By Courtney Dentch
The plan, which includes 54 apartment units, commercial space, and parking, received an informal green light from Borough President Helen Marshall last Thursday at a borough land use hearing, said Dan Andrews, Marshall's spokesman.
“The borough president was very happy with the presentation and the fact that housing would be coming into the area,” he said. “She was very impressed.”
Marshall will make a formal recommendation to the city's Board of Standards and Appeals over the next several weeks, Andrews said.
The plan calls for construction of a four-story building at 110-42 Merrick Blvd. across from the cathedral. The upper floors of the 52,000-square-foot building would be divided up into 54 apartment units, ranging from one-room studios to apartments large enough to house a family, Edwin Reed, chief financial officer for the church told a Community Board 12 meeting last year.
The proposal also includes a parking garage for residents, community members and commercial delivery trucks, to prevent the increased traffic from adding to the existing congestion on Merrick Boulevard.
Repeated calls to the Greater Allen Cathedral seeking comment on the plans were not returned.
The plans also call for businesses to fill the commercial space on the first floor. Greater Allen is hoping to lure a quality eatery as one of the tenants, a goal Marshall agrees with, Andrews said.
“The borough president would like to see some of the larger restaurant chains come into the retail space on the ground floor,” he said.
Community Board 12 also supported the project and voted 35-0-1 in favor of it at its January meeting.
The proposal will now face the City Planning Commission and the Board of Standards of Appeals to secure the zoning variances needed for construction, Andrews said.
Reach reporter Courtney Dentch by e-mail at news@timesledger.com, or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 138.
