Jim Cahill, Mayor, City of New Brunswick

City of New Brunswick Mayor James Cahill talked with Invest: about the many projects underway in the city that are helping to cultivate growth, including the development of the HELIX Center, the PLUM project, affordable housing and mixed-use developments, and investment in amenities to attract residents.

What have been some of the key highlights over the last 12 months for New Brunswick?

New Brunswick’s downtown landscape continues to evolve with exciting projects that bring even more investment and opportunity to the city.

A key example is the Jack and Sheryl Morris Cancer Center. This will be a state-of-the-art, freestanding cancer hospital at Somerset and Hardenberg Streets, featuring outpatient and inpatient capacities, along with research laboratories and healing spaces. 

The first-of-its-kind center will provide comprehensive, advanced oncology services for all types of cancers. It will be operated by the Rutgers Cancer Institute and the RWJBarnabas Health System in a 510,000-square-foot facility in New Brunswick, in the heart of New Jersey. This center will be a regional healthcare gem, providing unparalleled enhancements to the patient experience with easy access via road or rail.

Also, the first stage of the HELIX project is under construction. When complete, this high-rise will house the New Jersey Innovation Hub, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, and the Rutgers University translational research facility. There will also be ground-floor retail that will perfectly mesh with the surrounding downtown. We look forward to welcoming the first tenants.

The second phase of the HELIX project will feature Nokia Bell Labs, which will be moving from its historic headquarters in Murray Hill to New Brunswick to establish a new research and development headquarters by 2028, accommodating 1,100 employees. The groundbreaking for this exciting second phase is anticipated before the end of the year. Nokia Bell Labs is a world-renowned industrial research and scientific development organization known for pioneering innovations in telecommunications, networking, and information technology. Founded as Bell Telephone Laboratories in 1925, it has been responsible for groundbreaking advancements such as the transistor, laser, and information theory, earning multiple Nobel Prizes. Now a division of Nokia, it continues to drive innovation in areas like 6G, artificial intelligence, and next-generation networking.

In the third phase, current plans call for a 42-story, mixed-use building with 220 housing units above an office podium with other amenities supporting the city’s growing live-work-play ecosystem. Final plans for the third phase continue to evolve as we consider proposals from those interested in being part of the HELIX project.

The PLUM 2 project is also near completion. This 15-story project on Plum and Somerset Streets will provide nearby RWJBarnabas Health with 226,000 square feet of additional medical and administrative office space in the coming months. It serves as an ideal example of smart redevelopment, in which we are linking this parcel to our ever-growing medical footprint in that area.

Once home to the Sears Department Store and Auto Center, the 30-acre site along US Route 1 is being transformed into a residential complex with 700 units plus restaurants and shops. This project includes 1, 2, and 3-bedroom apartments and for-sale townhomes, many of which are already occupied. 

How are you addressing the issue of affordable housing, given the rising demand for both rental properties and homeownership in the region?

True redevelopment doesn’t just deal with new structures; its intended purpose is the creation of opportunity for our residents. As redevelopment projects continue in the city, New Brunswick has more than 400 affordable housing units in the pipeline.

With an estimated 1,500 affordable housing units for low- and moderate-income individuals and families and 1,200 public housing units throughout New Brunswick, the state is not obligating the city to build additional affordable housing, unlike many other municipalities. 

But New Brunswick continues in the quest to provide clean, safe, and affordable housing opportunities for all – regardless of their income level.

The goals of the city’s redevelopment projects have not wavered. They include:

-Delivering great services at the best cost.

-Creating jobs and putting more people to work than ever before so they can better care of themselves and their families.

-Providing more access to quality healthcare and fresh, nutritious, and affordable food. 

-Giving our children a nurturing environment and the opportunity to excel in their academic pursuits. 

-Continuing to be a city that provides people the opportunity for a better life and a community they are proud to call home; and 

-Creating homes for all income levels, including those without any income at all, so everyone can live in a clean, safe, and affordable home. 

As part of the $6 billion invested in redevelopment initiatives, some 750 new affordable homes for low- and moderate-income individuals have been developed. The types and locations run the gamut, from 50 units built for previously homeless individuals to those incorporated into projects considered to be luxury apartments, such as Skyline Towers, the Aspire, The George, the Vue, and the Premiere.

Projects with affordable housing in the pipeline include:

-Breaking ground in April 2024, Stirlingside Residences are underway and will offer 53 mixed-income units, with six designated for formerly homeless individuals. Located near downtown, this five-story development will feature sustainable design elements, a community room, and a fitness center, with completion expected by late 2025.

