TCNJ construction to bring 250 jobs to county, union president says

With steel frames up on the $86 million Campus Town project at The College of New Jersey, the site yesterday was bustling with construction workers working hard to bring to life a new housing-retail complex that just a few months ago was a fenced-off, 12-acre patch of dirt.

At a glance, these workers could be from anywhere. But a good portion of them — 65 percent — are from the greater Mercer County area.

After a rough recession and in a competitive construction industry where jobs often go to the lowest bidder, workers expressed gratitude yesterday that they could participate in a job close to home, and that local leaders had made it possible for them to do so.

“It’s a good living. I’m happy to be here. I’m a Ewing resident for 53 years and I’m just very happy to be here,” construction worker Carl Delmonico said.

At its peak, the private-public project will provide 250 construction jobs to local residents, Wayne DeAngelo, president of Mercer-Burlington Building Trades, said yesterday at a news conference held at the Campus Town site.

The Mercer-Burlington Building Trades Council comprises 22 unions throughout the region and represents many different industry workers.

“Our members are skilled union workers who follow guidelines and complete certification programs. We pay prevailing wages and have a strong work force,” DeAngelo said.

In addition, hiring local people for local jobs “lets them live with dignity in their home community,” DeAngelo said.

When it opens in August 2015, Campus Town will become Ewing’s new town center, bringing student housing, shops and restaurants to TCNJ’s campus.

The PRC Group, which is developing the site, has already lined up many businesses — including Mexican Mariachi Grill, Red Berry Frozen Yogurt and Piccolo Trattoria, among others — that will fill in 80,000 square feet of retail space at the nine-building, 278,000-square-foot complex.

“We have a positive relationship with The College of New Jersey and appreciate that they are building, utilizing our members and helping to keep the work local,” DeAngelo said.

In addition to providing housing for 446 students in one-, two- and four-bedroom apartments built on top of first-floor retail space, Campus Town will provide an area for both college students and Ewing residents to enjoy shops and restaurants.

College spokesman Dave Muha said the project was made possible by the 2009 New Jersey Economic Stimulus Act, which allows public colleges and universities to bypass public bidding laws and make deals with private companies to build and operate campus facilities.

The PRC Group will be responsible for most of the financial obligations associated with the project, according to the project’s website.

Source: NJ.com