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On Thursday, January 20th, the South Brunswick Zoning Board of Adjustment approved plans to permit the construction of a 118,772 square foot self-storage facility in the Office / Research (OR) zoning district. The Board had previously granted a “D1” Use Variance and preliminary site plan approval in August of 2021.

Chris J. Murphy, Esq. led the firm’s successful efforts on behalf of the development team, which included Joshua Kline of Stonefield Engineering, Louis Vandeloecht of GMA Architects, and Creigh Rahenkamp of Creigh Rahenkamp & Associates.

In what was a banner-year for the transactional team at Murphy Schiller & Wilkes LLP (MSW), the firm helped clients close over $1,000,000,000 in commercial real estate transactions throughout the country. Providing a full suite of legal services to the commercial real estate industry, the firm regularly represents a wide range of clients, including institutional funds, lenders, developers, family offices and private investors in connection with the most complex transactional matters.

In 2021, the firm represented the following:

• Seller/Developer in connection with $183,000,000 land sale and development agreement for industrial park property in Gloucester County, NJ.
• Purchaser of eight (8) notes in connection with $131,500,000 Mezzanine B loan.
• Developer/Borrower in connection with $113,500,000 acquisition and construction loan for purchase and rehabilitation of office portfolio in Newark, NJ.
• Developer in connection with $94,000,000 construction loan for multi-family development in Newark, NJ.
• Seller in connection with $85,000,000 sale of 392,000 SF industrial facility in Devens, MA.>
• Borrower in connection with $53,000,000 refinance of mixed-use development in East Orange, NJ.
• Purchaser of $61,400,000 loan secured by seven (7) multifamily developments located in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
• Borrower in connection with a $48,500,000 senior lien term loan secured by real estate and business assets in 4 states.
• Borrower in connection with $41,500,000 construction loan for multi-family development in Bloomfield, NJ.
• Seller in connection with $35,600,000 sale of biotech family in Florham Park, NJ.
• International bank in connection with the closing of a $27,500,000 secured revolving line of credit for New Jersey-based operating entity.
• Purchaser of $20,000,000 portfolio of three (3) commercial loans secured by properties in Colorado, North Dakota, and Texas.

Murphy Schiller & Wilkes LLP (MSW) is pleased to announce that Chris Murphy and Matthew Schiller have been named to ROI-NJ’s 2021 Influencers – Real Estate List. The list contains influential “power players” helping to shape New Jersey’s real estate industry.

In recognizing the firm, ROI-NJ stated the following: “Partners in the boutique firm (along with Kellen Murphy and Charles Wilkes), they routinely represent clients in procuring, planning, zoning and other development approvals, and help clients identify, negotiate and secure real estate and economic development incentives.”

The full list can be found here: ROI Influencers: Real Estate 2021 — Service Providers | ROI-NJ

Murphy Schiller & Wilkes LLP (MSW) is proud to announce that the firm has been recognized by U.S. News & World Report—Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” as a Metro Tier 1 law firm in Real Estate Law.

From the U.S. News – Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” 2022 Publication:

“Achieving a tiered ranking in U.S. News – Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” signals a unique combination of quality law practice and breadth of legal expertise. Ranked firms, presented in three tiers, are recognized on a national and regional-based scale. Firms that received a tier designation reflect the highest level of respect a firm can earn among other leading lawyers and clients from the same communities and practice areas.”

On Monday, November 1st, the Newark Central Planning Board approved plans in connection with the development of a 13-story mixed-use building consisting of 225 apartment units, 2,120 square feet of retail space, 59 parking spaces, and amenity spaces for residents in the Newark River Public Access and Redevelopment Plan – Mixed-Use 2 District.

Chris J. Murphy, Esq. led the firm’s successful efforts on behalf of the development team, which included Gregory Comito of Comito Associates, Tiago Duarte of Dynamic Engineering, Craig Peregoy of Dynamic Traffic, and John McDonough of John McDonough Associates.

On Thursday, October 21st, the Newark Zoning Board of Adjustment approved plans to permit the construction of a new 4-story mixed-use structure, with twenty-seven (27) residential apartments over ground floor commercial and basement parking in the R-4 (Low-rise Multifamily Residential) Zoning District.

Roosevelt J. Donat, Esq. led the firm’s successful efforts on behalf of the development team, which included Derek Garlick from Derk Garlick Architects LLC, engineer George Gloede from G. Gloede & Associates, and professional planner Matt Flynn from John McDonough Associates.

On Thursday, October 14th, the Bordentown Planning Board approved plans to permit the construction of a 104,030 square foot self-storage facility in the AH-1 Affordable Housing Overlay Zone. The Board granted Preliminary and Final Major Site Plan approval, along variance and waiver relief.

Chris J. Murphy, Esq. led the firm’s successful efforts on behalf of the development team, which included Jeffrey Martell of Stonefield Engineering, Louis Vandeloecht of GMA Architects, and Creigh Rahenkamp of Creigh Rahenkamp & Associates.

Despite continued uncertainty in the commercial real estate market due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Murphy Schiller & Wilkes (MSW) transactional practice groups have had an incredibly busy third quarter. Having closed major transactions in multiple jurisdictions over the past three months, the firm predicts an increase in transaction volume in the coming months, as clients look to close transactions before the end of the year.

We have recently represented the following:

• Seller/Developer in connection with $162,000,000 land sale and development agreement for industrial park property in Gloucester County, New Jersey.
• Seller in connection with $85,000,000 sale of 392,000 SF industrial facility in Devens, Massachusetts.
• Borrower in connection with $53,000,000 refinance of mixed-use development in East Orange, New Jersey.
• Purchaser of $20,000,000 portfolio of three (3) commercial loans secured by properties in Colorado, North Dakota and Texas.
• Purchaser in connection with acquisition of $18,150,000 portfolio of five (5) NNN Federal Express facilities in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York and Rhode Island.
• Borrower in connection with $14,850,000 refinance of industrial facility in Brooklyn, New York.
• Borrower in connection with a $10,500,000 permanent mortgage loan from a leading national life insurance company for a multifamily development in Essex County, New Jersey.
• Borrower in connection with a $8,400,000 increase to a $48,500,000 senior lien term loan secured by business assets and 11 real estate assets located in Illinois, Michigan and Arizona.
• Commercial real estate investor in connection with a $7,500,000 purchase and lease back of a Bergen County, New Jersey office property.
• Buyer in connection $5,800,000 acquisition and financing of 120-unit apartment complex in Davenport, Iowa.

On Thursday, September 23rd, the Freehold Township Planning Board approved plans in connection with proposed improvements to the Livoti’s Old World Market located at 200 Mounts Corner Drive. The Board voted unanimously to approve the planned improvements, which included the installation of an emergency generator on the property and the installation of a loading area for customer catering pickup.

Livoti’s Old World Market is a complete Italian inspired market that boasts a full bakery, produce, deli, grocery, dairy, frozen , seafood, pizza, meat, and floral department. The Market currently has four locations, including Aberdeen, Marlboro, Middletown, and most recently Freehold, which opened in 2021.

Chris J. Murphy, Esq. led the firm’s successful efforts on behalf of the project team, which included Lorali Totten from Crest Engineering Associates.