After Backlash, Lambertville Announces Info Session On Redevelopment Plan

LAMBERTVILLE, NJ — After the city's governing body approved ordinances for a redevelopment plan in Lambertville, an information session on the plan will go forward Wednesday.

On Dec. 2, the mayor and city council voted to introduce ordinances to facilitate the Police Site Redevelopment Project. The initiative would turn the current police station site into a four-story apartment building with twenty-seven residential units, five of which would be affordable housing, and a parking lot of forty-six spaces.

The information session will include, but will not be limited to, a financial analysis that includes tax implications, budget review, and a discussion on the terms of the lease agreement.

As outlined on the city website, Lambertville Urban Renewal, LLC (owned by Kalian Management) will purchase the land where the current police station at 349 N Main St. sits for $1,000,000, undertaking a building project estimated to cost at least $9,500,000.

As for the police station, the city proposes to lease a space at 80 Lambert Lane for at least five years.

Mayor Julia Fahl has made affordable housing and mitigating city debt a key piece of her goals for Lambertville; she will leave office after this month as incumbent Andrew Nowick steps into the role.

However, organizations such as the community "watchdog" Lambertville United have pushed back on this particular plan, before and after the ordinance approval. Fahl and the New Jersey Sierra Club have sparred previously about environmental concerns with the site, which the club has called contaminated and flood-prone, when it comes to housing.

Community member Matthew Hanson also raised a red flag about the proposed new police station site's proximity to the Delaware River, in a notorious flood zone. Hanson repeatedly encouraged council members to vote "no" on the project.

Residents have also raised concerns that housing needs in the community after the devastation from Ida's remnants outpace the five-unit affordable housing capacity currently proposed.

"[F]lash flooding from Alexauken Creek during Hurricane Ida devastated the northern part of town, including the Village Apartments," Hanson wrote. "This displaced over 50 families and eliminated the main site of affordable housing downtown."

Lambertville has set up an email, police.site.redevelopment@lambertvillenj.org, where residents can voice opinions and ask questions on the project.

The council has scheduled an additional work session on the project for Dec. 14, prior to a final public hearing and vote at 7 p.m. Dec. 16 in the all-purpose-room of the Lambertville Public School.

Wednesday's meeting will take place on Zoom at 6 p.m., and a webinar link is accessible here.

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