A project by 314 E Development Urban Renewal LLC calls for a mix of studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments at 314-322 East 4th St. in Plainfield. — Rendering by Taylor Architecture & Design
By Joshua Burd
Plans for a new 68-unit apartment building in Plainfield are moving ahead with a key approval from city officials, according to a team with Taylor Architecture & Design.
The applicant, 314 E Development Urban Renewal LLC, could break ground later this year on what would be a mix of studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom rentals at 314-322 East 4th St. That would follow unanimous approval by the city’s planning board, which came April 16 after a presentation by Taylor Architecture & Design President Brian M. Taylor, for a concept that also includes ground-floor commercial space and 51 parking spaces.
Kevin Tempalsky, a design architect with the North Plainfield-based firm, led the building design. The balance of the development team included the applicant, land use attorney Michael J. Coskey of Greenbaum, Rowe, Smith & Davis LLP, civil engineer John Manilio of Manterra Design LLC, traffic engineer Elizabeth Dolan of Dolan & Dean Consulting Engineers LLC and professional planner John McDonough.
“The unanimous approval was granted in support of the transit-oriented development goals established by the East Third and Richmond Redevelopment Plan, which designates this area for high-density, mixed-use development in close proximity to the Plainfield train station,” Taylor wrote in a press release. “The six-story building replaces underutilized parcels with a vibrant residential and commercial presence consistent with the city’s vision for smart growth along the Raritan Valley Line corridor. The planning board recognized the project as a positive step forward for the neighborhood and the city’s broader redevelopment objectives.”
According to Taylor’s description, the building exterior will be clad in composite textured brick panel with composite panel and masonry veneer accents, giving it a rich, urban character. Large, punched windows, warm-toned accent panels and Juliet balconies articulate the residential floors above a distinct ground-floor commercial base finished in masonry veneer, the firm said, while a glass and metal penthouse volume crowns the sixth floor for a distinctive roofline.
The design also incorporates aluminum backlit signage that will identify the building and its retail tenant along East 4th Street.
Parking at the roughly half-acre site would include 11 mechanical spaces, eight electric vehicle charging spaces and ADA-compliant van-accessible stalls. According to the application, proposed tenant amenities include a lounge, a fitness center, a business center on the second floor, a third-floor courtyard and a 2,800-square-foot rooftop area.
