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PERTH AMBOY, New Jersey (WABC) -- A flower shop in New Jersey that has been blooming in its community for more than 100 years is closing down for good.

Petrick's Flowers, in Perth Amboy, is serving flower-lovers ahead of Valentine's Day for the last time.

The shop's current owner, William Petrick, says he has never known a life without the shop.

"Maybe I was five or six, when he was cleaning the front refrigerator," he said. "I'm trying to lift the buckets up to take to the sink. And they're probably as big as me."

Petrick's grandfather, Rudolph, opened the family-run business in 1910 after emigrating from Austria-Hungary. The original shop was built on Colgate Avenue with their home was attached to it. Petrick's father, Andrew, took over the shop, and in 1969 moved the shop to Pfeiffer Boulevard. It was in the 2000s that William Petrick got his turn to run the shop.

All throughout that time of continuing to supply flowers and plants for the community, the shop became a cornerstone for many.

"You did our wedding, you did our mother's wedding or grandmothers wedding, the funerals," said one resident. "So you've been with families for generations."

Petrick says the shop will close its doors later this year as the building has been sold and his children are following their own paths in life.

"I'm OK right now, but I'm sure when I don't come in here anymore, I'm sure I'll feel it more then," he added. "But for right now I'm still here. I'm still doing the same job."

Petrick acknowledged they don't have an exact date of when the store will close, but it'll likely be this summer after the rush of Mother's Day and Easter.

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A house in Perth Amboy that sold for $510,000 tops the list of the most expensive residential real estate sales in Perth Amboy area between February 24 and March 9.

In total, seven residential real estate sales were recorded in the area during the past two weeks, with an average price of $311,429. The average price per square foot was $294.

The prices in the list below concern real estate sales where the title was recorded from the week of February 24 to the week of March 9 even if the property may have been sold earlier.

6. $165K, single-family house at 550 Compton Ave.

The 990 square-foot single-family home at 550 Compton Ave., Perth Amboy, has been sold. The transfer of ownership was settled in February and the total purchase price was $165,000, $167 per square foot. The house was built in 1919. The deal was finalized on Feb. 12.

5. $200K, single-family residence at 683 Kosciusko Street

The sale of the single-family home at 683 Kosciusko Street, Perth Amboy, has been finalized. The price was $200,000, and the house changed hands in February. The house was built in 1942 and has a living area of 1,050 square feet. The price per square foot was $190. The deal was finalized on Feb. 5.

4. $270K, condominium at 1002 Hidden Village Drive

The sale of a condominium at 1002 Hidden Village Drive in Perth Amboy has been finalized. The price was $270,000, and the new owners took over the condominium in February. The condominium was built in 1990 and has a living area of 1,118 square feet. The price per square foot was $242. The deal was finalized on Feb. 13.

3. $410K, single-family home at 608 Brace Ave.

The property at 608 Brace Ave. in Perth Amboy has new owners. The price was $410,000. The house was built in 1929 and has a living area of 924 square feet. The price per square foot is $444. The deal was finalized on Feb. 7.

2. $460K, single-family residence at 62 New Brunswick Ave.

The property at 62 New Brunswick Ave. in Perth Amboy has new owners. The price was $460,000. The house was built in 1925 and has a living area of 1,092 square feet. The price per square foot is $421. The deal was finalized on Feb. 6.

1. $510K, single-family home at 311 Neville Street

A sale has been finalized for the single-family residence at 311 Neville Street in Perth Amboy. The price was $510,000 and the new owners took over the house in February. The house was built in 2004 and the living area totals 1,674 square feet. The price per square foot ended up at $305. The deal was finalized on Feb. 19.

Real Estate Newswire is a service provided by United Robots, which uses machine learning to generate analysis of data from Propmix, an aggregator of national real-estate data.

Plans for Sea Gate in Perth Amboy call for revitalizing a 15.75-acre stretch of waterfront property with 602 market-rate apartments, at least 5,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space on the Arthur Kill and public amenities such as a waterfront and tree-lined esplanade. — Renderings by Minno & Wasko Architects and Planners/Courtesy: City of Perth Amboy

By Joshua Burd

Kushner and city officials in Perth Amboy have taken a key step in a plan to bring more than 600 apartments and retail space to a nearly 16-acre stretch along the Arthur Kill waterfront.

