Community Corner

More Details Emerge on Lenola Redevelopment Plan

A number of residents seemed to embrace the developers' plans for the empty Lenola Auto Mall and Getty lots on Camden Avenue.

A group of developers proposing to rehab a long-empty lot in Lenola had a warmer reception to their plan—which was laid out in a little more detail—during a public meeting Wednesday.

Representatives from Land Resource Solutions (LRS) pitched the project to residents last month, laying out their plans to convert the vacant Lenola Auto Mall site at Cottage and Camden avenues into a mixed-use property incorporating a small retail store with about 20 high-end rentals in a two-story building.

At Wednesday’s meeting, they added a second element to the proposal: the creation of an open space area on the former Getty gas station property (on the other side of Cottage).

Find out what's happening in Moorestownwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

LRS CEO Jeff Dey said the group had initially envisioned a commercial use for the Getty site—which they just recently purchased—but based on concerns raised about cut-through traffic on Cottage, they went in a different direction.

The open space, which the developers emphasized will not be a traditional park, will also be accompanied by a number of parking spaces to accommodate “overflow” from the rentals and retail across the street. 

Find out what's happening in Moorestownwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The number of rentals also increased from 20 to 26—approximately 16 two-bedroom units and 10 one-bedrooms—in the latest iteration of the project, though lead architect Bob Cogan said that number is not yet definitive.

Responding to concerns raised at the last meeting, LRS brought in traffic engineer David Horner to address the traffic impact of the project. According to Horner, it would actually be relatively minimal: about 250-300 trips per day—which is “significantly better,” he said, than the 2,200-plus trips the property would experience if it was developed into a pharmacy (one of the approved uses for the site).

“From a traffic perspective, I love to see this kind of plan,” he said.

Though some residents seemed inclined to search only for the potential negatives of the project, the majority of those in attendance were strongly in support of the project.

“I’m so happy and proud somebody wants to invest in our section of town,” said one woman, who asked not to be identified. “We want to work together. Stop talking about the past … It’s time to move on. Let’s welcome them with open arms.”

Harry McVey, former community development director in Moorestown, thanked LRS and its professionals for inviting the public to take part in the planning process and said their proposal could be a turning point for Lenola.

“Camden Avenue is tired. It needs upgraded,” he said. “And this may be the project that does that.”

The developers have stated they want the project to be a "catalyst for additional redevelopment" in West Moorestown. Some residents worried that, because of its less-than-stellar surroundings, the proposed high-end rentals—with rents between $1,400/1,500 for one-bedrooms and $1,700 for two-bedrooms—would fail to attract the type of quality tenants they’re looking for.

However, Harry Bagot, lead property manager on the project, said similar developments have found success in Philadelphia, “where you see jewels surrounded by not jewels.”

Bagot also insisted that the owners—LRS doesn’t presently own the property, but has an option-to-purchase agreement that lasts for another year—would not lower the rents just to fill units: “(Tenants) will come. Quality people will attract quality people.”

Former planning and zoning board chairman Milt McFalls applauded the project as well, and pointed to similar successes in communities like Merchantville.

“You put something upscale, people will come,” he said, though he acknowledged that Lenola is “not the east end of town … You have to be realistic.”

During the meeting, the group also discussed the possibility of closing Cottage at Camden Avenue—a possible solution to the cut-through issue—which was raised by a pair of residents at the last meeting.

Though there was some opposition, most in attendance seemed to support dead-ending Cottage. Horner said the decision is ultimately up to the township.

Dey said the developers will continue to evaluate the plan and would like to begin the approval process soon. He said they would “absolutely keep the community involved in all aspects” of the process.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here