The Far Hills Center has served its community for over one hundred and fifty years, providing a home for schools, merchants and professionals to occupy and thrive. However, over the past several decades financial challenges beset its owners, leading to an unfortunate state of neglect and disrepair. Recognizing its local and historical significance, Melillo Equities deemed it vital to revive this long-dormant site to its former beauty and status as centerpiece in the town’s commercial district.
Since its early beginnings, Far Hills Center’s prominent location along NJ State Route 202 has offered tenants exceptional exposure. To the Center’s immediate south lies Moorland Farm, host to annual events such as Far Hills Steeplechase and Essex Horse Trials. The anticipated events regularly draw thousands from the tri-state area and beyond. To its north, J. Malcolm Belcher Fairground offers public open space for picnicking, cricket, and other outdoor activities. Flanking the property’s eastern border and within the “heart” of Far Hills Proper are specialty shops, services, and the borough’s NJ Transit train station offering service to Hoboken, and Penn Station in Midtown Manhattan.
The Center’s historically noteworthy characteristics have been properly preserved through the application of best-in-class practices. Original features such as its Dutch-inspired gambrel roof with gabled dormers and century-old stone foundation have all been fully restored. Vintage design upgrades including gas flame lanterns, patterned brick herringbone landings, half-round copper gutters and an exterior trim profile that remains in keeping with surrounding period architecture. While the exterior references a traditional vernacular, its interior is decidedly modern. Contemporary features within the two-story structure include expansive door and window fenestrations, cathedral ceilings, exposed hand-hewn beams, and open floorplans which may be uniquely tailored to suit a wide range of business needs. All upgrades meet or exceed today’s building standards for energy conservation, security, communication technologies, and individuals with disabilities.
The property at Far Hills Center is punctuated with indigenous plantings and bluestone pathways that lead to and from the building, encouraging pedestrian interconnectedness with other in-town destinations. Melillo Equities seeks to encourage other landowners to incorporate pedestrian-friendly design as well, creating a truly walkable village that links both patrons and residents to shops, services, and public amenities without sole reliance on vehicular means.
Our firm’s mission to redefine NJ’s suburban landscape (“Suburbanism Redefined”) begins with addressing many of the fundamental challenges encountered by municipalities. By introducing “urban” elements to suburban environments, we work to facilitate small business growth in our local communities.
