A project by 21st Street Urban Renewal LLC would bring 156 apartments and 10,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space to a site at 734-748 Springfield Ave. in Irvington. — Rendering courtesy: Taylor Architecture & Design
By Joshua Burd
A developer has taken a key step toward bringing 156 new apartments and retail space to a well-known corridor in Irvington, according to a project team with Taylor Architecture & Design.
The proposal, which would transform a corner property at 734-748 Springfield Ave., secured preliminary and final site plan approval late last month from the township’s planning board. The unanimous vote helped advance a piece of Irvington’s East Ward/East Springfield Avenue Redevelopment Plan, which Taylor said benefits from a state Transit Village designation and potentially favorable tax treatment under the state Urban Enterprise Zone and federal Opportunity Zone programs.
Taylor Architecture’s Italo Teixeria spearheaded the design of the six-story building, while President Brian Taylor presented the project. They noted that plans call for a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom homes with amenities such as a first-floor lounge, a game room, a community kitchen, a fitness center, coworking space, resident storage and a second-level amenity deck, along with 10,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space and covered basement and grade-level parking.
“The refreshing design of the exterior of the building brings needed life to the neighborhood,” North Plainfield-based Taylor Architecture wrote in a news release. “Located on Springfield Avenue between 21st and 22nd streets, the building has two distinct corner elements defined with inset balconies. Iron spot brick veneer and a two-color fiber cement panel façade undulate both vertically and horizontally for a clean, contemporary look using traditional materials. The tall, continuous storefront glazing will highlight new commercial space and the residential lobby, activating the streetscape along Springfield Avenue.”
The project team working on behalf of 21st Street Urban Renewal LLC also includes land use attorney Jennifer Carrillo-Perez of Connell Foley LLP, civil engineer Rick Adelsohn of Frank H. Lehr Associates, planner John McDonough of John McDonough Associates LLC and traffic engineer Elizabeth Dolan of Dolan & Dean Consulting Engineers LLC.
