Homeless Solutions Gets Approval for Apartments on MLK Avenue

It was a long deliberation, but Homeless Solutions won approval for a new project on Martin Luther Kind Avenue this week.

The proposal—for six one-bedroom apartments in a building meant to mimic the look of a single-family house—was approved by the  Zoning Board of Adjustment during its Wednesday, Sept. 15 meeting. 

Founded in 1983, Homeless Solutions currently operates 35 rental-unit apartments in five locations throughout Morris County, with five more projects in the works, including properties on Harrison Street and Abbett Avenue. Homeless Solutions currently operates apartments in Morristown on Abbett Avenue and Morton Street. Funding for projects comes primarily through corporate grants and private donors.

Homeless Solutions' primary clients are those who have been homeless or victims of domestic abuse, all classified as having either "low" or "very low" income status.

The apartment building is proposed to be built on a vacant .24-acre lot at 81 Martin Luther King Ave., adjacent to Evergreen Cemetery. It would be three stories, with most apartments measuring 660 square feet. The top floor apartments would be 600 square feet, as some space would be sacrificed by gables on the roof, which would give the building the look of a single-family dwelling.

Witnesses for Homeless Solutions noted a number of energy-efficient touches to the project.

"We have been at the forefront of 'green' building," said Daniel McGuire, director of headquarters development for Homeless Solutions, which, in addition to rental units has an 82-bed facility on West Hanover Avenue in Morris Township. "At minimum, all our projects attain Energy Star status. They embrace sustainability and are a perfect complement to Morristown." 

High-insulating materials would be used in construction of the building, which would be built on a concrete slab, instead of having a basement, reducing the amount of energy needed to heat and cool the place. Solar panels would be installed discretely in the back, which would help provide power for common areas.

Jeff Rawding, of F.J. Rawding Architecture, said the building would use about two-thirds of the power for air conditioning and heating that a normal apartment building of similar size would use. 

There would be eight parking spaces in the back of the building, one designated for handicapped access. The first floor apartments would be handicapped accessible, as well. Two parking spaces, on the side of the building were originally proposed, but were agreed after much deliberation by the zoning board and Homeless Solutions to be "banked," or reserved, for a maximum of three years. If needed, Homeless Solutions could put the spaces in. After three years, it would no longer be allowed to do so without first seeking additional approval from the town. 

Another issue of contention for much of the night was the decision by Homeless Solutions to remove an old large tree, which is in the space where the banked parking spaces would be. Engineer Richard Schoemer, one of the witnesses asked to testify for Homeless Solutions, said half the tree was dead, which led the organization to believe it would have to be cut down eventually anyway. 

"I didn't really recall it being in that distressed a state," said zoning board member Cary Lloyd.

"When a tree is split like that, it's really not very healthy," Schoemer said. "We have a number of new trees going on the site. We are certainly replanting the property."

The zoning board ultimately requested its own tree expert be brought in to inspect the condition of the tree. If the expert determined the tree to be in poor shape, the town would then allow Homeless Solutions to remove it.

Throughout the evening, witnesses called the project "a good fit."

"You get the rhythm of the neighborhood, you get the sense of it fitting in," said landscape architect George Ritter. "I think this is a positive project."

McGuire said Homeless Solutions would now go out to obtain funds for the project and hoped construction could begin within six-to-nine months.