The municipality and its redevelopment agency announced Friday that they have finalized agreements with the developer, noting that the project known as Sea Gate would remediate and revitalize an existing brownfield site. That includes parcels on Front, Commerce, Rector, Broad, High and Fayette streets that Kushner is buying from the city for $4.6 million, part of the estimated $200 million development that would be constructed over three years.

Minno & Wasko Architects and Planners is the project’s architect. Along with five buildings housing 602 market-rate one- and two-bedroom apartments, the plan calls for at least 5,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space on the Arthur Kill and public amenities such as a waterfront, tree-lined esplanade stretching nearly a half-mile from Front Street to the bulkhead between Smith and Washington streets, as well as a playground, landscaped plazas and a dog park for public use.

“We have been working closely with the redeveloper to create the type of plan that can benefit the entire Perth Amboy community, not just the residents of Sea Gate,” Mayor Helmin Caba said. “We are directly revitalizing unused, waterfront property and creating the type of development that will benefit Perth Amboy for years to come.”

The announcement Friday came two days after the City Council approved a payment in lieu of taxes agreement for the project, which calls for Kushner to pay the municipality about $1.2 million annually, according to a news release. The redevelopment area now generates only about $113,000 a year in net revenue, officials said, adding that the developer will contribute $1 million to Perth Amboy for affordable housing assistance.

“This project has been years in the making, and we’re excited to be working with the City of Perth Amboy to move it forward,” said Michael Sommer, chief development officer at Kushner. “Mayor Helmin Caba, the City Council and the Redevelopment Agency have provided strong leadership while working with us to shape a shared vision for the underutilized waterfront that will benefit the entire community. We look forward to taking the next steps toward turning this vision into a reality.”

In announcing the agreement, city officials said they envision Sea Gate to be a bustling community, with vans shuttling neighborhood residents to the Perth Amboy train station. Restaurants with views of the water would dot the property, complementing shops and potentially a connection to Manhattan-bound ferry service.

The agreement also includes a memorial to Thomas Mundy Peterson, a city resident who was the first African American to vote in an election following the ratification of the 15th Amendment, the news release said. He cast his vote on March 31, 1870.

“This property is a waterfront gem that has been under-used for far too long,” Tashi Vazquez, executive director of the Perth Amboy Redevelopment Agency. “There are environmental challenges that can only be handled through redevelopment with a well-capitalized private partner who can create the highest and best use of this property, fulfilling our vision.

“There is a shortage of this higher-end type of rental housing in Perth Amboy, another key reason why we are moving forward with Sea Gate,” she added. “The redeveloper is envisioning such amenities as outdoor fire pits, barbeque areas, lounge space and other recreational areas that connect the tenants and the waterfront views.”

The 15.75-acre redevelopment area, with landscaping, streetscape improvements and lighting funded by the developer, will include 909 parking spaces, the news release said.

The Perth Amboy Redevelopment Agency (PARA) and the City have finalized agreements with Kushner Companies to move forward with a $200 million plan to clean up a brownfield site and create a waterfront neighborhood, to be known as “Sea Gate.”

The project will bring to life 602 market-rate rental units in five buildings, as well as a minimum of 5,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space on the Arthur Kill.

Additionally, the redevelopment will bring numerous public amenities funded by the redeveloper, such as a waterfront, tree-lined esplanade stretching from Front Street to the bulkhead between Smith Street and Washington Street, as well as a playground, landscaped plazas and dog park for public use.

“We have been working closely with the redeveloper to create the type of plan that can benefit the entire Perth Amboy community, not just the residents of Sea Gate,” Perth Amboy Mayor Helmin Caba said. “We are directly revitalizing unused, waterfront property and creating the type of development that will benefit Perth Amboy for years to come.”

Under the agreement, the redeveloper will pay the city about $1.2 million annually as part of a long-term “payment in lieu of taxes” agreement. City officials note the redevelopment area now generates only about $113,000 a year in net revenue. The City Council approved the annual service charge agreement at its Feb. 12 meeting.

City officials envision Sea Gate to be a bustling community, with vans shuttling neighborhood residents to the Perth Amboy Train Station. Restaurants would dot the property, with views of the water, while there would be plenty of shopping to create another destination point on the water, which in the future may include a connection to Manhattan-bound ferry and possibly a marina.

