"This is an extremely complex project, one that requires the master developer to have expertise in developing retail and housing, as well as sports and entertainment facilities," says Rowan president Donald Farish in a prepared statement. "The Milestone team had the right combination of talent and experience."
The selection of Milestone, which will manage the project's development out of its New York City office, sets off a two-month negotiation period for the developer and the university to cut a final deal. The university, which is state-supported, is also currently negotiating with Major League Soccer relating to a team to occupy the proposed 20,000-seat soccer stadium.
Besides the stadium, the general site plan for West Campus, as the project is being called, includes a 10,000-seat basketball and hockey arena; a 10,000-seat football stadium; a 2,000-seat fieldhouse; fields for baseball, softball and lacrosse; practice fields; and an aquatics center. The plan also calls for a hotel, a mix of commercial and retail space and housing for about 3,000 students, or about one-quarter of the university's student body.
"This is an opportunity to transform Rowan which will, in turn, help transform the region," says Jeffrey Goldberg, Milestone managing partner. "This will be an important economic cornerstone for the entire South Jersey region."
The site, which straddles this city's border with Harrison Twp., was acquired in part through the use of eminent domain, and was originally proposed for a Wal-Mart Supercenter. The property also lies just to the south of South Jersey Technology Park, the first phase of which is just under construction. Part of the larger plan for Rowan is that the university will move its current on-campus athletic facilities to the new West Campus, freeing up space on the main campus for new academic buildings, according to Farish.
Among the various architectural, design, planning and construction firms assembled by Milestone for the project are EDAW, Brailsford & Dunleavy, HLW, Wells Associates, Rossetti Associates and Taylor Wiseman & Taylor. Separately and combined they've done projects for a number of colleges and professional organizations including, in New Jersey, Rutgers University.
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