Bell Labs/Nokia has been a fixture in Murray Hill/Berkeley Heights since 1967. We were very disappointed to learn on Friday, through the media, that they will be leaving the campus on Mountain Avenue/Glenside Road to relocate to the new Helix facility in New Brunswick. They anticipate this move will be complete by 2028.
This morning, Mayor Angie Devaney of Berkeley Heights, and I met with the borough’s redevelopment attorney, the municipal planner, the Borough Administrator, and the Director of Planning & Development to discuss what the next steps are to make sure that the best interest of our community is being considered as Nokia leaves their campus on Mountain Avenue. While much of the property sits in Berkeley Heights, approximately 45 acres of land, that is currently undeveloped, is in New Providence. Our priority will be preserving open space, exploring recreation opportunities, protecting environmentally sensitive areas, ensuring that we meet our affordable requirements, and attracting commercial businesses that will support our community. The next round of affordable housing obligations will be released in 2025. We are looking to have a plan in place for redeveloping the property to minimize the impact on both communities ahead of the next round of affordable housing.
As we navigate through the process, we will be giving periodic updates to keep residents informed.
