A major project that would revitalize about half a block in Newark’s Central Ward has been given the go-ahead as a modern mixed-use development is slated to rise on a vacant lot along Morris Avenue.
During their November 16 meeting, Newark’s Zoning Board approved an application to overhaul a string of properties at 348-370 Morris Avenue. The plots, situated between 15th Avenue and Springfield Avenue, are located west of the city’s Downtown and a bit south from major institutions like University Hospital.
The land is owned by Morris Avenue Development Group, an entity that is registered out of an office building in Suffern, New York. M & M Global Investments is listed on the application for the project, which calls for a six-story building set to contain a total of 178 new residences.
Units at the complex are slated to break down as 30 studios, 94 one-bedrooms, and 54 two-bedroom homes. 89 parking spaces are included in the plan, as is 1,700 square feet of retail space on the ground floor.
Designed by OCA Architects, the development includes amenities like a fitness center and an inward facing roof terrace on the building’s second floor that is hidden from street view. The exterior of the project is slated to utilize gray composite siding components plus an aspen white brick façade.
The development was granted a slew of variances from the board when gaining approval, the most significant of which were a D5 density deviation and a D6 variance for exceeding maximum allowable building height.
Other deviations related to insufficient front and rear yard setbacks, insufficient on-site shade trees, insufficient building transparency, exceeding illumination levels in parking area and pedestrian walkways, and insufficient off-street parking were also granted.
A groundbreaking date for the Morris Avenue project has not been announced.
