The following was first published on February 21:
Maplewood Township officials will host two in-person community meetings — Feb. 29 at the Woodland and March 14 at the Burgdorff — to discuss the redevelopment of an area including the former Maplewood Theater and the former Bank of America. (See the flyer below for details).
UPDATE: On Monday, March 11, the Township announced that in anticipation of high turnout, the March meeting would be in-person as well as on Zoom, and that it would be recorded:
In response to anticipated high turnout for the second Community Meeting about development in the Village, we have moved the meeting to Town Hall, 574 Valley Street. The date and time is the same: Thursday, March 14 at 7PM.
Having the meeting at Town Hall also lets us simulcast the meeting remotely, which is not an option at most other township buildings. Join us for a second visioning session about the opportunities for smart growth in our downtown!
If you would like to participate via Zoom:
When: Mar 14, 2024 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Topic: Community Meeting – Maplewood Theater Redevelopment Area
Please click the link below to join the webinar:
Passcode: 183464
Or One tap mobile :
+13092053325,,84324736216#
Or Telephone:
(929) 205-6099
Webinar ID: 843 2473 6216
The Township Committee recently adopted the Planning Board’s recommendation to designate six of the eight lots within the area, which face Maplewood Avenue and are between Inwood Place and Durand Road, as a “non-condemnation area in need of redevelopment,” following the results of a study commissioned by the TC.
Both the Maplewood Theater and Bank of America spaces have been vacant for several years. A plan by Cinema Lab to reopen the theater fell through in early 2022 and the liquor license bid acquired for the venture was denied by the local liquor control board. Another deal with local resident Brandon Collier, who is currently developing 7 West Parker, a 46-unit apartment building at the site of the former Gleason’s Cleaners, also fell through.
The meetings will both be in-person only and will not be livestreamed.
“…unfortunately the technology doesn’t exist at The Woodland,” said Mayor Nancy Adams. “If a third meeting is determined to be needed, we may do it at Town Hall. We didn’t want to do this meeting in a formal setting like town hall so people will be more comfortable sharing ideas.”
See the full redevelopment study here:
