Plans for Brookside at Montville call for 266 homes reserved for residents 55 and older, including four-story apartment buildings over structured parking, along with a limited number of townhomes. — Rendering courtesy: Diversified Properties
By Joshua Burd
Diversified Properties has reached a key milestone in a plan to bring nearly 270 age-restricted apartments to a scenic 30-acre property in Montville.
The firm, which is based in the township, said it has closed title on the tract that will house what’s known as Brookside at Montville. It’s now advancing the fully approved, 266-unit project off Route 202, which will consist largely four-story apartment buildings over structured parking, along with a limited number of townhomes.
Nearly half of the site, almost 15 acres, will remain permanently deed-restricted as conservation land, protecting natural resources and maintaining the wooded character of the property.
“Closing on the property allows us to move forward with confidence and begin the next phase of bringing Brookside at Montville to life,” said Nicholas Minoia, managing member of Diversified Properties. “This has been a long-term vision for us, and we are excited to continue the process of creating a best-in-class active adult community that truly reflects the needs and interests of today’s active adult residents.”
According to a news release, Brookside at Montville is slated to include amenities such as a clubhouse with a demonstration kitchen, indoor and outdoor pools, fitness spaces, pickleball and tennis courts, a putting green and community gardens, among others. Residents will also benefit from dog parks, areas designed for social gatherings and recreation and natural elements such as a central pond and a picturesque stream that runs through the property.
Diversified added that it will carefully relocate and restore a structure once known as the Benjamin Lawrence Tavern, which dates to the late 1700s, as part of the community. Plans call for the building to be reimagined as a gathering space, while the complex’s main thoroughfare will be named Benjamin Lawrence Way.
The property will also benefit from its proximity to major highways such as Interstate 287, as well as nearby shopping, dining and cultural destinations throughout Morris County and surrounding areas.
