A revised concept for senior housing on Esterbrook Avenue would increase the number of units but squeeze parking below what’s required in the redevelopment plan.

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Last summer, The Michaels Organization presented the Redevelopment Agency with a concept for 42 units of senior affordable housing at the Esterbook property, scaled down from a 60-unit complex initially envisioned for the site.

The four-story facility now would feature 58 units (52 one-bedrooms and 6 two-bedrooms) with 29 parking spaces (22 surface spaces and 7 on-street spaces). Zoning requires 33 parking spaces on site. The previous 42-unit concept proposed 35 spaces in a surface parking lot behind the building.

Bruce Morgan, senior vice president of the Camden-based firm, was also involved in developing The Willows on Central Avenue when he was a partner with The Ingerman Group. He explained to commissioners that financing has changed, as the more advantageous tax credit of 9 percent – rather than 4 percent – is available for projects that are closer to 60 units. “That’s kind of the sweet spot,” he said. “So we think this is a net positive on the whole.”

Parking has always been an issue in Rahway, especially downtown, Commissioner John Samsel said, and asked if there’s a possibility of purchasing parking from local churches.

Morgan said they’ve set aside money in the budget to work with local churches for parking. Before going to the Planning Board, the next step will be to figure that out, he said.

The parking lot would be situated in the rear of the building and abut the parking lot to the adjacent Iglesia la luz de Mundo at the corner of Bryant Street and Elm Avenue. There’s also the nearby Zion Lutheran Church at the corner of Esterbrook and Elm and Divine Mercy on Central Avenue.

Joshua Eckert, an associate with urban practice, The Michaels Organization’s architecture arm, said the primary difference in the revised concept is the loss of some parking but the benefit of the project is the additional units, which still meets the criteria of the redevelopment plan.

Across the street, the Jack and Margaret Meyers Senior Residences have 51 units with 26-on site reserved spaces for a ratio of 0.51 per unit, “which seems to meet their needs,” Eckert said. He reiterated that they’re still working through some details, including getting more parking on site as well as along the street in front of the proposed building, with those details and a final design in the site plan to be submitted in the coming months.

“The parking ratio did change — we think there are solutions to that, prior to Planning Board approval,” Executive Director Robert Landolfi said, and while the increase in units “appears to be substantial,” the administration is “very supportive.”

By federal standards, those who qualify for affordable housing  would earn 60 percent of area median household income, which in Union County is about $95,000 (60 percent of which is $57,000). The facility would be age restricted to those 62 and older.

After a brief presentation during its May 15 meeting, the Redevelopment Agency approved a resolution (30-24) re-designating The Michaels Organization as redeveloper of the Esterbrook site.

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