Company Owning Flemington's 'Living Wall' Facing July Auction

FLEMINGTON, NJ – The Flemington Circle Living Wall is one of nine New Jersey properties owned by Pennsylvania-based Catalyst Experiential that faces an auction July 11.

The sites were included in a foreclosure action filed last year by W.P Carey, Inc., of New York, a real estate investment company.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE FREE TAPINTO.NET NEWSLETTER

W.P. Carey sued Catalyst Experiential for defaulting on a $28 million financial deal.

The auction is being held by AuctionAdvisors of New York.

According to court records, other New Jersey sites include those in Mount Laurel, Burlington Township, Pennsauken, Merchantsville and other towns. Some of the sites, like the Flemington one, are partially constructed, while others were in planning stages.

The roadside attractions are called “monument signs” and were pitched as a way to advertise the municipalities on digital sign boards featuring photos and information, and advertising for local businesses.

DOWNLOAD THE FREE TAPINTO APP FOR MORE LOCAL NEWS. AVAILABLE IN THE APPLE STORE AND THE GOOGLE PLAY STORE .

Flemington, in 2022, approved an ordinance for the Route 202 site on the Flemington Circle that was previously an auto repair shop.

The borough at that time approved a 25-year lease on the real estate to allow site owner Flemington Land Holdings, LLC to “construct signage, a living wall, solar trees and associated site improvements.”

The borough, in return, was to be allowed to “(post) signage for eight (8) seconds every two (2) minutes to display public messaging,” the ordinance said.

The site has never been fully operational, and lately been the subject of complaints about its general appearance.

In the last month, Mayor Marcia Karrow reported to the borough council that she had complained to the owners about the tall grass and general upkeep of the property. She said the sign itself is home to birds nests.

Karrow said the borough has no liability due to the foreclosure.

The best outcome for the borough is that an experienced advertising company takes over the site after the auction.

Last year, Bridgewater entertained and then abandoned consideration of a contract with Catalyst Experiential for a similar sign on Route 202/206, south of Route 287, in the township.

The New Jersey legal action is part of similar legal woes dogging Catalyst Experiential, once based in Newtown Square, PA.

Among lawsuits filed involving the company is one filed by Catalyst against former employees accused of stealing corporate information, and a second filed by a Newtown Square plumber seeking a $12,000 payment for services.

A Catalyst Experiential website said the company has been ”permanently closed.”

For more local news, visit TAPinto.net