Politics & Government

New Condos Might Replace 'Outdated' Housing

Elm Street application up for vote at zoning board's May 10 meeting.

The owner of two Elm Street properties that the owner's engineer says are in "poor condition" and that have apartments with a history of violations documented by borough fire and zoning officials has proposed demolishing the buildings, including Madison Liquor & Convenience, and constructing a new, eight-unit townhouse development at the site, according to documents on file with the .

The application for 4 and 6 Elm Street, just off Park Avenue, has been heard by the Madison Zoning Board of Adjustment over the last few months because building the condos would require a variance to allow double the housing density allowed in the R-5 Multi-Family Residential zone.

The properties sit on a total of about 0.7 acres. 6 Elm Street has the liquor store with two apartments on the second floor, and two more apartments attached to a garage behind the store. 4 Elm Street is a two-story, single-family home, with an additional apartment attached to a garage behind the house. Between 32 and 37 people total were sleeping in the home and five apartments daily, borough fire official Capt. Edward Nunn wrote in a Jan. 25 inspection report.

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Units reduced

The application originally called for nine units, but the owner, LVJJ Investments LLC, said at the board's March meeting it would reduce the number of units to eight and was developing new plans.

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Called Park Elm Estates, the proposal is expected to be voted on at the board's May 10 meeting.

An email in the application file from the borough engineer, Robert Vogel, says existing conditions at the site regarding "compliant housing, density, fire, health, electric, plumbing, sitework etc" are not to be factors in the board's decision.

"Certain degraded conditions have been noted and historical enforcement actions taken which indicate swift redevelopment at this location is in the public interest and conversely any delay or extension in renovating the property should be discouraged," Vogel wrote.

In his January report, Nunn listed items that needed to be addressed in some apartments, including a need for smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and a mattress on an enclosed porch with a space heater almost touching it, which he described in the report as an "immediate hazard."

A separate report on the proposal from the owner's engineer says new townhouses would improve the site's appearance:

The proposed redevelopment of the subject property will result in a significantly enhanced appearance over the present site conditions. The existing buildings and site improvements onsite are outdated and in poor condition. The current appearance and character of the site reflects the commercial and residential activities which occupied the property for many years. In addition the proposed buildings on the property will be placed further from the propeerty lines, and thus further from neighboring structures, compared to the existing buildings.

The owner purchased 4 Elm Street in August 2005 and 6 Elm Street in June 2003.

Messages left with the owner's attorney, Nino Coviello, and borough officials about the application and reported violations weren't returned Thursday.


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