The first phases of at least two developments currently under construction are projected to be completed toward the end of this year, adding about 300 residential units downtown.
Interim Redevelopment Director Robert Landolfi provided several updates in his report to commissioners during the regular monthly meeting of the Redevelopment Agency on Feb. 6.
The Slokker project, also referred to as Main & Monroe, is on target for an October completion date of its first phase, which began around June. Phase one entails construction of the 112-unit south building currently going up along Main Street, between Monroe and East Cherry streets. Phase two would begin immediately subsequent to that, Landolfi said.
Phase two would be construction of the second building, some 84 units, erected closer to the railroad tracks further north along Main Street, across from Luciano’s Ristorante. Initially, Slokker was to wait after phase one but was able to get an easement for the railroad tracks and is scheduled to complete phase one by October, or possibly as early as September, Engineer Jacqueline Dirmann told commissioners. Discussions with its design team would commence and could be completed weeks before October, the latest that construction would begin, she added.
Part of the Main & Monroe plan will be to extend Monroe Street as a public street through what used to be Lot B, connecting it with East Cherry Street between The Gramercy, a new 42-unit building, and The Waiting Room. In all, Main & Monroe would have 196 units across two five-story buildings.
As for The Gramercy, Landolfi said there are some issues with the final inspection that he hoped to resolve in meetings last week. The five-story complex is “very close to completion” and seeking certificate of occupancy, and expects to be renting “in the very near future.”
Reva Rahway, a five-story, 196-unit complex under construction at the former Center Circle site on Main Street, anticipates leasing by the start of the fourth quarter (October), Landolfi told commissioners. The project broke ground last summer.
The foundation has been completed for the first phase of The Brownstones on the former Wheatena site at Elizabeth and West Grand avenues, and additional permits are being sought, according to Landofli. The developer, Capodagli Property Company, also sought relief on the type of materials for the railroad side of the development, a variation of what was submitted to the Planning Board, but has received formal notification of denial, he said.