VENTNOR – The Board of Commissioners May 22 approved a revised redevelopment plan for the Ventnor Professional Campus, which once served as the city’s 1930s-era elementary school.
Revisions were suggested during a Planning Board hearing and the plan revised to reduce density, address traffic concerns, expand uses and preserve commercial spaces in the front part of the stately brick building, and incorporate design elements into the proposed townhouses that will be built in the rear.
“Everything the planning board asked for…have all been incorporated,” Mayor Tim Kriebel said.
The 2.3 acre property, which spans nearly the entire block except for the parcel where Firehouse No. 1 is located, was first designated an area in need of redevelopment in December 2023. Ther Planning Board recently deemed the proposed plan as being consistent with the city’s Master Plan.
DAG Developer David Waxman, a part-time Cambridge Avenue resident for the last 49 years, addressed the board, stating it’s important for him to “develop a catalyst” for the city when redeveloping the building. He has experience restoring old buildings in Philadelphia and hopes the development will be a long-lasting improvement for the city.
“This project means a lot to us and it’s important that we get it right,” he said. “We are excited and honored to do it, and we are the right people to do it.”
Licensed Planner and engineer Jon Barnhart said the current plan will erect 34, three-bedroom “seashore look” townhouses in the back portion of the property – each with three off-street parking spaces and a yard. Brick accents will be incorporated to reflect the historic nature of the original schoolhouse building.
“The recommendations made by the Planning Board made a lot of sense, and we think our client enhanced the project,” Barnhart said.
The proposed density is much lower than the current 46 units zoning regulations allow. All will be fee simple townhouses with a homeowners’ association that includes covenants and restrictions to maintain continuity and architectural design standards, attorney Jack Plackter of Fox Rothchild said.
“There are condominiums everywhere, but they have their issues. We find that if you own the land your property sits on, people seem to get along better,” Barnhardt said.
The first floor of the front portion of the property will include additional retail commercial spaces, which are currently not permitted in the zone. There will be two to three restaurants with patio doors to allow al fresco dining on the grassy area in the front of the building. The developer already has several tenants in mind.
Plackter said the plan would allow the town to preserve commercial spaces, which are quickly disappearing in shore communities where housing is in demand.
He said the developer also addressed the reduction in density issue by reducing the number of bedrooms in each unit.
Some of the tenants coming on board include a pre-school, medical spa, doctor’s office, dance school and a mix of office and retail. The restaurants would be located along Ventnor Avenue and have outdoor spaces that are pedestrian friendly.
“It will be a real nice addition to the commercial corridor,” Waxman said.
Kriebel said another developer would demolish the building in favor of erecting more residential housing.
“For me repurposing that building…is a way to activate an area that needs activation,” Kriebel said.
The cartway plan was modified from a two-way street to a one-way street from New Haven Avenue to Troy Avenue. There will also be a 32-space parking lot behind the brick structure to support commercial tenants.
Commissioner Lance Landgraf said the Planning Board has yet to determine if the street will be a private driveway, or if it should be a public street to ensure it is properly maintained.
“I would prefer to maintain it to our standards,” Landgraf said.
Former Mayor Tim Kreisher pressed the board to ensure the developer’s “conceptual plan” is upheld should the property be sold to a subsequent developer.
“This picture looks great, I don’t know how anyone could object to that,” Kreisher said.
Landgraf reiterated that one of the purposes of the redevelopment plan is to expand the commercial uses in the front building.
“When we name the redeveloper that will tie him to what he is proposing,” Landgraf said.
Details about the layout of the building and subdivision will be reviewed when the Planning Board conducts a site plan review.
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