Whole city was deemed in need of rehabilitation; projects move ahead for lot, condos to replace derelict homes; an ALDI market on New Road
SOMERS POINT — City Council is continuing its efforts to improve the city through real estate redevelopment agreements, granting preliminary approval to two more Thursday, Sept. 9.
One will involve the demolition of five homes to make way for additional parking for Bayview Court Apartments and 12 new housing units in six buildings, while the other will help the owner of the Walgreens property at New Road and Groveland Avenue undertake the drainage and traffic work necessary to make that a viable commercial site.
Both projects appear to have benefits for the city, at least as far as infrastructure goes. In the former, five dilapidated eyesores that have been plagued by crime, vandalism and neglect will be removed from one of the city’s busiest and most visible thoroughfares, while in the latter a congested, flood-prone intersection built for much less traffic will be redesigned to make it safer and more easily navigable.
Jack Leonard, owner of the Bayview Court Urban Renewal Entity, has proposed a 73-space parking lot on Shore Road and six fee-simple duplexes off Pleasant and Sunset avenues.
During a presentation of the proposal to City Council, Leonard said the rehabilitation of the apartment complex, formerly known as The Gates and for much longer as Atlantis Apartments, has driven the need for more parking there. He proposes demolishing five homes currently boarded up on trash-strewn properties at 528, 532, 538 and 542 Shore Road, as well as 536 Sunset Ave. behind the others.
The lot would be landscaped and have ample lighting and safety measures, including a fence that would force those who park in the lot to walk to the corner before crossing the street.
The next step in the process is for the city and Sunset Avenue Redevelopment LLC to negotiate stipulations of the agreement. In the case of Bayview Court, the city froze the property taxes at the 2015 level and provided other financial incentives to help fund the improvements. The complex was completely remodeled inside and outside and the city has benefited from far fewer emergency service calls, according to City Administrator Jason Frost.
Paving way for ALDI market
The second new project involves Provco Partners LP and its property at 425 New Road. The city’s redevelopment subcommittee met earlier this year to determine whether allowing an ALDI supermarket would be viable at the busy intersection and concluded that it would not be possible without major changes.
Representing the potential developer, attorney Stephen Nehmad reported at the time that his client was not interested in undertaking such a project. Six months later, Provco Partners LP and the city have a preliminary agreement to move forward.
At the time, Councilman Sean McGuigan said the subcommittee “wasn’t interested in giving them a redevelopment agreement if there was no reciprocal help,” noting that such a deal would involve zoning changes, conjoining properties and even the use of part of a paper street portion of Jefferson Avenue.
Councilman Howard Dill, who also is part of the subcommittee, said he witnessed the flooding problems first-hand by parking nearby during a storm.
The city is seeking drainage work and dedicated turn lanes from Groveland to New Road.
On Sept. 9, Nehmad said the developer would implement a stormwater management plan that will “lessen and accept those flows and greatly enhance the ability of the site to infiltrate stormwater so that intersection is far better than it is today.”
“That’s why we want to do a redevelopment agreement because we have to do more than our fair share,” he told City Council.
Finally coming to fruition
The projects are City Council’s latest efforts to improve the economy and quality of life in the historic bayside community.
In 2014, City Council deemed the entire city in need of rehabilitation, giving the governing body the opportunity to provide tax exemptions, abatements or both to encourage redevelopment in areas threatened with economic and social decline.
Council President Janice Johnston, who was not in office at the time, said the city did a great thing by taking that first step because it makes the process much easier.
“I give some kudos to the prior administration who did that,” she said.
The city engineer toured the town and made a list of properties that were vacant, derelict or otherwise in decline.
“We started consciously being aware of them so when new developers were looking to come into town we could give them direction,” Johnson said.
Improving these properties benefits the city in many ways, she said, including socially and economically.
Leonard was the first to take advantage of the opportunity by purchasing the troubled housing complex and rehabilitating it. Inside, apartments were transformed floor to ceiling with new floor plans, electrical, plumbing, carpets, air conditioning units and more. New balconies, re-landscaped grounds with new grass, plants and garden beds adorn the property’s exterior.
City Council voted to provide $1,579,995 to Bayview Court URE and freeze its tax payments at the 2015 level.
Mayor Jack Glasser said at the time that deal would benefit the city.
“The bottom line is, we get to see an apartment complex that has been somewhat of an eyesore for many, many years finally cleaned up,” Glasser said then.
Then-City Administrator Wes Swain said at the time that instead of paying taxes, the company would pay an annual service charge of $246,845 for 15 years.
The complex, which was built in about 1960 as the Atlantis Apartments, has 202 units in five three-story buildings. Prior to its redevelopment, it had been the subject of multiple social problems including drug arrests, robberies and other crimes, and a drain on city services due to frequent police, fire and EMS calls.
Private swim club
Another redevelopment project the city is working on involves the Somers Point Paddle Club. The private swim club plans to build two swimming pools with cabanas, a small grille and locker rooms on the former site of Bubba Mac’s Shack at 520 Bay Ave.
“I’m excited about the new things we have coming,” Johnston said, noting the swim club will improve a vacant property for seasonal use without adding more students to the school system.
The council president said businesses looking to form agreements with the city must have a plan the subcommittee deems feasible and beneficial before getting preliminary approval from City Council. The project then must meet all zoning requirements or secure variances through the Planning Board before getting final approval from council.
“It’s a long process. We are not just letting them do what they want to do,” Johnston said.
She noted the city initially rejected the plan for an ALDI market at that location without significant concessions on the developer’s part.
“There were already drainage issues and also the traffic is horrible, so the fact they want to invest money to correct those two issues, above and beyond what they would have to do, shows they really want to be in Somers Point,” she said.
By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff