Russo Development And Woodmont Break Ground On 370-Unit Orchard House In New Jersey

• 300 Chestnut Ridge Road, Woodcliff Lake, NJ, is the site of Orchard House by Vermella, a 21-acre redevelopment by Russo Development and Woodmont Properties on part of BMW's former North American headquarters campus.
• The project will deliver 370 homes, including 297 apartments, 47 townhomes and 26 supportive housing units. A total of 74 residences will be designated as affordable.
• Plans also include 9,000 square feet of retail space, a public park and a perimeter walking trail, with roughly half the property remaining open space.

What Russo And Woodmont Are Building

Russo Development and Woodmont Properties have broken ground on Orchard House by Vermella, a mixed-use redevelopment designed to bring new housing and public amenities to Woodcliff Lake, Bergen County. The project is being developed through RW Woodcliff Lake Urban Renewal LLC and will introduce Russo's Vermella residential brand to the borough. The site previously housed a 200,000-square-foot office building on BMW's North American headquarters campus before the automaker sold the property in 2024.

What The 370 Homes Will Include

Orchard House will offer a mix of rental apartments, townhomes and supportive housing, broadening the housing options available in the area. Of the 370 residences, 74 will be reserved for low- and moderate-income renters. The mix combines luxury rentals with affordable and supportive housing, helping address local housing requirements while serving different household needs. Designed by Minno & Wasko Architects and Planners, the community will feature rooftop pools, fitness facilities, resident lounges and terrace gardens. Residents will also have access to the Vermella Social Club, which offers year-round social, culinary, wellness and recreational programming.

What The Retail And Public Space Will Add

The development includes approximately 9,000 square feet of retail space intended for restaurants, medical businesses, services and other neighborhood-oriented tenants. About half of the 21-acre site will remain open space. Plans include a new public park and a walking trail around the community's perimeter, giving residents and the wider borough access to additional outdoor amenities. The project also includes bicycle parking, electric vehicle charging stations and new infrastructure.

What The Location Means For Residents

Orchard House sits near major regional routes, including the Garden State Parkway, Route 17, Interstate 287 and the New York State Thruway. Woodcliff Lake also has access to NJ Transit's Pascack Valley Line, which connects with Secaucus Junction for service to New York Penn Station. The location provides access to employment centers and shopping destinations across northern New Jersey and the New York metropolitan area. The combination of housing, retail and public space could also bring more activity to the surrounding area.

What Comes Next For Orchard House

The groundbreaking marks the start of construction following municipal approvals. The project adds another substantial mixed-use residential development to Bergen County, with a combination of market-rate rentals, affordable homes, retail and publicly accessible green space. For investors and landlords, Orchard House highlights continued redevelopment of former corporate properties into residential communities, particularly where housing demand and public amenities can support a new use for underutilized sites.