By JOANNE L. PAPAIANNI
After four years of planning and negotiations, Neptune City has named PRC Group as the developers for the Steiner Avenue Redevelopment Area.
The City Council had narrowed the search down to two in the past two months, but appointed PRC Group of West Long Branch at its New Years Day reorganization meeting.
They had also been negotiating with Matzel Development, located in Ocean Township.
Mayor Thomas Arnone said they chose PRC Group because they believed that company provided a better timetable for the development.
Both developers were very good, but we had serious discussions about the timetable and we thought they were more responsive to moving quickly, Arnone said.
Arnone thanked the council for all their hard work.
Unlike other municipalities where you have bickering, they gave me the leeway to get the job done, Arnone said.
The mayor said he and the redevelopment committee were meeting this week to begin setting a timetable for the project.
The mayor said one of the first orders of business was to agree on a fair market price to purchase several homes in the redevelopment zone to make way for new construction.
Arnone said the town will use its assessment along with an appraisal done by the developers to establish a price.
Homeowners are also advised to obtain their own appraisal to be used in negotiating a price for their property.
Its in the best interest of the home owner to get his own appraisal, Arnone said.
The mayor cautioned that eminent domain will be used if necessary.
If owners arent reasonable, it will happen, he said.
Arnone also said that although Steiner Avenue is currently a county road, the borough has the potential to take control of it.
Its a county road for the time being, but there is the potential for us to take over that road, he said.
We can approach them and ask how they feel about it, he said Wednesday.
A street light is also planned for the corner of Evergreen Avenue and Memorial Drive as well as an entranceway into the borough.
The redevelopment zone is an irregularly shaped area that runs along most of Steiner Avenue several blocks to the west and east to Memorial Drive.
Evergreen Avenue is the northern boundary line for the project.
The redevelopment plan, which was approved in October 2006, designates mixed uses for the land, including single family homes, condominiums or townhomes and multi-family age-restricted housing for those 55 and older.
Also included are retail sales and services and professional and general business offices.
Recreational use is also included in the plan.
Council also approved TSS Holdings, LLC as redevelopers of their own property, commonly known as the Clayton Block building.
Borough Administrator Joel Popkin said the company is constructing a similar building to the one already there along with an employee parking lot at the site.
Omega Service Group, Evergreen Ave. is also developing its own property, building an identical building to the one already there along with an employee parking lot.
The second building at the site will be used for office and storage of the companys equipment.
Councilman Larry Cross thanked the mayor for his work on the project.
We appreciate the hours you have put in, he said to applause from the audience.
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