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Adaptive Reuse: What's Old Is New Again

TRENTON-The adaptive reuse of existing commercial space is gaining traction in development circles.

By Alyson Grala | Updated on April 06, 2009

TRENTON-With a business plan that includes revitalizing the city here, locally based HHG Development Associates LLC’s most recent project is the conversion of the former Exton Cracker Factory–the birthplace of the oyster cracker–into luxury condominiums, now known as the Cracker Factory. HHG partners David Henderson, John Hatch and Michael Goldstein purchased the property and headed up the 18-unit condominium conversion.

In addition to saving a set of six buildings, the developers also preserved various architectural features including two original 1920′s barrel-vaulted brick. The two ovens were originally the center of the baking complex, and had electrically rotating carousels. The slits in the ovens now provide a window into the unit’s kitchen and master bedroom from the spacious, loft-like living/dining space.

According to HHG principal Michael Goldstein, restoring the structure was particularly cost effective when compared to building a similar structure from the ground up. “You can’t possibly reproduce this quality of construction and the price points we achieved from doing a restoration,” he tells GlobeSt.com, adding, that the cost of doing restoration is probably one-half to one-third of what it would be to build the same quality building.

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