SEPTEMBER | Light the Hall

September 25th, 2025

The Future of Flemington: Envisioning A Town We All Build Together

LEFT: Councilman Jeremy Long delivers an introductory lecture. RIGHT: Liberty Village developer George Vallone.

Photo credit: Dave Norton

Councilman Jeremy Long led a different kind of "lecture" at the September 25th Lyceum. It was a discussion, lecture, and Q&A session all in one! The focus of the lecture: Two big projects on opposite sides of town that will have a profound impact on the future of Flemington. All was framed around the need for a shared vision for the town. Long stressed that understanding the past and present is essential to shaping the future.

Long highlighted two key parts of Flemington's story: economic shifts and changes in people and community. To illustrate this, the lecture experience focused on two Flemington staples undergoing a dramatic change:

Liberty Village: Once a bustling center of commerce and the first outdoor outlet mall in the US, it saw huge crowds and busloads of shoppers in the 1980s and '90s. The speaker contrasts this past with today's commerce, dominated by Amazon, UPS, and FedEx trucks, noting how people's relationships with commerce have fundamentally changed.
The Union Hotel: Described as a vital "center of people," the hotel was a gathering place for generations, though the last time a guest stayed there was reportedly in 1956. This highlights the decline of key community gathering spaces.

Long's lecture drew parallels between Flemington's experience and that of other American cities that faced similar decline after a major industry or economic engine left town: Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, Akron, Ohio, South Bend, Indiana, and Greenville, South Carolina. Flemington's story is one of American resilience. By looking at the patterns in other cities, Long asserted that Flemington can also "bounce back."

Photo by: David Norton

The Liberty Village Redevelopment Project: A Case Study in Adaptive Reuse

Developer George Vallone gave a detailed overview of the Liberty Village redevelopment project. Vallone, a veteran developer with a history of complex urban projects in Hoboken and Jersey City, explained his company's vision for the site. He shared that his decision to take on the project was heavily influenced by a market study indicating the need for at least 500 new homes in Flemington to stabilize the tax base and revitalize the local economy. Valone outlined the key features and community benefits of the project:

Housing and Density
Infrastructure and Flood Mitigation
Preservation and Community Space
Adaptive Reuse and Recycling

The Courthhouse Square Project: A Catalyst for Flemington's Future

Jack Cust, a longtime Flemington resident and developer, provided his own perspective on the borough's revitalization. Cust offered a personal history, having moved to Flemington in 1975 and establishing his CPA firm there. He revealed his connection to Flemington's past.

Cust discussed his vision for Courthouse Square, which was conceived as a "macro-level solution" to Flemington's problems. He recognized the need to not just renovate the Union Hotel, but to create a walkable town center that would connect Main Street and Spring Street. This vision, he explains, was also influenced by a county-wide economic study (the CEDS report) that identified Flemington's downtown as a key problem and highlighted the county's lack of a central college and a need for density to preserve open space. Cust described the project's key features, including:

The Union Hotel's historic 1814 building is being meticulously preserved and will house a new lobby, a steakhouse, and a family restaurant.
The "Town Center": The plan connects Main and Spring streets with a large outdoor plaza.
Mixed-Use Development
Entertainment
Strategic Partnerships

Cust and Vallone highlighted the numerous benefits of their projects for Flemington, New Jersey, focusing on housing, economic growth, and community revitalization. Both stressed that their projects are not just about building structures but about creating a vibrant, walkable, and economically sound future for the town.

Long later asked both developers a handful of questions as moderator. Audience members had quesitons and comments as well.

The speakers ended with a call to action for the community. Both Vallone and a council member emphasized the importance of public participation in council and planning board meetings. They encouraged residents to voice their support for well-conceived projects to counter the opposition that often dominates these hearings. This, they argued, is a crucial step in ensuring the continued revitalization of Flemington. The lecture concluded with a hopeful message that these two projects mark the beginning of a new era of growth and prosperity for the borough.

Long then left the audience with some questions to ponder as they left the Lyceum lecture. .