The Ventnor Planning Board met on November 18 to vote on the proposed redevelopment of the former public school at 6601 Ventnor Ave, now called the Ventnor Professional Campus.
Small businesses like Let’s Face it operate there.
Listen to audio clips. For some reason, the Ventnor Planning Board still blocks live ZOOM video and YouTube archives of these critical meetings. Contact Mayor Kriebel for detail.
The developer (DAJ) received (pending) approval for their preliminary and final site plan to transform the 2.3-acre site into a mixed-use property, including 33 residential lots and one commercial lot.
** CAFRA must OK plan before proceeding
Each townhouse unit could be priced at $800,000.
Plan involves demolishing old brick schoolhouse to construct 33 townhouses, while front ICONIC portion will be renovated for commercial tenants.
Density reduced from potential 46! units to 33 three-bedroom units.
Community concerns. Lack of awareness about plans and potential parking issues.
The campus consists of two historic 1940s school buildings and a sizable surface parking lot, occupying a full city block just two blocks from both the beach and the bay.
This project positions the Ventnor Professional Campus as a cornerstone of revitalization in this sought-after community.
Summary of Key Points from Ventnor Planning Board meeting.
The discussion revolves around a proposed redevelopment project for a property that includes the vacant Ventnor Professional Building site.
Project Details and Approvals
- The site has been vacant for 20 years.
- The proposal is for 33 residential units.
- The project is characterized as “by-right” site plan. Landgraf claims project could have built 20 units per acre.
- Redevelopment Goal: Allow units in rear to save the front building, described as “iconic structure”.
- Project anticipated to take 18 to 24 months to complete.
- Project subject to CAFRA (Coastal Area Facility Review Act) approval.
Public and Board Concerns
- Density and Impact: The project will “change the dynamic of that area dramatically”. The density and number of units are a major concern for residents.
- Parking: Significant concern for residents. Project will remove six parking spaces on New Haven and a similar amount on Troy Avenue.
- Construction Abandonment Risk: Former Ventnor Mayor expressed concern that the market might soften, leading to an abandoned, half-built project in the middle of the city.
- Emergency Services Access: Density is a major concern specifically regarding emergency services and access to Winchester Ave.
- Affordable Housing: Commissioner Lance Landgraf said project does not impact town’s affordable housing requirements.
- Environmental Impact Statement (EIS): A resident is still looking for the EIS, and it was noted that City Hall does not have a copy. The project is subject to CAFRA approval.
- Stormwater/Nuisance Issues: Residents asked who to contact for issues like stormwater runoff, sewage, lighting, and noise, and were told to “Call the city”.
Meeting Process
- Notice: One resident stated they only received notice for the first meeting two hours before it was held. Another resident noted that the last meeting’s information was not posted, but the information for the current meeting was.
- Audio of meeting was very poor. No ZOOM video. Why no transparency for a meeting like this?
I thought Ventnor did a better job at restoring and maintaining and retaining historic buildings. So sad.
Many memories at Ventnor Ave School cannot be erased because the city feels the need to build townhouses. Too bad the city couldn’t make it into a beautiful park.
Feels the “need to build townhouses” (instead of a beautiful park)? 35 units at 800K or more represents a big lift for the tax base. You want sharply higher taxes to pay for your sunshine and rainbows delusion?
How many parking spaces per unit? Parking is already an issue in that area.
The Concern is Parking, Parking, Parking!
Living under the fire whistle.
Please stop destroying our beautiful buildings! This is why Europe is so beautiful. They “preserve protect & maintain” their iconic beautiful structures, and here we are
destroying them.
This is so sad…changes the gorgeous character of Ventnor and it’s beautiful structures not to mention the beautiful homes you’ve destroyed in St. Leonard’s Tract .. absolutely heartbreaking.
Why would you allow your city to be demolished like this?
Time marches on. Someone buys a property, in this case a dilapidated building and chooses to develop it there is no reason not to – least of which is to help the tax base.
Character is nice. It doesn’t pay the bills or attract NEW homeowners.