Jones Lang LaSalle


Morristown edges closer to Spring Street solution
03/1/06 - Posted from the Daily Record newsroom
Council signs on with developer to raze properties, build housing
BY ROB SEMAN
DAILY RECORD

MORRISTOWN -- Town council Tuesday took a step toward redeveloping the upper portion of Spring Street by temporarily appointing Scotto Holdings as the official developer.
The company presented a conceptual plan to the council Tuesday, that includes razing the dilapidated buildings on Spring Street from the corner of Morris Street to Center Street and Water Avenue, and replacing them with three buildings housing a mix of retail, residential and parking space.

The council approved mayor Donald Cresitello's suggestion to make Scotto the redevelopment company for 90 days in order to allow residents to "digest"the conceptual plan. That designation will be extended as progress is made, he said.

The three buildings would house 275-300 dwelling units, either apartments or townhouses, enough space for 1.5 cars per unit, and 50,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space. The parking spaces for the residents of the buildings would be in garages inside the buildings.
The tallest building would be at Morris Street and Spring, backing the Presbyterian Church property, rising eight stories at that corner and descending to six stories down Spring Street. The building across the street would go from seven stories to five stories in the same direction. The building at Spring and Water streets would be seven stories.

An opening between the two buildings backing the cemetery of the Presbyterian Church was included in order to preserve the community's access to the green area.

Architect Allen Kopelson, whose firm designed the plan, said that the project has been in the works for the last three years and has involved many discussions with neighbors.
The plan also calls for changes to the lanes on Spring Street as well as entrances to the shopping plaza on Morris Street at Spring Street, to ease problems with cars turning in and out of the plaza.

Councilman Dick Tighe said the proposal would help bring down a "Chinese Wall," that has separated the Spring Street area from the rest of the town.

"I think this project brings Spring Street back into town," Tighe said.
Councilman Timothy Jackson said he had previously expressed concerns about disturbing the historic, 18th Century church during redeveloping the area, but said the Scotto plan took those concerns into consideration.

"I'm very happy to see it is being surrounded, not invaded by this," he said.
The council must now draw up a redevelopment plan that outlines what can be built in the area, to which the developers will tailor their concept.

The Scotto company received planning board approval on Aug. 26, 2002 to build an all-residential seven-story, 40-unit apartment building in place of buildings at 30, 32 and 33 Spring St. However, the developers never sought permits for the project. Earlier this month, the planning board gave the Scottos a one year extension to Feb. 1, 2007 to apply for the permits.
Craig Brinster, a real estate specialist for Scotto, said prior to the meeting that project will likely be scrapped altogether in place of the proposal.

Rob Seman can be reached at (973) 267-9038 or rseman@gannett.com.