-Hildebrand Commons is a senior housing complex named after a beloved local reverend. This project will provide 66 fully affordable, energy-efficient senior housing units. The development will include expanded parking, community spaces and on-site supportive services. Construction is set to begin in the coming months, with completion expected by late 2026 or early 2027.

-300 units of housing will be built near the New Brunswick Train Station, at 11 Spring St., of which 60 units will be set aside as affordable housing. 

-660 units at 100 Jersey Ave. are to be built, of which 66 units are reserved for low- and moderate-income individuals and families.

-Application for 800 units at 259 George St., near Tabernacle Way, is pending. Of that number, 160 units will be set aside as affordable housing.

-Ten units of supportive-needs housing are set to be built at 45 Remsen Ave.

-Six units of supportive-needed housing are to be built at 296 Townsend St.

-A 25-story, 388-unit mixed-use development with 10% affordable housing, office space, and retail located at 90 Bayard St.

In addition, to create more housing alternatives for people of all incomes, the city continues its decades-long rehabilitation program for older housing that needs extensive renovation, allowing current residents to remain in their homes. In addition to increasing the affordable housing rolls without the need for more new construction, an added benefit includes the upgrade of the city’s current housing stock.

How is New Brunswick enhancing its appeal as a destination for new residents, especially in terms of amenities, services, and quality of life?

We have an eclectic downtown, with restaurants and bars for any taste, as well as a marketing team that coordinates programming throughout the year, from unique holiday events to our summertime Car Show series. There is always something special happening in New Brunswick, which is why our downtown was crowned as NJ’s Destination of the Year 2025 by Jersey’s Best magazine. 

Home to first-rate theaters, outstanding dining establishments, a prestigious state university, and cutting-edge health care facilities, New Brunswick surpassed stiff competition, besting fellow finalists Fort Lee, Hillsborough, Jersey City, and Madison, to take the title of Top Destination.

But our focus is not just on improving the downtown. New Brunswick is committed to the improvement of each and every neighborhood and street. 

For example, New Brunswick is always looking to improve and enhance the 17 municipal parks throughout our city. Completed in 2024, the re-imagined and re-engineered Feaster Park is a great example: The complete renovation of this five-acre park includes 16 plots for a community garden with running trails, playgrounds, basketball courts, and splash pads. 

Our next improvement project promises significant upgrades to Alec E. Baker Park, thanks to a $2.15 million state funding allocation. The park, located on Remsen Avenue, will see upgrades such as a splash pad, fitness circuit equipment, a walking/jogging path, a dog park, a picnic area, a soccer field, a basketball court, and renovations to the existing playground. 

We also broke ground on our newest addition, located at Neilson and Liberty Streets, and aptly named Liberty Park. This downtown park was previously an outdated parking garage that has since been removed and will now be transformed into a focal point for downtown recreational activities, community events, and relaxation. Other key features include a multitiered design to incorporate the slope of the property, energy-efficient solar-powered lighting, and a double slide allowing children and the young at heart to traverse from one tier to the other. 

Joyce Kilmer Park and Murphy Park are next in line for an upgrade as we begin the initial design phase for these projects.

How is the city handling infrastructure challenges as the population continues to grow?

We realized that as we continue to grow, we need to ensure we take care of our infrastructure and utilities. New Brunswick is the first in New Jersey to adopt a resolution to provide an equitable mechanism to fund necessary stormwater improvements. The long-term goal is to help mitigate complications from flooding and climate change. The city has also invested over $100 million in water utility upgrades, including the modernization of the city’s water treatment plant and the replacement of the water tower on Van Dyke Avenue. These improvements will double the plant’s treatment capacity to 24 million gallons of water per day and double the capacity of the water tower, providing greater resilience in the event of water emergencies.

How is the city working to attract a talented, qualified workforce to New Brunswick’s local businesses?

We are always focused on nurturing our local talent pool. But candidly, we have little difficulty attracting trained and talented workers, as we are a welcoming, diverse community with residents who happen to be superb employees.

The nature of our businesses attracts the best and brightest people. The hospital systems, Rutgers University, and many other high-quality businesses are magnets. With such a diversified local workforce, we can provide manpower for all employment levels: from the C-suite to service positions throughout an entire business operation. 

We are also committed to creating a thriving environment of work, live, and play, so the continued investment in all of our neighborhoods ensures we continually meet and surpass our goals. We want people to always love living in New Brunswick, and that means we need to continually find ways to improve, evolve, and excel.