Township Breaks Ground at Old Police Station

After nearly a decade of discussion, planning, controversy and false starts, township officials on Tuesday broke ground for the new apartment building that will rise on the site of the former Maplewood Police Station at 125 Dunnell Road. 

“Ecstatic,” said Mayor Vic DeLuca when asked how he felt about the event. Township Committeeman Jerry Ryan said, “I’m thrilled this day is finally here.” 

The new project, called “The Station House,” is a 50-unit, LEED-certified apartment complex with a mix of one- and two-bedroom rentals (46 units at market rate and four affordable housing units), as well as 60 on-site parking spaces. The building will be four stories high, with ground floor parking and three residential stories above. 

In June of 2011, of Asbury, NJ as the developer after .

One year later, the township  of Petrucci for $1.75 million. After credits for environmental abatement and demolition, the total net profit to the town was $910,000. 

Township Committee members Kathy Leventhal, Marlon Brownlee and India Larrier were also at the ceremony, as well as former Mayor Fred Profeta, planning board chair Tom Carlson, representatives from Petrucci Bros. and Assemblywoman Mila Jasey – who commended the committee for ensuring that the project has an affordable housing component. 

“,” said Profeta in remarks to the crowd.  “This development will be a real asset to the town and will complement the Village,” he said. DeLuca called the property a “gem” and said it would contribute to the community’s vitality as well as create new ratables.  He said the project represents “Maplewood on the move.” 

Earlier in the process, about the building’s height and bulk and its impact on historic Memorial Park. 

Jim Petrucci of Petrucci Bros. praised the committee and the members of the Planning Board for their professionalism. 

“Your work is pretty much over,” he joked, “but ours is just getting started. See you soon at the ribbon cutting.” Construction will begin later this summer, and the building is expected to take approximately a year to 18 months to complete.