Redevelopment Eyed For Vacant Lambertville Apartment Complex

The closed Village Apartments. Credit: Google Maps

The redevelopment of the long-shuttered Village Apartments in Lambertville is moving forward, with a new developer signing contracts for the site, Mayor Andrew Nowick announced earlier this month.

“I’ve been in contact for the last few weeks with the owner of the Village Apartments and his representative, as well as the proposed developer for that site,” Nowick told the City Council during their May 1 meeting. “I learned last week that a contract has been signed with the developer and also a contract has been signed with a builder.”

The city anticipates receiving two different redevelopment proposals from the developer.

Officials said the plans will be reviewed under redevelopment laws, with the council initially considering them in a closed session.

“The reason why it was really at a standstill, felt like it was at a standstill since the summer, was there was a previous developer in contract and that contract has now expired or the situation has changed,” Nowick explained. “There’s a new developer with a contract and it’s been given the green light to go ahead and submit two plans to the city.”

The Village Apartments redevelopment is a component of Lambertville’s strategy to address affordable housing needs.

Councilmember Steven Stegman inquired about when the public would have the opportunity to review the plans.

Nowick responded that the timeline depends on the speed of the council’s review and their ability to identify a preferred plan.

“Is it possible that we could be talking about this as early as the June meeting? Possibly, but I think it’s probably more likely the July meeting,” he stated.

The mayor emphasized that despite the progress, the redevelopment process would not be completed in time to affect the city’s fourth-round fair share housing element and plan, which is due at the end of June.

The Village Apartments, which are on North Main Street, have been closed since September 2021 after sustaining significant damage from Hurricane Ida.

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