The effort to revitalize long-vacant properties in Newark continues to spread away from the city’s Downtown as a modern project in the South Ward was recently green lit by officials.
The Central Planning Board approved an application last month to revitalize two adjacent lots at 142-144 Elizabeth Avenue. The project comes courtesy of S.A.T. Urban Renewal, who acquired the property from the City of Newark.
The land is just two blocks north of Schleifer Memorial Park and two blocks east of the Shabazz Stadium complex. The 5,536-square-foot property has sat empty for many years, but that is about to change following the city’s approvals.
Designed by Newark-based CREARC and set to rise five stories, the development is slated to consist of 20 units plus a sizable retail component facing Elizabeth Avenue. The ground floor of the building includes about 1,560 square feet of space that can be split between as many as four storefronts, adding retail to this stretch of road.
Besides the retail spaces, the ground floor is also slated to boast a 779-square-foot community room. The development was granted a total of seven variances from current zoning during approvals for relatively minor and very specific deviations.
They include variances related to insufficient minimum side yard setback, excessive maximum lot coverage by building, excessive maximum impervious coverage of lot, insufficient minimum building transparency for both the ground level and street-facing façade, insufficient on-site tree provision, and insufficient shade tree provision.
S.A.T. Urban Renewal, which is registered out of an address down the block on Elizabeth Avenue, has not yet announced when a groundbreaking could occur at the property.
