Just two years after the horribly designed apartments at the former police station on Dunnell opened with 50 units, the retail/housing mix at Burnet and Springfield avenues is nearing completion with a half-dozen units planned, while the controversial mixed-use project is soon to break ground at the Maplewood Village post office site with another 23 units.
There is also the 235-unit complex planned for the former PSE&G site on Boyden.
And the Township has just given initial approval to exempting the developers of that project from a 10% affordable housing requirement, which means none of the units will be for low-income residents.
Add to that the Maplewood Crossing complex that opened in recent years at 98 Burnet near DeHart Park with 126 units and that is a heavy infusion of new homes with more residents that need utilities, fire, schools and police protection.
The Township Committee on Tuesday also gave initial approval to an expansion as the Maplewood Crossing ownership, Elite Properties, says it wants to scrap a planned eight-townhouse addition and instead build a larger 25-unit apartment building.
"I guess I'm concerned with the density there and jamming people in that area," TC Member India Larrier said during the meeting when the Elite expansion was discussed. "We already have two new apartment (buildings) going up. I would have a concern with building yet another one."
The expansions come at a time when the school district has made clear that enrollment increases are a major challenge already for the upcoming budget.
The Post Office redevelopment in particular is a concern in that it has been approved and moved through the process quickly.
What's the hurry?
It is still unclear why the land, which is owned by the Township and leased to the Post Office, has to be developed into such a major project. Currently, the Township leases it for just $75,000 per year.
One would think it could be turned into a smaller project or even a park or some other less-impactful addition to the gem of Maplewood, Maplewood Village.
4 comments:
Joe -
The population of NJ is projected to increase by as much as 1 million in the next decade or so. Those people have to live somewhere. If not Maplewood, then where? Given the realities of climate change, isn't it a better idea to build lower impact multi-family housing in an inner ring 'burb with good public transit rather than encouraging more sprawl along the I-78 and I-80 corridors? Because, if we stop housing from being built in Maplewood, it doesn't mean it won't be built; it will just be built somewhere else.
Joe - I too wonder if enough thought has been given to the impact all of this development will have on our town's resources and infrastructure - in particular our schools. Although, I was aware of most of the projects you mentioned (past and present), I hadn't connected the dots. Thanks for shedding light on that.
David do you live near any of the new or proposed housing?
Post Office:
While the rendering of the new project on the JMF Properties' website, taken form the previous developer, L&M, http://jmfproperties.com/jmf-properties-preferred-by-township-committee-for-post-office-redevelopment/
appears aesthetically acceptable, except for the two-tone brick idea, quite a lot can change between concept and execution. The key to a successful building, will be the TC's ability to enforce JFM to adhere to what is approved by the Planning Board and not allow the company to implement significant changes after construction has commenced.
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