Land Development Today - July/August 2007 - (Page 20)

REDEVELOPMENT businesses and the mud and dust that accompany development anywhere. “This is a large scale project in a part of the city that is only recently seeing significant new construction,” says Tom Barton, principal of BartonPartners. “It’s not enough just to get approvals. Planning and designing The National East required that we continually demonstrate to interested parties that development plans would preserve the fabric of the neighborhood while improving the quality of life for residents of, and visitors to, Old City and Philadelphia.” Underground parking was the solution to the concerns of merchants and residents in the neighborhood who shared the eternal urban concern about scarce on-street parking. Three hundred parking stalls below ground in the East and West parcels will be offered to buyers at The National East, then to other local residents. The housing plan for the site builds gracefully in scale, rising from nine three-story townhomes adjacent to Elfreth’s Alley to a six-story loft and condo building and topping out with a ten-story condo tower. Restoration work has posed interesting challenges as well. The terra cotta façade consists of 1,500 handmade terra cotta tiles in dozens of varied shapes and sizes, all of which need intervention. Once finished, the 2nd Street façade will welcome shoppers to the boutiques and galleries planned for the 15,000 square feet of ground level retail space. While the market for housing in the city remains hot, Patron says, “The National’s condo units and lofts will offer price points that enable singles and first-time buyers to afford to live in one of Philadelphia’s greatest neighborhoods. We will have some 650 square foot efficiencies and one-bedrooms. But in this location, with so much property nearby under preservation and height restrictions, we can build units with killer views of the Center City skyline, the Delaware River, and the Ben Franklin Bridge. These go as large as 1,900 square feet, with terraces, and should appeal to people who can live anywhere in the city or the suburbs, but choose this dynamic neighborhood.” Reviving a White Elephant in Morristown In Morristown, NJ a century ago, Theodore Vail, president of AT & T and chief architect of the Bell System, commissioned the design of a 20,000 square foot Italian Renaissance villa that would serve as both his residence and a museum for his family inventions. Ironically, Vail died on a safari and never moved here; in 1922 the mansion assumed a new purpose as Morristown’s municipal offices. More recently, the Mansion lay unused for many years before the town arrived at a viable plan to realize the potential of this stately white elephant. Combining in a joint venture called Rosewood, Roseland Property Company and Woodmont Properties responded to Morristown’s request for a proposal, and were selected as the developer of the four-acre site. “Our plan captured the vision the town had for this property,” says Woodmont CEO Eric Witmondt. “They wanted to preserve the grandeur of the original villa within a functional complex that would bring life to the area and integrate the building into the context of the town.” “Through the Morristown Redevelopment Agency and The Morristown Partnership, this town has made a great commitment to planning open space and preserving a high quality of life,” says Debra Tantleff, Roseland’s development manager. “This project fits right in with Morristown’s priorities.” All the grounds of the property will be open to the public, including a war memorial and an acre of surrounding parkland. A public/private partnership plans to rebuild a reflecting pool in the park, according to Widmont. BartonPartners designed a two-level parking garage that meets the needs both of the condo buyers and of the town. One floor of parking is for residents, with two spaces allocated to each unit and entry at the rear of the structure. Public parking, on the second level of the deck, is isolated from access to the condo elevators but has access to the original Mansion entrance level. More parking is available on the oval entryway from South Street. More than 150,000 square feet of residential space on three floors is being built in a C shape, with the Mansion nestled in the center; construction is due to be completed this year. The Italianate architecture inspired BartonPartners’ design of a three-story mid-rise which sits above two stories of below-grade parking built into a hillside. This traditional exterior architecture in stucco and cast concrete is comforting and appealing to prosperous buyers; the setting amidst parkland appeals strongly to well-to-do individuals and couples. With 70 percent of the Vail Mansion’s 36 condo units already sold at prices averaging $900,000, the product offering has strong appeal to the market. Inside the three-story residential buildings, double-loaded corridors give onto large, well appointed condominium units of 1,700 square feet and up. “The buildings are served by two elevators, and each residence comes with two parking spaces in the lower level of the structure to meet the expectations of buyers who are accustomed to the suburban lifestyle,” says Eric Witmondt. “Concierge service is planned, along with exclusive amenities like a billiard room.” “The sophistication of the site sells these condos,” Tantleff says. “It is unique, and it has a history and meaning to people in Morris County. It’s a very upscale location, near the Morristown Theater and restaurants in the pedestrian-oriented town center, yet just a few blocks from the train station and close to highways, providing easy access by rail or car to the commerce, culture and vibrancy of New York City.” “Most of the buyers thus far have been transplants from elsewhere in Morris County, mostly empty nesters downsizing and moving into a town they regard as stimulating yet comfortable. To our market, I think the location within Morristown is more important than proximity to New York City.” SLDT About the author: Chris Reynolds is a freelance writer and is a frequent contributor to Sustainable Land Development Today. He can be reached by email at chris@reynoldsink.com. 20 July/August 2007 Sustainable Land Development Today

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Land Development Today - July/August 2007

Cover Contents Our Voice: Industry Advocates Your Voice: Reader Response Cover Story: Preparing Your Tax Strategy The Rules of the Game Historical Redevelopment Project Profile: Seattle’s High Point Retention: From Ravine to Road Land Use: Picatinny Arsenal Mixed Use: Florida Offices Industry News Products/Services Showcase Classifieds Recommended Reading Advertiser Index Editorial Board The Last Word: What? Me Plan… Urban Development

Land Development Today - July/August 2007

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