Ventnor Professional Campus
By NANETTE LoBIONDO GALLOWAY
VENTNOR – The Board of Commissioners Thursday, Oct. 27 passed a resolution directing the Planning Board to preliminarily investigate deeming the 2.3-acre Ventnor Professional Campus at 6601 Ventnor Ave. an area in need of redevelopment under New Jersey’s Local Redevelopment and Housing Law.
The plaza’s new owner has approached the city to redevelop the property with commercial/professional businesses along Ventnor Avenue, while the building at the rear of the property would be demolished to make way for “neo-traditional” townhouses with off-street parking.
“There would be no curb cuts,” Mayor Lance Landgraf said.
Some of the residences would have parking below while others would park in a lot with access from the back of the old schoolhouse building once call the Ventnor Avenue School. A portion of the property abuts Ventnor City Firehouse #1 on Troy Avenue.
The redevelopment designation is needed because the building is currently a professional plaza that has just 30% of its space occupied at this time. The designation would allow the city to change the zoning and provide the developer with tax incentives.
The planning board’s investigation will determine if the property qualifies for the redevelopment designation. To qualify, the study must determine if the property is in deteriorated or substandard condition; has a pattern of vacancy, abandonment or underutilization; is persistently behind in paying taxes; has environmental contamination that discourages investment; or the infrastructure is older than 50 years and in need of repair. Any one condition would qualify the property for the redevelopment designation.
The redevelopment study will be funded by the applicant. The redevelopment law will be employed without the use of eminent domain.
If the planning board determines the property qualifies as an area in need of redevelopment, it will make a recommendation to the Board of Commissioners. If the commissioners agree, a full Redevelopment Plan will be developed for the area, and the board may provide tax incentives to the developer.
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