A redeveloper is looking to construct a multi-family mixed-use residential and commercial building on the corner of Avenue C and West 54th Street in Bayonne.
If approved, site plans show the building would be a taller structure in the surrounding uptown neighborhood, generally defined by two- and three-story residential and commercial buildings.
The applicant, known as Da Noi Residence, LLC, was seeking final site plan approval for 1099-1105 Avenue C and 66-68 West 54th Street at the September 13 meeting of the Bayonne Planning Board.
The company is owned 50 percent by Luis Gomez of Jersey City, New Jersey and 50 percent of Angel Rivas of Astoria, New York.
The current redevelopment area consists of three lots on Avenue C, consisting of a mixed-use residential and commercial building home to Irv’s Liquors at 1099 Avenue C, a residential building at 1101 Avenue C, and the Da Noi restaurant at 1105 Avenue C.
Additionally, the redevelopment area includes two homes at 66 and 68 West 54th Street.
The sites were designated as areas in need of redevelopment by both the Planning Board in February of 2020 and the City Council in July of 2020, after a redevelopment study was conducted.
The redevelopment plan was subsequently approved by the Planning Board in December of 2020 and the City Council in March of 2021 after some postponement due to debate of whether to require ground floor commercial space.
These planning approvals paved the way for the redeveloper to seek final site plan approval in 2022 amid the pause on most major redevelopment pending the completion of an impact study, although the approvals were granted prior to when the pause was enacted.
Planned mixed-use residential and commercial low-rise
The plans envision a six-story mixed-use residential and commercial redevelopment with 47 residential units and 1,695 square feet of ground floor community-oriented retail space. Of the 47 residential units, there would be 4 studio units, 18 one-bedroom units, and 25 two-bedroom units. The building would feature five levels of living space over parking and commercial space on the ground floor.
In addition to the commercial and residential units, there would also be various amenities and 59 off-street parking spaces. Planned amenities would include lighting, rooftop amenities, outdoor terraces, green roof area, an exercise center, a multi-purpose room, bicycle storage, associated streetscape improvements, and other improvements and amenities planned by the redeveloper.
According to the environmental impact statement as part of application for the redevelopment, the estimated population of the building would be approximately 97 persons, with a higher distribution to the 18 to 34 age brackets. The estimated public-school age population would be 11 students.
According to a site plan referral document, most commission members of the Historical Preservation Committee did not comment. But two members expressed concern over the loss of the Da Noi restaurant, and one expressed opposition to the proposal, stating “the city has enough apartment houses,” but the document did not clarify who.
While slated for a hearing at the September 13 meeting, the redevelopment application was postponed until the October meeting at the request of attorney for the applicant Michael Miceli. The board members present voted unanimously for the postponement.
The Planning Board will meet next on October 11 at 6 p.m. in the council chambers in City Hall at 630 Avenue C. For more information, go to bayonnenj.org.
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