A rendering of Legacy Apartments at 751 Vose Ave. in Orange — Courtesy: LJ Reynolds Construction Co.
By Joshua Burd
A development team has broken ground on a 51-unit apartment building in Orange, seeking to revitalize a long-vacant parcel at the southern edge of the city.
The five-story project, located at 751 Vose Ave., will produce a mix of one- and two-bedroom units just north of the South Orange border. With construction slated to take 12 to 14 months, developer Kimble Wright and its general contractor, LJ Reynolds Construction Co., recently welcomed local officials and other stakeholders to the site to mark the ceremonial start of what will be dubbed Legacy Apartments.
“I am standing here today watching the culmination of my dreams come true,” Wright said, according to a video posted by Orange Tv. “Six years ago I had a vision to give back to my community, as well as provide a legacy for my family that will last for generations to come.”
The Nov. 19 groundbreaking featured remarks by members of LJ Reynolds and Orange Mayor Dwayne D. Warren, who noted that “this lot has been sitting here for years.” Residents have pushed to see the property revitalized, he said, adding that the project has at times been a challenging one for Wright and his team.
He also said Wright has rebuffed offers from other developers seeking to buy the property and construct what he described as a lower-quality building.
“He stood because he was principled on making sure that our city and this neighborhood was revitalized and we thank you for your perseverance in that regard,” Warren said. “The City of Orange township remains open to business. We believe that if you come here and you want to develop — and you’re sincere and you want to develop our community, not just your profit — we’ll welcome you with open arms. And that’s what we did with Kimble.”
Located near the intersection of Argyle Avenue, the 74,000-square-foot project will have a green rooftop, a 24-hour fitness center and a conference room, according to LJ Reynolds. Residents will benefit from keyless fob entry, upscale interior design and Energy Star-rated stainless steel appliances, along with covered ground-level parking.
Lou Reynolds of LJ Reynolds said Legacy Apartments is the firm’s second project in the city, adding that he was “proud and honored” to work with Kimble and that “Orange has proved nothing but a phenomenal partner in this development process and very helpful in helping to guide us through every step of the way.”
Parkview Financial is the lender for the project, whose team also includes MBA Architects & Green Stories, Christie Engineering as structural engineer, Smith Miller Associates as MEP engineer and Edwin Reimon as civil engineer.
Rey Aponte, also of LJ Reynolds, said the project is indicative of the township’s potential.
“It’s a sleeping giant and I see a lot of future in Orange,” he said “This is a great asset. I’ve been very grateful to work with Kimble and his team. Lee & Associates, Parkview Financial and the city of Orange have been very supportive of the project and the vision.”
