on the design for the 2.3 million-square-foot (214,000-square-meter) development, which also would have retail stores and open space, according to the preliminary plans. The site of the former Bears & Eagles Riverfront Stadium is within walking distance of trains to Manhattan and campuses of Rutgers University and the New Jersey Institute of Technology.

“We want to tap into different experts,” Ben Korman, chief executive officer of New York-based Lotus, said in an interview. “We wanted to tap the knowledge around us, and, to a degree, from around the world, for a quality middle-class workforce neighborhood. Each one will bring their own sensitivity, but ultimately work together in making it work.”

Lotus closed on its purchase of the property last November, and is working to begin construction at some point in 2018. Minno & Wasko Architects and Planners will serve as the architect of record on the development project, with Michael Green Architecture, Ten Arquitectos, and PAU also involved in the project.

Rendering courtesy PAU.

RELATED STORIES: Sale of Bears & Eagles Riverfront Stadium ClosesPlan to Demolish Newark’s Riverfront Stadium ContinuesNewark’s Riverftont Stadium Sold to DeveloperBears’ demise leaves Newark with more ballpark debtNewark Bears to liquidate assets

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