To fulfill PARA’s vision for Sea Gate, the redeveloper is purchasing properties from the city for $4.6 million; the plan will include parcels on Front, Commerce, Rector, Broad, High and Fayette streets, explained PARA Executive Director Tashi Vazquez.

Kushner Companies will also be contributing $1 million to Perth Amboy for affordable housing assistance, she added.

“This property is a waterfront gem that has been under-used for far too long,” Vazquez said. “There are environmental challenges that can only be handled through redevelopment with a well-capitalized private partner who can create the highest and best use of this property, fulfilling our vision.

The 15.75-acre redevelopment area, with landscaping, streetscape improvements and lighting funded by the developer, will include 909 parking spaces. The project, with one- and two-bedroom units, is expected to be constructed over a three-year period.

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A brownfield site along the Arthur Kill is set for a cleanup – and major overhaul – that will bring 602 market-rate apartments, retail and restaurant space to the Perth Amboy Waterfront from Kushner Cos.

The Perth Amboy Redevelopment Agency announced Feb. 14 it finalized agreements with the New York-based developer to construct the five-building “Sea Gate” neighborhood. Beyond 5,000 square feet of commercial space, the project includes several public amenities funded by the redeveloper.

For Kushner, the work marks continued momentum in the Garden State. The company started a number of notable projects in 2024, among them the reimagining of the Monmouth Mall into and open-air, mixed-use property; breaking ground on the first apartments ever in Colts Neck; and expanding its Long Branch footprint to revitalize that city’s Lower Broadway area. And that’s just in Monmouth County. Last year, Kushner CEO Laurent Morali told Commercial Observer the company’s total pipeline of land being entitled, in New Jersey alone, was over 5,000 apartments.

In Middlesex County, the 15.75-acre redevelopment area will include 909 parking spaces, landscaping, streetscape improvements and lighting funded by Kushner, PARA said.

According to Perth Amboy Mayor Helmin Caba, the city worked with the redeveloper to ensure the plan contributes to the entire city – not just the project site. “We are directly revitalizing unused, waterfront property and creating the of development that will benefit Perth Amboy for years to come,” he said.

Under the agreement, the redeveloper will pay the city approximately $1.2 million annually as part of a long-term payment in lieu of taxes – or PILOT – agreement, PARA said. The Perth Amboy City Council approved the change during its Feb. 12 meeting.

City officials noted presently the area generates about $113,000 per year in net revenue.

Welcome to Sea Gate

The redeveloper will purchase properties from the city for $4.6 million, in order to bring Sea Gate to life. The plan comprises parcels on Front, Commerce, Rector, Broad, High and Fayette streets, according to PARA Executive Director Tashi Vazquez. PARA said the project will include one- and two-bedroom units. It expects construction to take place over a three-year period.

Kushner will also contribute $1 million to the city for affordable housing assistance, Vazquez said.

According to PARA’s website, current redevelopment projects in the city will remediate 300 acres. The work will also create thousands of jobs – and contribute more than $500 million of new investments in the coming years, the agency says.

At Sea Gate, the city says it envisions a lively neighborhood atmosphere.

It projected shuttles from the neighborhood to the Perth Amboy Train Station, and the potential for future ferry service or a marina. Public amenities for the project include a waterfront, tree-lined esplanade running from Front Street to the bulkhead between Smith and Washington streets; a playground; landscaped plazas; and a dog park.

A diamond in the rough

A memorial to Thomas Mundy Peterson is also included in the agreement with Kushner. A city resident, Peterson was the first African American to vote in an election following the ratification of the 15th Amendment.

“This property is a waterfront gem that has been under-used for far too long,” Vazquez said. “There are environmental challenges that can only be handled through redevelopment with a well-capitalized private partner who can create the highest and best use of this property, fulfilling our vision.

“There is a shortage of this higher-end type of rental housing in Perth Amboy, another key reason why we are moving forward with Sea Gate,” she added. “The redeveloper is envisioning such amenities as outdoor fire pits, barbeque areas, lounge space and other recreational areas that connect the tenants and the waterfront views.”

The project has not been without controversy, due to the historic areas on High Street it could eliminate as well as concerns over the PILOT agreement.