Milltown hearing on plan to demolish Acme, build 190 apartments continues next month
UPDATE: The hearing is now scheduled to continue at the 7 p.m. March 16 Planning Board meeting.
MILLTOWN - The borough Planning Board will continue next month to hear a proposal to demolish Acme and the shopping center on Ryders Lane to build 190 apartments.Arisa Urban Renewal's proposal calls for the apartments to be built in six, three-story buildings with a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom units on about 8.96 acres with frontage on Ryders Lane, County Route 617, and the New Jersey Turnpike. Of the total number of apartments, 38 will be affordable units.
The plan also includes a 3,840-square-foot clubhouse, swimming pool and pocket parks.
If the project is approved, the Acme and the other stores in the shopping center will be demolished.
At Wednesday's Planning Board meeting, Kenneth Pape, attorney for Arisa, said Acme did not choose to renew its lease. When the developer the property was in the borough's Affordable Housing Overlay Zone, the developer realized it was an opportunity to satisfy the borough's affordable housing goal.
The property is part of the borough's settlement of its affordable housing litigation.
The 152 market-rate apartments includes 72 one-bedroom units, 72 two-bedroom units and eight three-bedroom units, architect David Minno said. The affordable apartments will feature seven one-bedroom units, 23 two- bedroom units and eight three-bedroom units, he said.
"Each and every one of these residential buildings has affordable units, so on site there's no discrimination," Minno said. "We've mixed it seemingly. You can't tell where an affordable unit is and where a market rate unit is."
He said most new apartment communities in New Jersey have a 15% affordable component to meek the court-ordered goals.
Four buildings will house 24 units, one building will house 36 units and one L-shaped building, with an elevator, would house 58 units, Minno said.
Access to the apartment complex will continue to be from a traffic signal at Ryders Lane opposite Stratford Place.
Construction is estimated to take two years once approvals are obtained.
The project does not include a borough property tax abatement.
Residents questioned the project's impact on the public school system, but were told the developer has no legal obligation to estimate the number of school-age children who may possibly move into the apartments.
Donna Jennings, special legal counsel to the borough and the Ford Avenue Redevelopment Agency, explained that the project will help the borough meet its affordable housing goal.
She said Arisa Urban Renewal's proposal meets the requirements of the borough's ordinance and is likely to be approved.
More:Milltown Acme, shopping center may be replaced by 190 apartments
Jennings said she believes the project is a benefit to the community.
"I think it's a terrific looking project," she said.
Arisa, headquartered on Canal Street in Manhattan, also owns the neighboring property where Target is, which is not included in the plan.
The hearing is scheduled to continue at the 7 p.m. Feb. 8 Planning Board meeting at the Municipal Building, 39 Washington Ave.
Email: sloyer@gannettnj.com
Susan Loyer covers Middlesex County and more for MyCentralJersey.com. To get unlimited access to her work, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: Milltown hearing on plan to demolish Acme, build 190 apartments continues next month
