A historic district in Newark will soon be home to a five-story condominium project that hopes to blend into the neighborhood while providing new opportunities for home ownership.
During their June 30 meeting, Newark’s Zoning Board of Adjustment voted 5-1 to approve a residential condominium building near the northern section of the James Street Commons Historic District. The properties, which span the addresses of 10 Summit Street and 110 James Street, overlap with the D District of Broad Street Station Redevelopment Plan and currently house two vacant homes and an empty lot.
Jersey Digs first reported on the proposal back in January, which looks to revitalize the corner of Summit and James streets. Designed by Brian M. Taylor, AIA and the North Plainfield-based team of Taylor Architecture & Design, the future Summit Street Residences will include six one-bedroom units and eight two-bedroom condominiums.
Each unit within the complex will be ADA compliant and feature a gourmet kitchen plus washer and dryer. Amenities at the future development include a common roof deck, fitness center, bicycle parking, and tenant storage, with an internal trash chute set to be constructed on each level of the building.
Select units will sport private balconies at the development, which is slated to utilize a combination of stone and brick veneer alongside composite fiber cement panels on the exterior. The firm that designed the project says extra care and consideration was given to materials, architectural features, and detailing that was sensitive and mindful of the neighboring historic context.
The development is being undertaken by Summit Street Development Group, which is helmed by longtime Newark resident and entrepreneur Shariff James. The project, situated in University Heights not far from St. Michael’s Medical Center, was granted variances for exceeding maximum building height and deviations regarding front yard setbacks.
While a groundbreaking date for the project has not been announced, the addition of condominiums to the landscape could be considered welcome news. Newark’s current housing construction overwhelmingly consists of rentals despite a building boom in the Downtown area that borders University Heights, so a home ownership opportunity in the area is a decided change of pace.
