Maple Shade seeks to revitalize building

posted without permission from the Courier Post

Maple Shade seeks to revitalize building

By JEREMY ROSEN
Courier-Post Staff

Plans are in the works for a developer to revitalize a block in the heart of Maple Shade.

Township officials hope that revamping a dormant building on a block of West Main Street between Lippincott and Terrace avenues will energize its stagnant downtown.

George Haeuber, township manager, said Maple Shade has wanted a developer to do something with the privately owned building, the majority of which has been vacant for the past several years.

"We tried to let the market do its thing and nothing has happened," he said. "We're really in the early stages, but making it into a redevelopment area should expedite some activity."

Mark Remsa, Burlington County director of economic development and planning, is drafting a revitalization plan for that block per request of the township council and planning board.

"We've concluded that the area qualifies as a redevelopment area," he said. "The goals are to revitalize that one block dominated by that huge building."

Several of the building's Main Street storefronts are occupied, but officials said the rear of the building has been shut down and has been ruled chemically contaminated by the state Department of Environmental Protection. The contamination, officials said, was caused by a printing and graphics business that last operated in the closed-off portion of the two-story warehouse building.

The building's owner couldn't be reached last week for comment.

Other physical characteristics of the building and DEP reports couldn't be obtained last week from local and state officials.

Haeuber, Remsa and Councilman Rob Wells said the owners of the building are on board with a redevelopment plan.

With most of the building dilapidated for years in the heart of downtown, Wells said the township had a responsibility to step in with a plan.

"This is the best thing for the owners and occupants," he said. "This'll help to further commerce to provide necessary tools to make downtown a successful economy."

Wells, a resident of about 40 years, said Maple Shade's Main Street is functioning somewhere between the effectiveness of Woodbury's struggling downtown and Collingswood's thriving business district. He said it is trial and error for Maple Shade, between the Cherry Hill and Moorestown malls, to develop an attractive identity for businesses and people.

John Fuss, manager of By The Lb. deli that opened on Main Street in late August, said he hopes to help make downtown more interactive and walkable by initiating outdoor dining next year.

Fuss said Remsa's redevelopment plan is "something people need."

"I think if they get something in there it will turn it around," he said.

Around 30 percent of Maple Shade's business district is vacant, officials said.

The organization Main Street Maple Shade lists seven available commercial properties on its Web site.

Officials said Remsa's redevelopment plan should help position a potential developer to receive competitive state and federal development aid.

Other financing tools, like local tax abatements or payment in lieu of taxes are possible with redevelopment, Remsa said.

Remsa intends to submit in January a draft of his redevelopment plan to members of the Maple Shade council and planning board. If the plan is accepted by local officials, Remsa said he'd finalize the plan that would be adopted into local ordinance, which would minimize variances needed for a developer.

Reach Jeremy Rosen at (856) 486-2456 or jrosen@camden.gannett.com