Nabisco Implosion Postponed Due To Permit Delay: Fair Lawn Officials

FAIR LAWN, NJ — Implosion of the former Nabisco property that was scheduled for April 15 has been postponed due to permit delay, officials said.

Implosion of the Fair Lawn Nabisco tower that was set to force evacuation of a few area homes and close Glen Rock schools for at least a day has been postponed to an undetermined date, officials said Wednesday.

Greek Development — which purchased the property for $146.5 million last fall — postponed due to delays in "efforts to fulfill all regulatory requirements and make all necessary pre-implosion arrangements," the company said.

The East Brunswick developer — which plans to put up a new structure on site — said its priority "is to ensure the safety of workers and the community and will continue transparency as it works to revise the proposed schedule."

Notification of the new implosion date will be given two weeks in advance, the Borough of Glen Rock said.

Mechanical demolition of the now-closed Nabisco cookie factory on Route 208 North began on Jan. 23. Contractor Sessler Wrecking was scheduled on April 15 to "implode" the structure, or explosively disrupt supports to allow gravity to pull the building down, Patch reported.

Sessler was to implode the structure after structural deficiencies were identified that would have "put (the firm) at risk under mechanical demolition," the report said.

In a Wednesday update, Fair Lawn police Sgt. Eric Eleshewich said the general public is asked to avoid and refrain from being in the area surrounding the demolition site on the day of implosion. No viewing area will be available to members of the public.

Road and parking lot closures, and detours will be in place, Eleshewich added.