Park Avenue Project Changes Approved

Developer Frank Cretella received Planning Board approval Thursday for changes in one of his projects, swapping medical offices for retail uses.

The project, Certified Green Property One LLC at 212-216 Park Ave., was previously approved with 3,565 square feet of retail uses on the ground floor, basement storage and four apartments on upper floors. Representing Cretella, attorney Jay Bohn said the new plan was to have medical offices on the ground floor and in the basement. Poring over new site plans handed out at the meeting, planners discovered kitchens and offices in the basement as well as an X-ray room, doctor’s offices and waiting rooms on the two levels.

Planning Division Director Bill Nierstedt called the new proposal a”major change” and noted that the developer tended to use “retail” to encompass uses as different as restaurants or offices. The discrepancy came about when city Construction Official Joseph Minarovich told Nierstedt he had received plans that differed from what was filed in the Planning Office.

Cretella was absent due to a family medical emergency, but after questioning Bohn, planners favored accepting the changes. But they wanted Cretella’s intentions documented in writing. Another component was a blank space on plans that Bohn said was intended for a temporary development office. Board member Ron Scott-Bey questioned what its ultimate use would be.

Cretella had casually mentioned the changes at the Aug. 5 meeting while discussing another application. On Thursday, Nierstedt said of the changes, “I sense very strongly that this will happen again.”

Cretella has more than half a dozen projects in the works in various stages of approvals, all of which have “retail” components. The one considered on Aug. 5 had 2,482 square feet of proposed retail space, which turned out to be a restaurant that extended to outdoor dining space.

Cretella is expected back at a Sept. 2 meeting for a hearing on Arts Loft I LLC, the former Romonds Jeep building, and in October for West Second Street Commons, a large apartment development on the PNC Bank block.

Councilman Cory Storch, liaison to the Planning Board, asked for a summary of all the projects.
(Click here to see Plainfield Plaintalker’s previous stories on Cretella proposals. Plaintalker II's stories are here.)

--Bernice Paglia