That's the essence of a land swap between the township and SJP Properties, based in Parsippany, NJ. Bridgewater's search of more than a decade to find a way to expand its municipal facilities will end, with SJP renovating the existing facility, housed in a brick, circa 1935 school building, and more than doubling its size with an addition to be built at a 90-degree angle.

The facility will house township government offices, police headquarters and possibly board of education offices. A public works building will be built behind it.

At a press conference announcing the agreement, Bridgewater Mayor James Dowden explained that with SJP footing the bill for the complex, taxpayers "will be saved at least $11.5 million." Indeed, with bonding costs, the price tag for the facility might have risen to over $20 million, according to estimates. Mayor Dowden termed the agreement "a win-win situation for everyone involved."

SJP's cut is that it will be able to add space to its adjacent Somerset Corporate Center, in the heart of one of the state's hottest development markets. From that, the township could reap as much as $1 million a year in property taxes.

The municipal complex and new office space are another step in the long-evolving plan of this sprawling Somerset County township of 45,000 to develop a "Downtown" at the confluence of I-287, US Route 22, and State Highways 202 and 206. The process began more than 20 years ago when the Ernest Hahn Co. (later TrizecHahn) developed Bridgewater Commons, a 900,000-sf regional enclosed mall, situated not far from the township's high school campus. The Rouse Co. now owns and has expanded Bridgewater Commons.

Since then, additional retail facilities have been built; SJP, Hines, Advance Realty and others have been developing major office properties immediately nearby; hotel properties are being developed; and a long list of corporate names -- most recently Aventis and Pharmacia -- have entered the picture.