Cretella Adds A New Project

Developer Frank Cretella has a new project to add to the 10 already on his to-do list. It's a long-neglected office building next to the main train station, which he plans to transform into eight apartments.

His application to renovate the building at 109 East Fourth Street was before the Zoning Board of Adjustment in January and the hearing will continue at the board's February meeting, 7 p.m. Wednesday in City Hall Library, 515 Watchung Ave.

Unlike some of his other projects, the building owned by an eponymous limited liability corporation is not in a designated redevelopment area. It doesn't have a whimsical corporate name, like "Next Step to Collins Avenue," another Cretella project with eight apartments and a planned French bistro at ground level on Park Avenue. Because the East Fourth Street building takes up its whole footprint, it lacks yard space and has other issues that the board is discussing with the developer.

It also has some other challenges, as it has been a target for squatters. On Friday, the front door was open and waving in the stiff wind. I did not have my cell phone with me, but planned to contact police when I got home. By chance, there was a police car nearby in the train station driveway, so I told the officer that the building was unsecured. She said people are in and out of the building often. The huge chain and lock that  gave the appearance of security were just dangling on one side of the open door Friday.

Cretella has received approvals for a number of projects, both renovations and new construction, though not all have yet come to fruition. The "Next Step to Collins Avenue" building is now known as the Courier News building, in a nod to its historic use. Click here to read a February 2012 post about its renovation. Another project on the same block but on the West Second Street side is expected to bring 148 apartments to the downtown.

Cretella's company, Landmark Developers, has descriptions of some local development proposals, including the West Second Street project. Take a look here (click on Development, then on Building Green).

--Bernice