Evesham Township’s work toward redeveloping and rehabilitating properties throughout the township took another step forward at its most recent town council meeting when council approved the designation of master redevelopers for two properties that have been targets of the township for years.
The first property is a redevelopment project along Route 70 near the Evesham-Medford border commonly referred to as the Aristone Tract, where developer Art Corsini of Fieldstone Associates, known for having built the Marlton Gateway Apartments where the township’s old municipal building once stood, plans to build 264 residential apartments, with 6,000 square feet of retail space.
The other property is a rehabilitation project commonly referred to as the “old bank building” on Main Street near Cooper Avenue, where redeveloper Bob Meyer of MJ Associates plans to build 24 apartments and 4,000 square feet of commercial space.
According to township director of community development Nancy Jamanow, letters were originally sent to the property owners in early January 2013, which started a process spanning 11 planning board meetings and 20 township council meetings where redevelopment was discussed.
“We’re finally seeing the fruits of the labors of over two years of work,” Jamanow said.
Corsini said the 264 apartment plan along Route 70, entitled Barclay-Chase at Marlton, would entail multiple buildings, four of which would be podium style buildings with parking on the first floor and three floors of residential space above.
Another building would be mixed-use with retail and a resident service area, which would front Route 70, also with parking on the first level and three floors of residential above.
An additional two buildings would consist of two floors of residential space and parking garages.
Corsini said he estimates that rental prices for one-bedroom apartments would be around $1,400 per month, while the two-bedroom apartments would fetch somewhere between $1,600 and $2,000 per month.
With his background in real estate, titles and insurances, Mayor Randy Brown said in today’s interest rates, a $400,000 mortgage over a 30-year period would be similar to the price of renting the proposed apartments.
“This is high end,” Brown said. “When we say it’s high-end apartments, there is a high-end user on these, which is wonderful.”
Regarding the Main Street project, Meyer said the building would have 24 apartments through two-and-a-half stories, with a third floor disguised with a roof dormer, and the property would also have eight detached garage units and 4,000 square feet of commercial space.
Also included in plans for the property was a section of off-street parking, as outlined by the township’s year 2020 vision plan.
“It was adamant about creating a walkable space on Main Street to try to generate walkable traffic and have the availability of parking on Main Street to create some vibrancy,” Meyer said.
Evesham Township manager Tom Czerniecki said on-street parking is “critical” to retail success as it provides the opportunity to quickly look into a store, pull up to a front parking spot and enter the store.
Czerniecki also said the parking was a safety enhancement for pedestrians, which was present in most historic towns.
“It creates a barrier and it naturally slows traffic down,” Czerniecki said.
