Plan For Ex-Funeral Home Property In Belleville Includes Housing

BELLEVILLE, NJ — The Belleville Town Council recently gave a green light to a redevelopment plan for a patch of properties that includes a former filming location for “The Sopranos.”

The Belleville Town Council voted in favor of Ordinance 08-24 during their March 26 meeting (watch the video below cued to the discussion, or view meeting footage online here).

The ordinance adopts the 272-278 Washington Avenue Redevelopment Plan. The involved properties include the now-shuttered Irvine Cozzarelli Memorial Home on Washington Avenue, which was the setting for many of the wakes and funerals on “The Sopranos.”

The redevelopment plan includes up to 74 residential units that could be built on the site.

The Belleville Historical Society released an op-ed in 2022, saying the group was concerned about the designation of the Cozzarelli Memorial Home property as an area in need of redevelopment.

“The building was constructed in 1887 and as far as we know, it was Belleville's first funeral home,” the historical society stated. “It is one of the last surviving historical structures in Belleville.”

The cousin of the late owners, Frank Cozzarelli, previously said the family unsuccessfully tried to find another funeral home operator to take over the property. He added that he doesn't think the home is a historical piece of property and said that it needs a lot of work.

• See Related: Future Uncertain For Belleville Funeral Home With 'Sopranos' Link
• See Related: Preserve This Belleville 'Town Jewel,' Historical Society Says (Op-Ed)
• See Related: NJ Restaurant Sells Famous Booth From 'The Sopranos' For Big Bucks

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