An already approved Glassboro townhome project for the South Academy Street Redevelopment Area heads back to Planning Board in January, with adjusted plans to support more units.
To be developed on three different closely situated sites on both sides of South Academy, back in April the project was approved for 76 residential units which would be developed as 38 duplex townhome buildings.
At the time it was stated they expected to start development in January of 2025.
It seems those plans have been adjusted as a new public notice for a January 7th Planning Board hearing for the same project/properties… now states they look to develop 92 residential units in 46 duplex townhome buildings.
This location is “catty-corner” from the Glassboro Fire Station and just a short walk to the Glassboro Town Square and Rowan Boulevard Complex of restaurants and retail.
The largest portion of the proposed townhome project is the old parking lot area between Academy and Warwick which was originally developed to support the Roxy Movie Theater which sat at the corner of Academy and High Street. The theater had been developed in 1928 but unfortunately in 2013 the building was demolished after decades of neglect.
The listed tax lots in the notice do include that corner property, but architect renderings from the original project show that the previously approved townhome development would not be developed into that corner property. I have not seen the revised site plans yet, so I am not certain if that has changed.
The other two development sites associated with the project are on the Western side of Academy. The one site closest to High Street recently had several homes demolished. The second site is adjacent to the small Greater Promise Church building.
Meeting minutes from the April Planning Board meeting indicate that there will be dedicated parking to support the townhome sites.
It was also stated that units are to be sold as traditional townhome sales agreements (not apartments) with a price range starting around $350,000. An HOA will be created to support the maintenance of the common areas of the development, with the HOA Board elected from the townhome unit ownership.
Glassboro touted the project approval at their website and Facebook…
The 3 story, up-down condos, will feature roof top decks and patios overlooking Glassboro Town Square. As Glassboro continues to grow into a vibrant place to live and work the additional residential units will support residential density to the area needed to support current businesses and restaurants as well as future development in the area.
Borough of Glassboro, RE: South Academy Street Townhome Project (Facebook)
During that hearing, questions did arise regarding “could the units end up being used for student housing?” According to the Courier-Post it was stated the sales agreements would have provisions to make it difficult for investors to buy a unit to then turn it into a student rental.
Another nearby project is in the very early stages of consideration. Back in May of this year I reported on a separate large (multi-use) housing development which would be developed across High Street from this project, on the block where the former Glassboro library was located. Early proposal documents show that other project would also include retail as well as a new expanded home for the library. That being said, the other project for the library block has not moved forward to a Planning Hearing yet so details could change.
Glassboro Camden Line
There were few things I noticed in reviewing the property lots for this townhome project, which wasn’t called out in the April planning board minutes or media coverage around that approval.
In an unrelated effort a new commuter train line is in early stages of planning which if developed will connect Glassboro with Camden. Called the Glassboro-Camden Line “GCL”… I will start deeper coverage on The GCL project in January.
Related to this townhome proposal, the Glassboro-Camden Line project’s “end” train station for Glassboro is planned to be located behind the properties on the Western side of Academy street… about 250 back off the roadway in an area behind the small Greater Promise Church building.
For the proposed townhome development, owners would be just a few minutes walk to the Rowan Boulevard complex of retails and restaurants, as well as the Glassboro-Camden Line train station (which leads to Camden, Patco and Philadelphia)
In my matching up the properties it raised two questions for me.
There are two narrow but deep lots next to (and behind) the small church building on Academy, which in Planning Board meeting minutes are identified as the location of 5 duplex townhome buildings and parking area.
First, it appears the church had been using a portion of the proposed townhome property closest to their building as a parking lot. This is identified as Borough property currently… it is also listed as one of the property lots for development of this townhome project.
Second, the adjacent thin strip of property next to that gravel parking area (which is currently wooded), is identified in the Glassboro-Camden Line documentation as being a future walk-through area for commuters to walk from Academy Street to the GCL Train Station (to be located behind the properties)
It’s important to note that the preliminary GCL Train Station documentation actually shows TWO walkways to the proposed train station, with another walkway heading in from the opposite side (Main Street).
Again while I do not have the full site plans at this time, the two connected lots are just over half-an-acre and are targeted for 10 five duplex buildings… so I am not clear on yet on impacts to the walkway use of the property for the GCL.
Links and Location
South Academy townhome Project – Glassboro
Woods Glassboro Properties Development, LLC
Planning Board Hearing
January 7, 2025 at 7:00 p.m.
Courtroom – Municipal Building
1 South Main Street
Glassboro, New Jersey 08028