A sprawling, long-vacant Sony plant in Pitman, New Jersey could soon give way to a $450 million film, television and recording studio district, under a proposal unveiled this week that developers say would also bring housing, a hotel and hundreds of jobs to the Gloucester County borough. The 76-acre site at 400 N. Woodbury-Glassboro Road has sat largely unused since it was sold in May 2013, and borough officials say the plan represents the most serious effort yet to put it back to work.
The proposal, from Americana Studios Holdings and Sewell-based SORA Northeast, was announced Monday, October 26, according to ROI-NJ. The outlet reports that SORA Northeast will oversee operations of the studio grounds once the project moves forward, and that the plan calls for a state-of-the-art studio complex built for television, film and recording work, alongside hospitality, dining, cultural attractions and public green space. Pitman Mayor Michael Razze told CBS News that a $450 million movie, television and production studio plan is now on the table, and that the proposal was introduced at Monday’s Pitman council meeting.
Per the same CBS News account, the developer’s master plan also includes a mixed-use village with housing, a hotel and commercial space, plus demolition of most of the existing Sony building. SORA developers describe their goal as creating a center for creativity and commerce that would complement Pitman’s revitalized downtown. Razze called the proposal the most significant step forward for the property, though he cautioned that the project is far from a done deal.
A Site That’s Sat Empty Since the CD Era
The Woodbury-Glassboro Road property has a long industrial history. According to the Courier Post, the site opened in 1960 as a CBS Records facility producing vinyl records before being converted to compact-disc production after Sony acquired the business in 1987. The property has been largely unused since it was sold in 2013, the newspaper reported. The location sits on Woodbury-Glassboro Road at Lambs Road, very close to Route 55, as 42Freeway notes…