EMERSON—New development plans for the Armenian Nursing Home and Rehabilitation Center are under review for completeness by borough Land Use Board professionals and could come before the board this fall, officials said at the Aug. 19 council meeting.
As of Aug. 25, nothing was scheduled online for upcoming board meetings.
Borough Engineer David Atkinson of Neglia Engineering, who also serves as board engineer, said notices had been sent to all residents within 200 feet of the former nursing home to advise them of the new property development plans.
He explained that the applicant is seeking an extension of a New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) permit first approved in September 2020, which is set to expire after five years. The applicant has also made revisions to the project since that approval.
Atkinson emphasized that even if NJDEP grants an extension, it does not affect any local reviews or hearings still required. He said the application submitted for development of the 3.5-acre Armenian site was deemed incomplete by board professionals, with information still needed before a hearing can be scheduled.
He noted the application could technically be heard without an NJDEP extension, but warned that if the Land Use Board requires revisions, the applicant may need to reapply to NJDEP for additional approvals.
“All local approvals are contingent upon the applicant getting other needed permits from NJDEP,” Atkinson said, adding that there has been “lots of back and forth with the applicant” since early 2025, when the proposal was first submitted.
Atkinson said whether or not a permit extension is granted by NJDEP is “irrelevant” to the board’s review.
The Armenian Nursing Home and Rehabilitation Center, at 70 Main St., closed in April 2021 after 83 years in Emerson. Its remaining residents were transferred to other facilities.
Since then, the property has sat unoccupied, fueling speculation among residents about the owner’s plans.
Local officials, speaking on background, said last year they anticipated an application for a new assisted living facility, possibly a “continuum of care” development with rehabilitation, assisted living, nursing, and memory care services.
In January 2023, Mayor Danielle DiPaola told Pascack Press she believed the owners would soon submit plans for a state-of-the-art facility and meet with nearby neighbors to discuss the proposal.
Neither prediction came to pass.
From the outside, the 3.5-acre property — which formerly housed 85 beds — still appears well maintained, with common areas and grounds ready for use.
Efforts to reach the owners for comment were not returned by press time.
For now, residents and passersby continue to wonder what future lies ahead for one of Emerson’s most prominent properties.