Second Ford Ave. Redeveloper Now Official

The Ford Avenue redevelopment process continued Thursday night when the second of two redevelopers was made official.

Town Council, which acts as the town's redevelopment agency, approved Mountain Center Realty LLC as the second redeveloper on the part of the project occupied by the long abandoned Bell Atlantic building at 10 Ford Ave. Leonia Developers LLC, which was already the designated redeveloper of a 1.2-acre former junkyard at 185 Morris St., had their designation renewed.

Redevelopment planners from Jonathan Rose Companies gave Town Council on , noting the new inclusion of the Bell Atlantic building and its land to the project. A representive for ROI Management, owned by the property's owner Tom Maoli, came to a neighborhood meeting in April where the planners presented concepts to the public, which led to his joining the fold.

As of , the two redevelopment areas would comprise 71 units–37 rental units in the rehabbed Bell Atlantic buildings and 30 townhouse units on the former junkyard, which is owned by Peter Cippolini and Joseph Lobozzo. Leonia's parcel also would include four units marketed as affordable housing, which may or may not be self-contained in a rehabilitated property on Morris Street, planners told Town Council in July.

Phil Abramson, of Jonathan Rose Companies, also said a confidential draft of the current redevelopment plan was distributed to the council at Thursday's meeting for comment. "Once reviewed, it'll then be made public for public comment," he said.

The next redevelopment meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 13.