A two-building development plan known as “Cedar Square” has been in front of the German Village Commission twice for review at the February and March commission meetings. The project, submitted by local architectural firm Berardi + Partners, calls for the construction of two new four-story buildings located between 247 and 281 East Livingston Avenue.
The first proposal submitted in February called for 74 residential units and 54 parking spaces. before being reduced to 55 units for the second presentation in March.
“The commission had issues with massing, particularly that which is at the rear of the property facing Blenkner,” stated Nancy Kotting, Historic Preservation Advocate for the German Village Society. “They also had issues with height. I have not heard any feedback from residents as of yet.”
The newer proposal submitted in March “attempts to incorporate comments heard by the commission” according to the project description notes. That included elevation setbacks to break up massing, the aforementioned reduction of residential units, and the accommodation of 41 residential parking spaces and another seven designated specifically for restaurant use.
“A vote was not taken,” said Kotting on the results of the March meeting. “It remains in conceptual review. I believe it will be back for review a third time, but we will not know until the deadline for the April Meeting which is March 20th.”
If constructed as planned, one of the two new buildings would replace a surface parking lot next door to the former Happy Dragon restaurant, while the other would require the demolition of a two-story brick commercial building that dates back to the 1920s.
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All renderings via Berardi + Partners.
