NY Developers Recommended for Post Office Site

The following message is from the Township of Maplewood:

The Maplewood Township Committee’s Economic Development Committee has unanimously recommended L&M Development Partners of Larchmont, N.Y. as the developers for the Post Office Redevelopment Project. L&M has brought on Wilder Balter Partners of Elmsford, N.Y as a partner for this project. Both companies have extensive experience in residential and commercial developments in suburban and urban settings. The architect for the project is the firm, BeyerBlinderBelle, of New York City.

The recommendation to designate L&M as the “preferred developer” will be considered by the Maplewood Township Committee at its January 7, 2014 meeting. The recommendation is the result of a two-year process that included three community meetings and numerous meetings and hearings by the Township Committee and Planning Board. The Maplewood Village Alliance also provided significant input. The Post Office Redevelopment Plan is at http://twp.maplewood.nj.us/DocumentCenter/View/1309.

L&M’s preliminary layout of the site includes street level retail space suitable for Kings Supermarket, a ground floor level of retail spaces, and 25 apartments above. The proposed building takes up less than the full site and is situated in a way that allows for automobile and pedestrian access and parking on the railroad side (east) of the building. It is likely that the Township will retain ownership of the parking lots around the proposed building.

The project will be “green,” meeting the standards of the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. Additionally, ten percent of the apartments will meet affordability criteria as determined by the State of New Jersey. 

The Maplewood Economic Development Committee includes Mayor Vic De Luca, Deputy Mayor Kathleen Leventhal, Township Committeeman Jerry Ryan, Township Administrator Joseph Manning, Township Attorney Roger Desiderio, Township Director of Community Relations Annette DePalma, and Planning Board Chairman Tom Carlson. The following were added to the Committee to assist with the Post Office Redevelopment Project: Township Engineer Tom Malavasi, Maplewood Village Alliance District Manager Julie Doran, Architect Karen Nichols of KNTM Architects (consultant) and Retail Expert Mark Lohbauer of JGSC Group (consultant).

As the preferred developer, L&M and the Township will negotiate financial and site details. The developer must work with the Village Alliance on the design features of the building. Additionally, L&M and Kings will need to negotiate a mutually agreeable lease.