$60m new chapter for Livingston.

Livingston Mayor Gary S. Schneiderman rang in the beginning of a new vision for the town recently when he initiated the commencement of site work for Livingston Town Center, a new mixed-use community in the heart of Essex county.

The occasion marked the first activity at the site of this $60-million, planned urban-lifestyle suburban environment which promises to provide Livingston with a dynamic focal downtown destination.

"Today we're ready to knock down walls and begin the vision that we all share for this town," Mayor Schneider said just before ringing a bell which signaled two bulldozers to be put into motion.

Demolition of the existing vacant buildings will pave the way for the new Livingston Town Center at the intersection of Livingston and East Mt. Pleasant Avenues. In their place will emerge nearly 14 acres of retail, office and residential development.

"Livingston Town Center is designed in the Federalist style to complement several Livingston public buildings," said Peter Schofel, president Eastman Management Corp., which is developing the project in joint venture with Roseland Property Company and Jacobs Enterprises, Inc.

"The town's new hub, which will be distinguished by a signature clock tower, will serve as a gateway to Livingston and as a magnet and a desirable destination for surrounding towns."

Nearly four acres of the site closest to the intersection will become a retail village with 50,000 s/f of ground-level stores, 20,000 s/f of second-floor office space and a 228-space parking garage to complement ample surface parking. Behind it will rise Carillon at Livingston Town Center, a neighborhood of single-family village homes, townhomes with private elevators and luxury full-service condominium residences intertwined with parks and pathways. The developers anticipate occupancy of both commercial and residential components to begin sometime in 2005.