Care for East Orange’s Manufacturers Village – a haven for artists,
inventors, and entrepreneurs – entrusted to Sheldon Gross Realty
Historic, 140-year-old site recently became home to
9K-square-foot “Black Lives Matter” mural
(Click here for high-resolution image)
Pictured is Manufacturers Village owner Tracy Hubert, in a pair of images of the Black Lives Matter mural in the 140-year-old, East Orange property’s main parking area. Photo credit: Kiymora ‘Kay The Kreator’ Smith
EAST ORANGE, NJ (August 25, 2021) – It’s an honor.
Day-to-day care for Manufacturers Village – the historic, 140-year-old haven for artists, inventors, scientists, and entrepreneurs in East Orange – has been entrusted to another Essex County fixture, Sheldon Gross Realty. The company’s president, Marcy Gross, has professional expertise in property management and during her three-decade career has managed more than a million square feet of commercial and industrial space. But she’s never before handled anything like the remarkable brick structure on Glenwood Avenue that was constructed in about 1880.
“Manufacturers Village is unique,” Gross says of her client, which currently has approximately 40 tenants within its 100,000-square-feet of interior space. “There’s no other facility like it anywhere. So, in implementing an effective maintenance and security program, we’re essentially developing new processes as we go.”
Earlier this year, Manufacturers Village spearheaded a striking community initiative. Collaborating with Liquitex, the Arts Council of East Orange, and Pink Dragon Artist Syndicate, it made the largest portion of its parking lot available for the creation of a vibrant “Black Lives Matter” mural. Each of the mural’s 16 huge letters reflects the creative vision of a different, local artist.
The ribbon-cutting for this 9,000-square-foot work of art was a community celebration attended by East Orange Mayor Ted Green, Chief of Police Phyllis Bindi, several media outlets, and 300 area residents. The project is also the subject of a documentary film currently being developed by New Jersey filmmaker Kiymora Smith, of Gold Standard Productions.
For Gross, Manufacturers Village was a familiar property long before she began managing it. Her father, Sheldon Gross – the founder of Sheldon Gross Realty – began providing real estate services to the location’s owners in the ‘60s. But, the history of Manufacturers Village stretches much further back than that. Constructed during the 1880s, it served as the original corporate headquarters for Johnson & Johnson before being repurposed for manufacturing in the early 1900s.
Gross enthusiastically embraces the challenge of taking care of the historic property, and is focused on ensuring that it will continue to benefit the local and regional community.
“Because of our company’s long history with Manufacturers Village, I know how important it is to so many people,” she explains. “We’re going to safeguard it and help ensure that it’s available to people in and around East Orange for many years to come.”
Details on renting or otherwise utilizing space on the Glenwood Avenue property are available online, at https://www.manufacturersvillageartists.com/contactat.
About Sheldon Gross Realty
Based in New Jersey and also licensed in New York State, Sheldon Gross Realty, Inc. offers clients a broad array of specialized services, including office, industrial and retail brokerage; tenant representation; property and asset management; office relocation; and consulting. Founded in 1962, the firm is known for its long-term client relationships, high percentage of repeat business, and a stellar, 95 percent success rate in leasing/selling the property assignment it undertakes. Featuring an exceptional team of professionals renowned for outstanding customer service and committed to unparalleled market research, Sheldon Gross Realty addresses its clients’ corporate real estate needs on a local, regional, and national scale.
Additional information is available online, at www.sheldongrossrealty.com. A free consultation is available by calling 862.930-5714.