Construction is underway on the next part of the first phase of Meridia Brownstones along Elizabeth Avenue but demolition has not yet begun.

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In her report during  Wednesday’s monthly Redevelopment Agency, Engineer Jacqueline Dirmann informed commissioners that Phase 1A is complete, with construction underway on Phase 1B of Meridia Brownstones. No work has started in terms of demolition, she said.

Phase 1A comprised 172 units, which held a ribbon-cutting ceremony in late December with then-Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Ben Carson. In all, Phase 1 includes 298 apartments.

Meridia Brownstones was approved for 487 units, spread across four, five-story buildings along the west side of the railroad tracks. The project would be built in phases over several years at the site of the former Wheatena and Quinn & Boden sites on Elizabeth Avenue, from West Grand and West Scott avenues.

The respective utility companies still have to move lines to new utility poles along Elizabeth and West Grand avenues, Dirmann said, which are under county’s jurisdiction (since Elizabeth Avenue is a county road).

Commissioner Dorian Timmons asked whether the developer was meeting new milestones set forth in the recently amended redevelopment agreement . Redevelopment Agency Director Robert Landolfi said that Capodagli Property Company has so far been compliant of the few milestones that have been required.

Recent milestones, per the amendment to the redevelopment agreement, included completion of the entire exterior and site features, including the pool, for Phase 1 by Dec. 31, 2020. If out of compliance of the proposed date, Capodagli would have owed $100,000 and admitted to being in violation of the amended RDA. The Linden-based developer also was to obtain construction permits by Feb. 1.

Upcoming milestones for the project include applying for demolition permits by the end of this month for Block 228, Lot 1.02, where a tenant was to be vacated by the middle of February.

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