A Downtown Newark building that is surrounded by residential and mixed-use projects could soon find itself being redeveloped.
Built on the corner of Halsey Street in 1890 as an industrial facility for Newark businessman Levi Weingarten, the four-story building at 36-38 William Street has contained the Christ Apostolic Church Missions, Mama Africans Fashion, the Mama African International Food Market, Ducor Village Xpress, and a clothing outlet in more recent years. Now, the company that bought the building two years ago for $1.25 million is planning major changes for the structure, which sits adjacent to Teachers Village.
A legal notice shows that Halsey William Partners, LLC is seeking Preliminary and Final Site Plan approval with two variances in connection with their plan to vertically expand this four-story building into a six-story development. As part of the project, the company is seeking to create 25 residential units on the upper floors and keep 2,694 square feet of retail space on the ground floor. The notice states that there could also possibly be a restaurant component.
City tax records show that the LLC is currently registered out of the same East Harlem, Manhattan address as Lettire Construction while a state database shows that the company was initially incorporated out of Irvington. Lettire is involved in The HillTop in Irvington and the upcoming 84-unit City Hall Apartments and IHOP on Broad Street in Downtown Newark with Irvington developer and restaurant owner Adenah Bayoh.
This proposal was scheduled to be heard by the Newark Landmarks and Historic Preservation Commission during its meeting on September 5, according to the meeting agenda. A hearing before the Newark Central Planning Board was initially scheduled for Monday, September 24.
Located south of Market Street and west of Broad Street, this section of Downtown Newark has changed drastically over the last decade, mainly because of the Teachers Village complex. Plenty of additional developments are in the pipeline, including the Vibe building at the southeast corner of Halsey and William Streets, a complex on Washington Street called “The Halo” with two 40-story towers, and a project at the site of the Newark Bronze Shields building with apartments and a daycare center.
