Somerville's southside renaissance may continue with developer's latest proposal
SOMERVILLE – The redevelopment of the borough's southeastern corner may continue if the Planning Board approves an apartment complex on James Street.
Foundry Holdings is scheduled for a public hearing before the Board at 7 p.m. March 13 on its proposal to build 112 units in two four-story buildings at 50 James St.
The property is in the borough's Kirby Avenue Redevelopment area that is already seeing the construction of a townhome community on the former Baker & Taylor site.
Foundry Holdings, named after the foundry that once occupied the site, is proposing 50 one-bedroom and 62 two-bedroom apartments.
The plan also calls for 100 underground parking spaces, 119 surface parking spaces and 30 bicycle spaces in each building.
A redevelopment plan for the property was approved by the Borough Council in June 2023.
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The developer is seeking a deviation from the redevelopment plan that prohibits flat roofs. The plan proposes 48% flat roofs and 52% pitched roofs.
The site is at the corner of James Street and Fairview Avenue, next to the Somerville Parc apartment community.
DGM Properties, parent company of Foundry Holdings, already has nine properties in Somerville with close to 250 apartments. Its latest project was the 116-unit Station House on Veterans Memorial Drive.
Borough officials have said the redevelopment of the James Street site is part of the borough's vision to have only residential uses in the Fairview Avenue corridor from Gaston Avenue to Adamsville Road.
Construction is continuing on the former Baker & Taylor site on Kirby Avenue on 174 townhomes in 15 two-story buildings with eight to 14 units per building.
K. Hovnanian had originally proposed more than 400 residential units on the property, but that plan was met with a groundswell of opposition from the residents in the southeastern corner of the borough.
Greg Storm, of DGM, told the Council last year that rents for the apartments have not yet been determined.
"People are looking for larger spaces," he said, adding that all the two-bedroom apartments at the Station House have been rented.
Email: mdeak@mycentraljersey.com
Mike Deak is a reporter for mycentraljersey.com. To get unlimited access to his articles on Somerset and Hunterdon counties, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: Somerville NJ southside renaissance may continue with latest plan
