Town Center Redevelopment Application Approved

Construction of a new 660,000-square foot building at the Wayne Town Center is scheduled to begin next week.

The Planning Board unanimously approved an application to construct a new main building on the 50-acre lot. The property is located on Route 23 South near the Route 80-46 interchange.

Costco, which is located across the street, will relocate to the former Fortunoff building. Smaller stores will also be placed near Costco since it will take up approximately 60,000 fewer square feet of the building than Fortunoff did.

A Dick’s Sporting Goods store will be located on the site. Other high-end businesses and a health club will also be built.

The site suffered a steady decline since 2008 when anchor stores Old Navy, Borders Books and Music, and others left the main building one at a time. Fortunoff went bankrupt and vacated its building and the main structure was torn down. JC Penny is the only remaining store.

“It’s been lying fowl and empty for years,” said Planning Board Chairman Frank Ranalletti. “The property is already zoned and it’s there to be used. They have tenants all ready to come in. You create jobs, make the property viable, and helps pay the property taxes.”

Several restaurants and retail stores have been built on the periphery of the property in recent years.

Officials did not say when they expect the work to be completed.

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