Central Business District, Redevelopment Zones, Inclusionary Development
Redevelopment Area Studies and Plans, Site Plan Reviews, Affordable Housing
Borough of Wharton, Morris County, Governing Body and Planning Board
The Borough of Wharton set out to revitalize its Central Business District, which is also a designated Highlands Center, through a series of redevelopment area studies and plans to provide for mixed-use and residential development.
Through the redevelopment of several sites, including a superfund site and brownfields redevelopment sites, the Borough’s vision was to infuse life and activity into vacant and abandoned industrial areas. The projects also helped the Borough meet its affordable housing obligations.
Port Oram
Port Oram Village
Clock Tower Port Oram
Port Oram Pocket Park
10 N. Main Townhouses
10 N. Main Street
Architectural Rendering - L.E. Carpenter Redevelopment Plan
Architectural Rendering - L.E. Carpenter Redevelopment Plan
Architectural Rendering - L.E. Carpenter Redevelopment Plan
L.E. Carpenter Site Before
L.E. Carpenter Site Before
L.E. Carpenter Site Before
L.E. Carpenter Site Before
L.E. Carpenter Site Before
L.E. Carpenter Site Before
170 N Main Concept
170 N Main Concept
170 N Main Site Before
170 N Main Zoning
10 N. Main Street Before
10 N. Main Street after
A drone flyover was performed in March of 2024. This footage highlights one of the projects—10 North Main Street’s completed redevelopment—showing the northern corner of the site with Main Street on the right side of the footage.
The revitalization of the Wharton Center started with the preparation of a Highlands Center and Sustainable Economic Development Plan that outlined the vision for the center area. JCA conducted one Area in Need of Redevelopment study and drafted four redevelopment area plans that resulted in five projects throughout the center area. The projects included two mixed-use buildings, three apartment buildings and several townhouses.
Overall, approximately 20,000 square feet of new retail space, 427 apartments, of which 50 will be affordable, 16 townhouses and a six-unit group home were constructed. The projects include a pocket park with placemaking signage identifying the Wharton Downtown, as well as relocation and beautification of a rail trail connecting Main Street to Route 15 commercial uses.
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TELL US ABOUT YOUR PROJECT“Jessica and her team excel at understanding our goals and objectives, providing excellent guidance through various projects, whether it’s planning, zoning, redevelopment, or simply updating our policies.”
—Jon | Former Administrator, Wharton Borough
