“We Won”: An Interview with Ron Loeffler on Edison’s Victory Over a Proposed Warehouse

Material Information

Title:
“We Won”: An Interview with Ron Loeffler on Edison’s Victory Over a Proposed Warehouse
Series Title:
Oral History of Middlesex County
Creator:
Miljkovic, Marko (interviewer)
Loeffler, Ron (Interviewee)
Espinoza-Wulach, Cristóbal ( Advisor )
Place of Publication:
Edison, NJ
Publisher:
Middlesex College
Publication Date:
Copyright Date:
2025
Language:
English
Physical Description:
[07:26] Minutes, .mp4

Subjects

Subjects / Keywords:
Community Organization -- Middlesex County (N.J.)
Middlesex County (N.J.) -- history -- Oral Histories
Genre:
oral histories ( lcsh )
Temporal Coverage:
2024 Spring ( 2019 - 2024 )
Spatial Coverage:
New Jersey -- Middlesex County
New Jersey -- Middlesex County -- Edison

Notes

Abstract:
In 2019, developers proposed constructing a 176,630-square-foot warehouse at 41 Glendale Avenue in Edison's Silver Lake neighborhood. Local Edison residents were now concerned about a rise in noise, pollution, and traffic. Residents mobilized to oppose the project. Ron Loeffler was quick to launch a GoFundMe titled "No Warehouse Silver Lake Edison" to fund legal fees and testimonies. They would go on to create a Facebook group, titled "Silverlake Edison," to better coordinate efforts and raise awareness. The Township Council responded by amending ordinances to restrict heavy truck traffic on Glendale and Silver Lake Avenues and passed a resolution requesting Middlesex County to purchase the site for open space preservation. In February 2024, after 3 years of persistent community opposition, Middlesex township acquired the 11-acre property for $12.75 million, officially preventing the warehouse construction. ( ,,,,,,,,,,, )
Abstract:
This is a transcript of an oral historical that took place as a part of the class projects for Middlesex College's History 221H in the Spring of 2025
General Note:
Recorded on 5/12/2025 This interview features an AI-generated voice that replicates the speaker’s words verbatim from the original transcript. The voice is synthetic and does not represent the actual vocal tone or identity of the interviewee. No content has been altered beyond standard editing for clarity or length.
Biographical:
2019: Initial Proposal A developer proposed building a 176,630-square-foot warehouse and distribution center at 41 Glendale Avenue, Edison, NJ, near Silver Lake Avenue. 2020: Community Mobilization Residents, concerned about potential noise, pollution, and traffic, organized opposition. They launched a GoFundMe campaign titled "No Warehouse Silver Lake Edison" to fund legal fees and expert testimonies. A Facebook group, "Silverlake Edison," was created to coordinate efforts and raise awareness. October 2020: Local Government Support The Edison Township Council amended an ordinance to restrict trucks over four tons from traveling on Glendale and Silver Lake Avenues, aiming to protect the residential area from heavy traffic associated with the proposed warehouse. ​ December 2020: Open Space Preservation The Township Council unanimously passed a resolution requesting Middlesex County to purchase the proposed warehouse site for open space preservation. October 2021: Funding Efforts Edison Township sought taxpayer assistance and grants to acquire the land off Silver Lake and Glendale Avenues to prevent warehouse development and preserve it as open space. February 2024: Resolution The township purchased the 11-acre property in the Silver Lake and Glendale Avenues area for $12.75 million, officially preventing the warehouse construction.
System Details:
Reponses delivered via Email

Record Information

Source Institution:
Middlesex College Institution
Holding Location:
Middlesex College Institution
Rights Management:
This item is licensed with the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial No Derivative License. This license allows others to download this work and share them with others as long as they mention the author and link back to the author, but they can’t change them in any way or use them commercially.