Mill Creek Mall
Encyclopedia
The Mall at Mill Creek, or Mill Creek Mall, is a one-story regional shopping mall
located in Secaucus
, New Jersey
in the New Jersey Meadowlands
. It is situated in the Harmon Meadow Plaza
complex, approximately six miles from New York City
, and is owned by Hartz Mountain Industries
. The International Council of Shopping Centers lists the mall as having a Gross leasable area
(GLA) of 400000 sq ft (37,161.2 m²).
along the environmentally-sensitive Hackensack River
by Hartz Mountain Industries
. The mall's developer had sought permission to construct a mall, office complex and condominiums at the site in the early 1980s. After the condominium portion of the proposal was removed, the plan was approved by the United States Army Corps of Engineers
in 1982, which found that Hartz Mountain's proposal would have "no significant adverse environmental impacts", with the stipulation that a 63 acres (254,952.2 m²) wetland mitigation project of higher ecological value would offset the impact of the fill at the site of the mall complex.
In 1989, the company completed rehabilitation of a 158 acre (0.63940388 km²) tidal wetland on both sides of the New Jersey Turnpike
near the mall, as compensation for its filling the space occupied by the mall. The $6 million effort was performed as part of a mitigation project approved by the Army Corps of Engineers and the United States Environmental Protection Agency
.
The 190000 square feet (17,651.6 m²) enclosed section of the mall was supposed to be closed as of October 1, 2007, as part of a redevelopment project that would replace the site with four big-box retails stores. A judge ruled in December 2007 that the four remaining tenants in what had been a 50-store mall with a food court, must vacate their stores by January 1, 2008. The tenants had sued arguing that they would suffer "considerable losses" if forced to move, a claim rejected by a judge of the New Jersey Superior Court
who argued that monetary compensation from Hartz Mountain would adequately compensate the tenants for their losses. The Kohl's department store on the site remains open.
In November 2007, the former Mill Creek Mall Site was reopened but now only five stores occupy the mall site: Kohl's, Toys R Us, Kids R Us, and TJ Maxx. Another store, The Sports Authority, opened later in the year.
judge ruled that the mall's requirement of a $1 million liability insurance
policy had to be waived to allow supporters of then-presidential candidate Ralph Nader
to distribute campaign literature. After successive appeals, the New Jersey Supreme Court
ruled in January 2000 that the insurance policy costing $665 required by the mall and the one-day per year limit on leafleting was an unreasonable burden, noting that "putting too high a price on the exercise of that freedom may destroy it."
, and is accessible via the 78 and 85 local routes, and the 190 and 320 routes, which travel to and from the Port Authority Bus Terminal
in Midtown Manhattan
.
Shopping mall
A shopping mall, shopping centre, shopping arcade, shopping precinct or simply mall is one or more buildings forming a complex of shops representing merchandisers, with interconnecting walkways enabling visitors to easily walk from unit to unit, along with a parking area — a modern, indoor version...
located in Secaucus
Secaucus, New Jersey
Secaucus is a town in Hudson County, New Jersey. As of the 2010 United States Census, the town population was 16,264. Located within the New Jersey Meadowlands, it is the most suburban of the county's municipalities, though large parts of the town are dedicated to light manufacturing, retail, and...
, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
in the New Jersey Meadowlands
New Jersey Meadowlands
New Jersey Meadowlands, also known as the Hackensack Meadowlands after the primary river flowing through it, is a general name for the large ecosystem of wetlands in northeast New Jersey in the United States. The Meadowlands are known for being the site of large landfills and decades of...
. It is situated in the Harmon Meadow Plaza
Harmon Meadow Plaza
Harmon Meadow Plaza is a shopping complex in the Meadowlands of Secaucus, New Jersey, approximately six miles from New York City. It is owned by Hartz Mountain Industries, whose corporate offices are located in the Plaza...
complex, approximately six miles from New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, and is owned by Hartz Mountain Industries
Hartz Mountain Industries
Hartz Mountain Industries is a private family-owned and -operated company known for its vast real estate holdings in the New York/New Jersey Metropolitan Area. Its former parent Hartz Mountain Corporation , was founded by German-American businessmen Max and Gustav Stern. Leonard N. Stern is...
. The International Council of Shopping Centers lists the mall as having a Gross leasable area
Gross leasable area
Gross leasable area in the retail development industry is a term applied to shopping malls, lifestyle centers, outlet malls and other retail centers to indicate the amount of floor space available to be rented...
(GLA) of 400000 sq ft (37,161.2 m²).
History
The mall was constructed on a 127 acre (0.51395122 km²) site of marshland in the New Jersey MeadowlandsNew Jersey Meadowlands
New Jersey Meadowlands, also known as the Hackensack Meadowlands after the primary river flowing through it, is a general name for the large ecosystem of wetlands in northeast New Jersey in the United States. The Meadowlands are known for being the site of large landfills and decades of...
along the environmentally-sensitive Hackensack River
Hackensack River
The Hackensack River is a river, approximately 45 miles long, in the U.S. states of New York and New Jersey, emptying into Newark Bay, a back chamber of New York Harbor. The watershed of the river includes part of the suburban area outside New York City just west of the lower Hudson River,...
by Hartz Mountain Industries
Hartz Mountain Industries
Hartz Mountain Industries is a private family-owned and -operated company known for its vast real estate holdings in the New York/New Jersey Metropolitan Area. Its former parent Hartz Mountain Corporation , was founded by German-American businessmen Max and Gustav Stern. Leonard N. Stern is...
