Bloomfield Lofts: 122 Homes in the Former South Junior High School on Franklin Street

The long-vacant former South Junior High School at 177 Franklin Street in Bloomfield, empty since the 1980s, is one step closer to a second life as housing. The site, known as Bloomfield Lofts, is being marketed for sale as a fully entitled 122-unit adaptive reuse project, meaning the approvals are largely in place even though no construction has started. Here is what the redevelopment means for the surrounding neighborhood and for anyone buying or selling nearby.

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What has happened so far

This is not a brand new idea. Bloomfield designated the school property an Area in Need of Redevelopment back in 2015, and in 2020 the Planning Board approved a site plan for 122 residential units plus a roughly 20,000 square foot addition planned as art studio, gallery, and amenity space. That version of the project, under the name Bloomfield Lofts, has carried approvals for years.

What is new this year is that the property is being listed for sale as an entitled development site. Marketing material pitches it as a one-of-a-kind adaptive reuse project with full land use entitlements already in place, a setup that lets a buyer move faster than a project still working through approvals.

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Why adaptive reuse matters for the neighborhood

• It turns a vacant landmark into housing. Converting a historic school into homes adds residential supply without tearing down the building's character, which is exactly the kind of project that tends to fit into an established Bloomfield block.
• It changes who is on Franklin Street. A 122-unit building brings new residents, more foot traffic, and steady demand for the shops and services nearby.
• It is still a school building first. Adaptive reuse projects can face real construction and design challenges, from historic windows to plumbing run through old classroom layouts, so timelines are often slower than a brand new build.

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What it means for homeowners and buyers

• Do not read it as an immediate change. The site is being marketed for sale and no new owner or construction start has been announced. This is a slow-moving story about the neighborhood's potential, not a project with shovels in the ground today.
• Housing supply is good news in this market. Bloomfield and Essex County remain among the tightest housing markets in New Jersey, with homes routinely selling above list price. Adding 122 units brings meaningful supply to the area.
• Watch the transfer. The key moment to follow is the sale and any revised site plan a new owner brings to the Planning Board. That is where density, parking, and design will be worked out publicly.
• Nearby owners should stay engaged. The public site plan and planning board meetings are where residents can shape parking, traffic, and design details.

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The bottom line

Bloomfield Lofts is a genuine, long-running redevelopment story that has quietly moved closer to reality as the site goes up for sale with approvals in hand. For homeowners, it is a positive signal about the neighborhood's trajectory. For buyers, it is another reason to keep Bloomfield's older residential streets on your list, where character homes meet an improving, invested community.

If you are looking near this part of Bloomfield and want to talk through what the changes could mean for your plan, I am happy to walk through it, no pressure.