Silcon Group Launches Construction of Downtown Office and Retail Center in Linden

ELIZABETH – Silcon Group (www.silcongroup.net) today announced it has begun construction of a 21,000-square-foot office and retail building in the heart of downtown Linden.

Steel framing is now being erected for “Linden Promenade I,” 330 N. Wood Ave., at the site of the former Linden movie theater. When completed, the second and third stories of the structure will be leased as professional offices, increasing the number of daytime tenants along the commercial strip. The ground floor will be leased for retail space, adding more shopping opportunities within Downtown Linden.

“The key to a revitalized Downtown Linden is to bring in more bustle during daytime hours, when the restaurants and service providers are open for business,” said Carlos J. Silva, Chairman & CEO of Silcon Group of Elizabeth. “Our redevelopment project will serve as a lynchpin in the city’s efforts to recharge the downtown.”

Linden Promenade I is located adjacent to the Raymond Wood Bauer Promenade, a $4.1 million public park that features a 350-seat amphitheater, stone chess tables, bench seating, a plaza entry and decorative landscaping. The promenade, which opened this summer and offers a variety of outdoor concerts, was named after a local banker and philanthropist. It was built by Silcon Group as an accommodation to the City of Linden and the Union County Improvement Authority.

Silva said Linden Promenade I is the ideal compliment for the public park, noting it is expected to take six months to complete construction. The company is in final negotiations with professional services tenants and expect to announce the signing of leases by the end of the year.

Silva said Linden Promenade I is a key component in the city’s master plan, as it is part of a larger project the Silcon Group is undertaking. The company recently completed a 4,600-square-foot restaurant at the front of the property, known as “Linden Promenade II.” Silcon is currently in lease negotiation with a number of national and local restaurant companies for the site.

Silva said the redevelopment project sits within an ideal location – adjacent to public parking on Blancke Street, the U.S. Post Office and is in the center of a downtown undergoing revitalization. He noted the promenade is near Routes 1 and 27 and only a five-minute walk to a commuter train station, offering a 39-minute ride into midtown Manhattan.

“The promenade represents a unique public-private partnership and serves as a model for future redevelopment projects,” said Union County Freeholder Chairman Alexander Mirabella. “The City of Linden benefits by having a unique public space in its downtown and the buildings in the complex will also benefit from the outstanding location.”

The Silcon Group, New Jersey’s fastest-growing real estate developer, is an integrated, privately-held and full-service real estate company. Founded in 1992 by Carlos J. Silva, Silcon has distinguished itself through a fundamental commitment to excellence and superior service. Offering the accessibility and support of a local firm with the resources of a large development company, Silcon has the expertise and teams in place to take a project from conceptualization through approvals, to ultimate realization. Based in Elizabeth, N.J. Silcon’s portfolio spans across central New Jersey and includes commercial, retail, and residential properties for both sale and lease. More information is available at www.silcongroup.net.


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