Redevelopment of the former St. Mark’s Church hasn’t progressed and there may be some question whether proposed townhomes could still work for the site.

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During the Redevelopment Agency’s Dec. 8 meeting, held via Zoom, Commissioner Tim Nash asked about the status of several recent redevelopment projects and concepts, including the former St. Mark’s Church property on Hamilton Street.

Executive Director Robert Landolfi said the property is “under contract to an individual who’s done development in the city in the past” with a plan in place that calls for a townhouse development.

“We’ve heard from some developers that post-pandemic, that might be a tough lift; it may not be a reasonable use there,” Landolfi said. “But the primary owner has not come forth and had any kind of discussion with anyone for well over a year at this point.”

In November 2020, AST Development presented a concept to commissioners for 36 townhomes between Hamilton Street and Seminary Avenue. The Lavellette-based firm was also behind the development of Reva Rahway, a 219-unit building on the site of the former Center Circle sports complex on Main Street.

Following demolition of the former St. Mark’s Church in 2019, the Planning Board and City Council approved studies of the property for potential redevelopment. The site was designated for redevelopment in August 2019 and became part of the Arts District Redevelopment Plan. That redevelopment plan included a concept for 16 townhouses along Gordon Place and Hamilton Street and a four-story, 44-unit building on Seminary Avenue – a total of 60 units.

Commissioners complained that both areas are boarded up and look awful. “It’s depressing looking,” said Nash, asking whether the agency has any recourse to move the project along or will it “sit there and look awful for the rest of our lives?”

Landolfi assured commissioners: “We’re all on the same page.”

Another developer had expressed interest with the townhouse concept, according to Landolfi, but returned within the past six months and said they can’t make it work.

At that point in the discussion, Landolfi suggested that the agency recess into executive session if he were to elaborate further as it would be an item of negotiation, whether at that meeting in December or schedule an executive session during the January Redevelopment Agency meeting. Commissioners agreed to hold off until the January meeting scheduled for Jan. 19, with an advertised executive session.

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