On May 10, 2025, at 7:30 a.m, the Sheraton Crossroads Hotel, located just off of New Jersey Route 17 and I-287, imploded in Mahwah, New Jersey in plans of making the former hotel plot into two warehouses. The demolition, which can be seen here, took about 15 seconds to complete, and was followed by many cheers.
The “250-foot tall, 25-story” hotel, according to NJ.com, boasted “1.7 million to 4 million square feet on 140 acres of land.” The hotel, which first opened in October of 1987, was built upon the former site of the Ford Motor plant. The hotel then served as a wedding venue, business conference location, and hub for local events for the next 36 years, but it closed on December 15, 2023.
Following its two years of closure, it was first slated to be replaced with two massive warehouses in its place. Over the course of two years, the building had “been gutted and asbestos was removed,” according to NJ.com, and after the building was “determined not to have any hazardous material,” it was imploded.
Many onlookers had gathered to see the largest structure in Mahwah implode, with the road set to be closed “until the all clear [was] given following the implosion,” according to CBS News.
However, Crossroads Developers Associates, which owns the property, “amended the redevelopment plan for the site,” the Upper Saddle River Fire Department reported. The land originally being allowed “1.7 million square feet of land” and “two stories at 55 feet,” according to The Ridgewood Blog, has now been adjusted to “five stories at 125 feet, a 40-foot tall, three-story garage and a 55-foot two-story limit” for other buildings on the site on the now four million square feet of land.
Due to these amendments, complaints have arisen, as some are unhappy with the changes.
“I think the zoning stinks,” Mahwah Board member Ward Donigan said. “I think it exposes the town to a disaster.”
Any other issues of contamination or safety have reportedly been addressed, with “many of the materials in the building [having] been safely removed, including lighting,” asbestos confined to the basement and removed safely, and “Armed guards at the building around the clock,” according to Patch. The remaining “60 foot pile of concrete will be left,” and “removed over three months.”
After the building was demolished, mixed emotions arose, but some seemed to enjoy it.
“It took four years to build and it took 30 seconds to come down,” Mahwah Mayor Jim Wysocki was quoted as saying in an article on Fox. “That was the coolest thing I ever saw.” .
As plans continue to circulate regarding what will happen to the plot, Wysocki said it’s unclear what the project will actually look like, as the developer has not submitted site plans yet. He said he hopes to view the blueprints by the next meeting,” according to NJ.com.
