Politics & Government

West Side Lofts: Yes. Color: No

West Side Lofts project is approved by Red Bank's Zoning Board, but on the condition that it change its bright colors.

In the end it wasn’t the available parking that posed the biggest concern for the Red Bank Zoning Board, nor was it the increased height of the building proposed by developers or the decrease in retail space either.

The one thing the zoning board couldn’t see past when it came to the , wasn’t willing to compromise on, was the proposed color of the building.

On Thursday, the board approved the application of Metrovation Capital to build 92 one and two-bedroom apartments, more than 20,000 feet of retail space that will accommodate shops and a brew pub, and a parking garage with just 213 spaces, a 50-spot reduction from a previous application that was approved by the board five years ago. Though the board was willing to compromise on the most pressing issue – the parking – following the testimony of a slew of professionals and assurances from the developer that all parking solutions will be in play, there’s one issue that the board refused to bend on: .

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“They have to comply with changing the colors,” board member Jesse Garrison said by phone Friday morning. “They have to sell some real colors because what they came up with doesn’t work.”

When the plan first came before the board in 2006 it was approved, colors and all. A lawsuit and a downturn in the economy delayed the project and caused developers to revise the plan a bit, including dumping the idea of selling the apartments in favor of a more stable renting plan. However, during preliminary discussions about the new application, a couple of board members focused their sites on the plan’s bright and modern color scheme.

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Computer drawings of the building show a lower brick and glass façade topped – where the apartments will be located – with sections of various pastel shades of colors. , rebuking a planner’s talk about a modern design that would be used to attract young professionals.

With the promise of board approval, however, Garrison said the developers are willing to reconsider the building’s colors. Some board members said they hoped Metrovation would design something more in tune with the early 20th century brick industrial, warehouse vibe of the neighborhood.

“They’re willing to do whatever they can to get this going,” he said.

Metrovation is responsible for developing the as well as restoring several downtown Red Bank buildings now occupied by a slew of different businesses. Garrison said he’s confident the West Side Lofts project will be a good fit for Red Bank.

“It’s been hanging out there for a lot of years,” he said. “I think it’s going to be a great thing for Red Bank.”


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