The May 26 meeting of the Evesham Township Council was yet another step in the long, slow and possibly soon-to-be complete journey of what residents and local officials have long derided as an eyesore — the aging and vacant Route 70 Tri-Towne Plaza.
Residents who attended the May 26 meeting had the chance to hear the latest from Richard Birdoff, of New York-based RD Management, the owner of the plaza, on just how he hopes to have the barren buildings soon transform into a mixed-use commercial and residential site known as Renaissance Square.
“We think we’ve developed an exciting concept that will bring a mixed use to the area and bring a lot of excitement and much better product for there,” Birdoff said.
Birdoff’s presentation outlined plans to demolish the old Sears building and remove the nearby Burger King building, and replace them with a total of five residential buildings, with a total of 338 upscale apartments.
Four of the five buildings will contain 45 units each, while the fifth larger building will have 158 units with some ground-floor amenities, a rear swimming pool and front courtyard where residents can drive through and pick up or drop off people.
In addition, Birdoff said he plans to erect a new, 12,600 square foot commercial building that’s going to be service oriented for the residents in the apartments, with possible businesses such as dry cleaners or small food establishments.
On the side of that building facing Route 70, those businesses would also have storefront windows so the businesses could have an area to display their services.
Also planned are two restaurant pad sites in front of the residential buildings that will be the closest to Route 70, and Birdoff said he is already in discussions with several interested parties.
Birdoff also outlined what has been a problem with many properties along Route 70, that of the nearly 150-foot swath of land buffering business from the road known as Rockefeller Easement, which the state DOT owns.
While the DOT won’t let buildings be developed on the land, Birdoff said through the help of Evesham Township officials and Mayor Randy Brown, the DOT has been open to allowing Birdoff to cultivate a series of paths, benches and green areas in the space.
Also planned are the addition of sidewalks along the plaza’s frontage on Plymouth Drive and North Locust Avenue through which residents could more easily walk to Main Street.
Birdoff said he hopes to have the redevelopment plans move through the planning board by July or August, and would like to start construction in the fall.
When the floor was opened to questions from members of the public, only one resident, Marlene Pinelas, spoke, and questioned where all the new residents from the Renaissance Square and other upcoming apartment projects in the township would buy groceries.
Brown said that although Birdoff’s property has long been rumored as a potential site for a new grocery store, there were no current retailers with interest in moving to the space, despite both Brown and Birdoff openly welcoming that type of addition.
“As we are a public entity and we set public policy, we can’t demand for someone to build a supermarket,” Brown said. “Whatever private entity wants to come to Evesham and create a supermarket, they’re more than welcome to.”
The master redeveloper for the Renaissance project is scheduled to be designated at the council’s next meeting on June 9.