. The mall's developer had sought permission to construct a mall, office complex and condominiums at the site in the early 1980s. After the condominium portion of the proposal was removed, the plan was approved by the United States Army Corps of Engineers
United States Army Corps of Engineers
The United States Army Corps of Engineers is a federal agency and a major Army command made up of some 38,000 civilian and military personnel, making it the world's largest public engineering, design and construction management agency...
in 1982, which found that Hartz Mountain's proposal would have "no significant adverse environmental impacts", with the stipulation that a 63 acres (254,952.2 m²) wetland mitigation project of higher ecological value would offset the impact of the fill at the site of the mall complex.
In 1989, the company completed rehabilitation of a 158 acre (0.63940388 km²) tidal wetland on both sides of the New Jersey Turnpike
New Jersey Turnpike
The New Jersey Turnpike is a toll road in New Jersey, maintained by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority. According to the International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association, the Turnpike is the nation's sixth-busiest toll road and is among one of the most heavily traveled highways in the United...
near the mall, as compensation for its filling the space occupied by the mall. The $6 million effort was performed as part of a mitigation project approved by the Army Corps of Engineers and the United States Environmental Protection Agency
United States Environmental Protection Agency
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is an agency of the federal government of the United States charged with protecting human health and the environment, by writing and enforcing regulations based on laws passed by Congress...
.
The 190000 square feet (17,651.6 m²) enclosed section of the mall was supposed to be closed as of October 1, 2007, as part of a redevelopment project that would replace the site with four big-box retails stores. A judge ruled in December 2007 that the four remaining tenants in what had been a 50-store mall with a food court, must vacate their stores by January 1, 2008. The tenants had sued arguing that they would suffer "considerable losses" if forced to move, a claim rejected by a judge of the New Jersey Superior Court
New Jersey Superior Court
The Superior Court is the state court in the U.S. state of New Jersey, with state-wide trial and appellate jurisdiction. The Superior Court has three divisions: the Appellate Division is essentially an intermediate appellate court while the Law and Chancery Divisions function as trial courts...
who argued that monetary compensation from Hartz Mountain would adequately compensate the tenants for their losses. The Kohl's department store on the site remains open.
In November 2007, the former Mill Creek Mall Site was reopened but now only five stores occupy the mall site: Kohl's, Toys R Us, Kids R Us, and TJ Maxx. Another store, The Sports Authority, opened later in the year.
Free speech issues
New Jersey state law allows individuals and organizations to distribute information at malls, subject to "reasonable requirements" placed by the mall owner. In 1996, a New Jersey Superior CourtNew Jersey Superior Court
The Superior Court is the state court in the U.S. state of New Jersey, with state-wide trial and appellate jurisdiction. The Superior Court has three divisions: the Appellate Division is essentially an intermediate appellate court while the Law and Chancery Divisions function as trial courts...
judge ruled that the mall's requirement of a $1 million liability insurance
Liability insurance
Liability insurance is a part of the general insurance system of risk financing to protect the purchaser from the risks of liabilities imposed by lawsuits and similar claims. It protects the insured in the event he or she is sued for claims that come within the coverage of the insurance policy...
policy had to be waived to allow supporters of then-presidential candidate Ralph Nader
Ralph Nader
Ralph Nader is an American political activist, as well as an author, lecturer, and attorney. Areas of particular concern to Nader include consumer protection, humanitarianism, environmentalism, and democratic government....
to distribute campaign literature. After successive appeals, the New Jersey Supreme Court
New Jersey Supreme Court
The New Jersey Supreme Court is the highest court in the U.S. state of New Jersey. It has existed in three different forms under the three different state constitutions since the independence of the state in 1776...
ruled in January 2000 that the insurance policy costing $665 required by the mall and the one-day per year limit on leafleting was an unreasonable burden, noting that "putting too high a price on the exercise of that freedom may destroy it."
Transportation
The Plaza is bound on the south by Route 3 and Paterson Plank RoadPaterson Plank Road
Paterson Plank Road is a road that runs through Passaic, Bergen and Hudson Counties in northeastern New Jersey originally lain in the colonial era. The route, connecting the city Paterson and the Hudson River waterfront, still exists...
, and is accessible via the 78 and 85 local routes, and the 190 and 320 routes, which travel to and from the Port Authority Bus Terminal
Port Authority Bus Terminal
The Port Authority Bus Terminal is the main gateway for interstate buses into Manhattan in New York City...
in Midtown Manhattan
Midtown Manhattan
Midtown Manhattan, or simply Midtown, is an area of Manhattan, New York City home to world-famous commercial zones such as Rockefeller Center, Broadway, and Times Square...
.