New Business Owner, Councilwoman Support Lenola Redevelopment

Notwithstanding some of the naysaying at last week's public meeting, some Lenola residents are eager to see development at the former Lenola Auto Mall site.

Janee Tabaco, who recently opened the paint-your-own pottery studio Fire and Glaze just down the road from the site, said the proposed redevelopment sounds like a great idea—especially in an area like Lenola that's seen little economic development in recent years.

"Lenola gets a really bad rap—you know, we’re the ‘west part of Moorestown’—which is unfortunate, because I grew up in Lenola," she said. "I’ve lived here since I was 7 years old. So I would love to see something different happen here."

She added, "Not to mention it might bring more business to me."

Councilwoman Victoria Napolitano, who resides in Lenola as well, has also come out in support of Land Resource Solutions' (LRS) vision for turning the Auto Mall site into a mixed-use (small retail+high-end residential rentals) property.

"I do believe they can attract the type of tenants they want," said Napolitano, referring to critics of the plan who claimed the rents LRS was proposing were too high for Lenola. "It would certainly appeal to me if I didn't already have a nice place to live."

Napolitano acknowledged the pushback the plan received from some residents who attended last week's meeting, and said if the developers want the community to buy in, they'll have to address those concerns.

"If the project's going to appeal to the neighbors, they're going to have to make the case that they'll be responsible managers of that property," she said.

LRS CEO Jeff Dey said the firm is still processing the feedback it received from the meeting and plans to schedule another meeting in the near future.

Dey said they would provide plenty of notice—after residents complained about not having enough for last week's meeting—for the next meeting.

Stay with Moorestown Patch for more information on this story as it becomes available.