Commissioner Evans Sees Medical School as Positive Force in Nutley’s Future
NUTLEY, NJ – Nutley Revenue and Finance Commissioner Tom Evans sees the opening of the medical school on Prism’s On3 campus as a positive force for the township.
Nutley took a significant financial hit earlier this decade when long-time corporate resident Roche Pharmaceuticals announced plans to close their North American headquarters in the Essex County township to relocate to California.
Historically, Roche was the largest employer in town, taxes paid by the company were a large portion of the township’s revenue.. Roche’s departure left the community with a significant financial hole to fill. Evans worked with country and state officials to secure state aid to make up for the drop in revenue. That state aid is only a temporary fix.
In 2016, Bloomfield based Prism Capital Partners bought the campus and began a redevelopment project that has since become one of the largest in North Jersey.
Modern Meadow, a Brooklyn-based biotechnology firm, moved into one of the buildings on the campus without much fanfare. The medical school, a joint project of Hackensack Meridian Healthcare and Seton Hall University, has become the flagship tenant of the project even before the first students arrive.
On May 30, the Governor Phil Murphy joined representatives from Hackensack Meridian and Seton Hall to official cut the ribbon of the medical school. The first students are set to begin classes on July 9.
Evans told TAPinto Nutley, “The launch of the Hackensack Meridian Medical School at Seton Hall University on the On3 campus establishes Nutley as a center for life sciences, medical research and education. We are embarking on a new future.”
As the number of faculty, staff, and students grows at the medical school, local businesses will probably see an increase in new patrons. Jason Braitsch, owner of Vilardo’s Deli on High Street told us earlier this year that they anticipate seeing in-store and delivery business coming from the On3 campus. The new owners of the Park Pub on Bloomfield Ave, just across the street from the main entrance of On3, are looking forward to students and campus employees visit the pub after its renovation.
TAPinto Nutley will continue to follow the news at On3.
Related story: Gov. Murphy cuts ribbon opening Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine at Seton Hall University
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