Mike Deak, MyCentralJersey.com
August 16, 2023
Though many said they were “excited” to get a glimpse of the Palmer Square redevelopment, there were also some that said the plan, touted as a key to the revitalization of the borough’s downtown core, was “out of scale” with its surroundings.
About 100 residents clicked into the virtual Borough Council meeting on Thursday when the conceptual plan for the redevelopment of the one-acre property on Olcott Square at the intersection of Mt. Airy Road and Route 202 was unveiled.
The plan calls for the Palmer Building at the corner to be kept, but a new four-story building with 10,000 square feet of retail space and 68 apartments on the one-acre property.
AR at Bernardsville, an arm of Advance Realty Investors of Bedminster, is under contract to purchase the property from Palmer Enterprises.
No timeline has been set for the project which has to gain approval from the Planning Board.
Advance Realty has also been chosen by the borough as redeveloper of the Quimby Lane project which called for 149 apartments and 36,000 square feet of retail space.
The Palmer Square project calls for 68 apartments – 11 one-bedroom units, 47 two-bedroom units and six three-bedroom units. The apartments range in size from 794 to 1,762 square feet.
All the 138 parking spaces will be underground accessible from a driveway from Morristown Road.
That was singled out for criticism by Borough Council Member Diane Greenfields who said the conceptual plan did not have “enough parking” and that the number “will not be adequate” for the residents and the businesses.
Greenfield also wondered about access for fire equipment and delivery vehicles and the lack of green space for the public.
Mayor Mary Jane Canose said those issues would be addressed by the Planning Board during the review process.
Others said that while they believed the plan was beneficial for downtown revitalization, they were concerned about the height of the new building that would be out of scale to neighboring properties and “dwarf” the Palmer Building.
Architect Kevin Smith said the project would “create a signature town center building” and complete the retail triangle of Olcott Square.
One of the main goals of the conceptual plan, Smith said, was creating a safer environment for pedestrians at the busy intersection.
Canose said the project is intended to “create a sense of place” and to bring economic vitality to downtown, in addition make the downtown more walkable and pedestrian friendly.
That was echoed by Peter Cocoziello Jr, a principal of Advance, who said the redevelopment would “breathe life into the town” and bring “a promise of something better” to future residents.
Email: mdeak@mycentraljersey.com