Morristown’s Historic Preservation Commission has urged the town council to reject a proposal for a seven-story apartment building on DeHart Street.
“It is a very significant height change to the existing approved plan, which already was an intrusion into what has been a neighborhood that while commercial has retained a primarily residential character,” states a memo from the commission, an advisory panel.
“Approval would be destructive to the Morristown Historic District, destructive to the adjoining Sansay House, create an inappropriate and disturbing precedent along DeHart Street. The Commission further suggests that if any exterior alterations to the 2006 plan are approved, the developer be required to work with the Commission to create an appropriate and compatible design to the context of its location and Morristown.”
Rosewood LLC wants to add two stories to 2006 plans for a five-story structure.
The historic preservation commission opposed those prior plans, as well. That proposal aimed for a New York loft ambiance; the commission knocked it as “too ‘faux'” and out of character with Morristown and northern New Jersey.
While the new plans “clean up” some of those concerns, the higher building would dwarf surrounding structures, including the municipal parking garage behind it, according to the commission.
This is consequence of a prior administration allowing a seven-story height for the nearby 40 park luxury condos, on the site of the former Epstein’s department store, the commission said:
“The Commission is convinced that the negative precedent set by zoning height exemptions granted in the Epstein’s redevelopment zone matters. It is interesting to see the use of the height of surrounding newly built strictures (the garage and the other Epstein’s phases) being used to justify increasing the height of DeHart Street. We believe this confirms our view, that approval of the original Epstein’s height set a dangerous precedent. Approval of this seven story structure will exacerbate the impact of that precedent.”
The town council recently approved a seafood restaurant and bar for the opposite side of DeHart Street.
I agree with the Commission, Mrs Brady, Mr Breasely and Mr Tighe. Additionally, beside the “loft” concept is as old as the hills(See unsolds in Tacoma since 2005 and before) AND imitative at best, the developer’s most truly egregious excuse for wanting tenant-occupied units instead homeowner households was that the downturn in the economy would(will?) prevent sales. Is this during the continuing and projected period where the Maple/Macculloch townshouses have been selling in the high $700’s and above — “off the boards” before hammers had hit nails, and certainly before completion. Could the attempted migration to apartments have more to do with cash flow and balance sheet matters than with holding to agreements?¿
Some of the justification for apartments is the current economic environment. Well, according to the NY Times, and others, condo sales have improved dramatically. I think the original, approved plan should be executed.
Of course this is the same Historic Preservation Commission that took no formal position on Don’s, next to the Community Theatre, after a heated commission discussion. The chairman said to the Planning Board that Don’s was better than a vacant building.
Credibility problem?
Ms. Brady has hit the nail on the head. The council has spent years thwarting area businesses on DeHart Street due to over-crowdedness, parking and traffic. To approve this high density project would not only exasperate the situation but be the most hypocritical gesture imaginable. I agree that development must take place but strongly urge the Historic Preservation Commission’s recommendation. I do wonder who the target renter will be? Will the developer promote the “urban environment”, or try to pass this project off as a quiet neighborhood located close to the center of town as Community Place and 40 Park were lead to believe.
I agree with the commission. 7 stories would overwhelm the area and set a really bad example to every other developer wanting to build here. If 7 stories are OK on DeHart where 4 stories was considered the maximum density for good reason, how could it be stopped anywhere in town. The negative impact of overwhelming, inappropriate development would soon end all the positive types of development that have led to Morristown’s success. People found the town a desirable place to live and enhance our tax base. Apartments are valued at less than 1/2 that of a residence the same size but owned and not rented, although both require the same services. When the balance between rental units and owner occupied dwellings tips to far, the impact on our tax base is significant. .