As redevelopment projects move through early phases of demolition and site preparation, some properties are being temporarily repurposed in ways that extend their value before construction begins.
In Fair Lawn, New Jersey, vacant structures at the future Plaza Greene redevelopment site were used by local emergency responders as a live training environment ahead of demolition activities tied to a planned mixed-use development.
The site, located at 22-01 Fair Lawn Avenue, was made available through coordination between March Construction, developers Sterling Properties and Danbro Properties, and local emergency agencies. Before construction activity begins, the existing buildings were used to simulate real-world emergency response conditions for fire and EMS personnel.
Training exercises included interior search and rescue operations, medical triage simulations, structural breach scenarios, and rooftop ventilation drills. Emergency crews also practiced coordinated response strategies across multiple building types, including former retail and banking spaces, allowing for more realistic situational training.
The temporary use of the site provided first responders with an opportunity to operate in controlled but authentic conditions that mirror challenges encountered during actual emergencies. Activities such as navigating confined interior spaces, advancing hose lines, and coordinating multi-level rescue operations were conducted under supervised conditions designed to enhance readiness.
For construction stakeholders, the collaboration illustrates how redevelopment projects can serve broader community functions before vertical construction begins. Coordinating with public safety agencies can provide additional value during pre-construction phases, while also requiring careful planning around site safety, liability, and scheduling for eventual demolition work.
The Plaza Greene development itself will ultimately replace the existing site with a mixed-use residential and commercial project featuring 145 apartment units, underground parking, and ground-floor retail anchored by a grocery tenant. Once complete, the project is expected to contribute new housing inventory and retail services to the Fair Lawn area.
The use of redevelopment sites for emergency training is becoming more common in dense suburban markets, where vacant commercial structures offer controlled environments for realistic simulations. These arrangements often require coordination between developers, contractors, and municipal agencies to ensure safety while maximizing public benefit prior to construction activity.
As housing and mixed-use development continues across New Jersey and surrounding regions, such partnerships demonstrate how construction sites can temporarily support civic preparedness efforts even before the first phase of construction begins.
Source: March Associates.
