Corner of South & DeHart in Morristown poised for new heights, and housing, Dec. 29

Left: Corner of DeHart & South streets, Dec. 2020; right: Proposed apartment/retail complex. Montage by MorristownGreen.com
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The corner of South and DeHart streets will get a facelift — and 26 new residential units–if the Morristown zoning board grants approvals this Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2020.

Milelli/Morristown LLC proposes adding four stories atop the existing two floors at 23-27 South St., which wraps around to DeHart Street.

Housing would be built above the 23 South Boutique and the basement-level Laundromat bar. Both would remain.

So would J.C. Reiss Optician and Laboratory Hair Studio, with some modifications. Pure Pita would move from South Street to DeHart Street, to make way for a residential lobby on South.

Rendering of proposed Milelli project (center building) on South and DeHart streets, as viewed from South Street. Rendering is subject to revisions.

Plans in April 2019 called for 30 units. Revisions submitted last month show 26: Four three-bedroom units, six two-bedrooms and 16 one-bedroom units, with a rooftop terrace.

Rendering of rooftop terrace proposed for 23-27 South St., Morristown. This is subject to change, according to the architectural firm Studio 1200.

Five affordable units had been envisioned, with three of them on-site. The revised plans earmark four on-site units as affordable.

Thirty-nine parking spaces would be leased in the Morristown Parking Authority’s DeHart Street garage.

The project needs variances for parking, setbacks/buffer zones, and height. The site is zoned for four stories; the new floors would bring the final height to six stories, according to plans submitted by the Short Hills architectural firm Studio 1200 LLC.

Four stories of residential units are proposed to top the 23 South Boutique, photographed in December 2020. Photo by Kevin Coughlin

For a quarter-century, the corner of South and DeHart was home to Scotti’s Record Shop. It was succeeded by the 23 South Boutique in January 2012.

Tuesday’s virtual special meeting starts at 7:30 pm and can be viewed on Zoom.

Rendering of penthouse view of proposed Milelli project in Morristown, 2020.
Rendering of height of proposed Milelli project (left), compared with surrounding structures on South Street, November 2020.
Comparative sizes of proposed Milelli project (center) and neighbors on DeHart Street, November 2020.

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17 COMMENTS

  1. Margret – what new development doesn’t pay more to the town than what the existing asset is paying? The strip mall project, I believe, will be generating 4x the payments the strip mall was. You continue to shun bars, which were the real catalyst bringing many millennials with good jobs into town. You mention two projects from a decade ago that you were in favor of. None since. Every article on here you continue to bash with absolutely nothing but negative comments, and not only that, do not offer any suggestions to improve the proposals. Your general tone is that development is bad, developers are evil greedy people, and every new unit in a dense downtown area needs 14 parking spaces assigned to it.

  2. As a new resident, Connor does not seem to understand that development needs to be balanced. When I was involved in getting the Epstein project approved, we had a lot of opposition from the Twon officials at the time and yet that project proved to be the catalyst that turned the Town around at the time, bringing not just new residential taxpayers to our central business district but customers for our businesses and services. Morristown is a great place to live as long as we keep it livable. The key to the Epstein project was adding a number of public amenities, including additional parking to serve the new development. It also brought to Morristown, at 14 Maple Ave. the first LEEDs sustainable office building serving as a location non-profits and the Parking Authority That building, unlike other non-profit uses has made payments in Liu of taxes since the day it was completed.
    Cattano Ave.is another location that became a viable part of town with the needed parking and development that enabled the Park Place business district to succeed.This was done by working with the property owners and balancing the needs of all those involved. Most current projects proposed recently, require the Twon to finance the amenities needed by the developer for the project to succeed.

  3. @ Margret – I’ve been following this blog for 4 years now since I moved here (I know you still dont believe I live here, thats ok). 98% of your comments on development articles/projects are nothing but negative. You rarely rarely state any positive impact from the last 10+ projects there have been articles on. You still wont admit all the development has led to 20%+ appreciation in real estate prices in the direct locality of said development, nor will you recognize that by the development (yes including bars/restaurants) being full, the people themselves are speaking with their wallets that they love it. Lastly, Morristown doesn’t have to lose it history or “charm” by mixing new development with the old. Not one of these projects actually gets rid of an actual historic landmark or visually appealing building.

    @ M.Russel – agree

  4. Hmmm…maybe its the “Master Plan” that is flawed and needs revision rather than what the developers are proposing for Morristown.

  5. Connor demonstrates his lack of knowledge when he claims I never support any development in Morristown. I have a long history of being involved in successful projects and enjoy hearing presentations, using those projects as examples of good development, while ignoring the key elements that made those projects a success and often claimed as the cause of Morristown surviving prior severe downturns.

  6. We are truly watching the amazing unique charm of Morristown get washed over by generic luxury condos. Really wish there were more people to advocate for the “real” Morristown and not the luxury yuppy version of it.

  7. The 23-27 South application is Not a redevelopment project and it does Not follow the Master Plan.. It sits across DeHart Street, is an area purposely zoned for lower buildings with less density, . that’s the code the board is charged with upholding, board chairman, Bednarz said. Look at all the variances the project would need: the sheer volume of variances — three “D” variances, and a dozen “C” variances and waivers, That does not follow the Master Plan at all !! Seems since this board is not appointed by the mayor, they actually look at and consider the plans. Stay strong zoning board, follow the Master Plan and resist the mantra: In Morristown, it’s DESTRUCTION followed by CONSTRUCTION.

  8. It’s far from a charming corner

    Let’s get some construction going and let’s not let bystanders impede progress

  9. Margret lol – always good for a laugh. Please do tell us what development you were for in town? Always the “do nothing is better” approach. Morristown would be a decrepit, crumbling pile of ruins, albeit “historic ruins,” if you had your way with all the development proposals.

  10. A lot of people spent a lot of hours and energy developing the Master Plan. If the Master Plan is going to be ignored by granting several variances then what’s the point of having it in the first place? Let’s at least have a discussion about the Master Plan’s relevance before we dismiss it because a developer has convinced enough people that their project is a work of genius. The project’s lawyer Frank Vitolo wants us to look at “the big picture” rather than get “caught up in numbers and facts and figures”. Well – the Master Plan is the “big picture”.

  11. The applicant reminds me of a fisherman throwing out bait to lure a fish to bite his hook. In this case, Changing the plan with much fanfare, while increasing the potential profit and destroying the intent and purpose of even having a master plan or zoning ordinance. Motive here is profit. The bait , 4 affordable units and a specular high rent penthouse unit on the roof. I applaud the board members and town planner, for asking the questions that revealed that the major problems with the original application remain.

  12. Charming corner??
    No it’s not
    There is adequate light
    Traffic is not excessive
    Problem is too many little people with too much to say try to get in the way of real improvements.

  13. Another generic building to blend in with the other new generic buildings. They’re ruining the character of the town one building at a time. What makes Morristown great is it’s bright open feel. Don’t turn this town in to Summit where the street only sees daylight at noon.

  14. That’s a solid NO to any variance. Dehart and South St are not in need of redevelopment. It’s a charming corner in Morristown. So, if they want to add condos then they should do so within our existing regulations. I’m not against development but it needs to be smart focusing on pedestrian walkways, adequate light and reducing excessive traffic.

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