Springfield Ave. Developer Gets One Last Chance

Video Credit: The Maplewoodian

Maplewood Mayor Victor De Luca and the Maplewood Township Committee is giving developer Daibes Gas one last chance to get their affairs in order before bidding the project over to another company.

The company has been set to redevelop 116 Springfield Ave., the site of a former auto body shop, since 2010, but still does not have the proper building permits to move ahead on the project.

According to the maplewoodian, the project was slated to have more than 5,700 square feet of retail on the first floor, along with six apartment units on a second floor. 

A vote came before the Township Committee to terminate the redevelopment agreement, Tuesday, but officials from the company spoke up during the public hearing to request one last chance.

“After this delay and performance, you are not the type of developer we want to work with anymore,” responded De Luca.

Members of the Township Committee agreed to give the developer until Nov. 4 to obtain the needed permits or they will put out a bid for a new project.

“We don't want to be played,” said De Luca. “And we don't want you to come back and tell us what you are going to do about these problems, we want you to come back and say what you have done about these problems.”