Friday, April 10, 2015

Elmwood Gardens Renewal Needs Council Approval

An ordinance to adopt the Elmwood Gardens redevelopment plan is up for first reading Monday.

The Housing Authority's old brick buildings at Plainfield Avenue and West Second Street will be replaced by modern townhouse construction more conducive to safety of the residents. When first announced in 2008, the renewal was intended to eliminate crime and vandalism, largely from outsiders. The townhouse plan will eliminate the common hallways which drug dealers used to elude police.

Since the renewal plan was announced, residents have been relocated and the site is expected to be demolished after remediation for environmental hazards. Last fall, the townhouse plan was briefly scrapped in favor of a multi-story age-restricted building, but after the Planning Board objected to the change, the Housing Authority went back to the original concept.

If approved Monday, the redevelopment plan will be up for final passage in May. The plans are available for viewing in the Planning Office in City Hall, 515 Watchung Ave.

The City Council meeting is 8 p.m. in Municipal Court, 325 Watchung Ave.

--Bernice

No comments:

Post a Comment