A lot on North Street vacant for five decades is being considered for a planned residential development, one that could possibly bring a few dozen units and continue the renaissance of the 8th Street area.
Rich Cirminello of Barrier Electric purchased the land at 105.5 North St. in the 1990s and is hoping to develop it now, according to City Planner Sue Mack.
“It’s been vacant for 50 years,” Mack said. “To use a property like that is great.”
Cirminello’s plan for the site has not been presented to any board yet. It would have to go before the Bayonne Planning Board and City Council for approval.
Mack said that within the last 10 years, Cirminello did go before the Zoning Board of Adjustment for an okay to build on the land, and it was approved. Then came the 2008 recession, and the residential real estate market went soft, stalling the project.
The renewed effort comes on the heels of the state-sanctioned 8th Street Rehabilitation Area Plan, which encompasses a large swath of land from Broadway west to Newark Bay. The city completed that plan last year, and Cirminello’s property is across the street from one part of it.
“It’s been vacant for 50 years. To use a property like that is great.” – Sue Mack
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Though the 8th Street redevelopment plan is too far along to include the 105.5 North Street property, the state Department of Community Affairs suggested that since it is nearby, it might be appropriate to look at rezoning that area.
That would be done through the redevelopment process, according to Mack.
Cirminello purchased an additional lot near his North Street property a few weeks ago at auction. So his proposed redevelopment plan was held back so that the additional land could be included when his overall plan is submitted to the City Council.
The proposal should include the additional lot because the extra space will make it easier to work out the onsite parking requirements.
“He’s proposing 52 units, but it will probably be less,” Mack said. “I like the project. He’s got this nice-looking building that’s been designed.”
For now, only a proposal
In the meantime, the building height and parking allowances have to be ironed out. The area is currently zoned for three and a half stories.
Cirminello is proposing five stories, with a one- or two-level parking area, according to Mack. The project’s maximum height would be 63 feet.
Talks are focusing on providing more than the minimum .5 spaces per unit. City Business Administrator Joe Demarco has mentioned a 1.25 ratio as a possible goal, Mack said.
“It’s a proposal for a development; it hasn’t been approved by anyone yet,” Mack said. “It’s probably going to change before it gets to the Planning Board.”
Mack said the project is on the northwest side of Avenue A and North Street, between Avenue A and North Lane.
Christiano Pereira, principal of CPA Architecture in West New York, is the architect.
Joseph Passantino may be reached at JoePass@hudsonreporter.com.