Plans to redevelop U.S. 1 between the Brunswick Circle and Lake Drive, as well as a domed recreational facility at the former Coleman Suzuki site on Spruce Street were two major projects touched on by Mayor David Maffei during his annual state of the township address.
“As our commercial development rises, so, in turn, does our property value,” Maffei said in his speech, which was given at the May 24 meeting of the MidJersey Chamber of Commerce. “Our commercial expansion brings other entities into the region. The idea of [Route 1] becoming a more attractive, accessible area to both residents and businesses has long been a goal of Lawrence.”
In a follow-up interview, township manager Richard Krawczun said the state Department of Transportation-funded redevelopment has been in the works for nearly 15 years, but was only recently approved by the state.
The project, estimated to cost $6 million, is expected to be completed by the spring of 2018, and the cost covers “curb-to-curb” construction, as well as utility work.
The “boulevard-like” redevelopment was inspired by palm tree-lined streets in Miami, said Krawczun. Center aisles lined with trees is part of the aesthetic the township hopes to achieve. He added that the redevelopment could also be beneficial to Trenton—part of the redevelopment falls right on the city’s northern border.
“The project will create new landscaping and aesthetics that will be an encouragement to new retail enterprises,” Maffei said. “It is proposed to mix retail with residential space, providing a renewed energy in Lawrence Township.”
After his speech, Maffei told the Gazette that the new roadway will have walking and bike lanes. Parking, said Krawczun, will only be on the northbound side of Route 1 due to space constraints, and pedestrian islands will intersect crosswalks. New traffic signals will be installed, and field work dictated that some bus stops along the way should be rearranged.
Graf Avenue would become a cul-de-sac, and a roundabout will be installed near Whitehead Road in place of the jughandle, which will be used for drainage detention once the project is finished. The idea behind the roundabout is that it will be able to slow traffic and handle more cars than a traffic signal.
“With the design of 35 miles an hour, it will improve or lend itself to the traffic calming,” Krawczun said. “We think it’s a project that just by the aesthetic improvements will create incentive for both businesses and other property owners to relocate here as a new business, upgrade existing businesses and act as an impetus to add some economic development activity.”
While Krawczun said the township doesn’t have any specific businesses in mind yet, he hopes to see small professional offices—doctors, lawyers, accountants and the like—come to town. The township is open to bigger sites, as well.
The township was inspired by Robbinsville’s Town Center, said Maffei. That project’s mix of residential and commercial is similar to what Lawrence would like to accomplish.
Meanwhile, construction recently started on an indoor athletic complex, set for half of the former Coleman Suzuki space on Spruce Street. The complex will feature a 96,672-sq.-ft. indoor facility covered by an inflatable dome and a 6,550-sq.-ft. one-story block building, which will become the recreation center’s entrance. The building, which used to be the dealership’s paint shop, will feature an office, lounge and restrooms, but not a locker room, according to the project’s proposal. The dealership’s 24,213 sq.-ft. former body shop is proposed to be renovated to house retail stores or offices.
The dome will be 76 feet tall at its highest point. The complex is planned for both youth league and adult league use and will support sports like basketball, football, soccer and lacrosse. The complex was modeled after similar facilities in North Jersey.
During the address, Maffei also announced that Lawrence has its largest budget surplus in 11 years, and, for the third consecutive year, the municipal tax rate has not increased, which he attributed to prudent fiscal management by Krawczun and the council.
“This is the culmination of the sweat and tears of our business manager, Richard Krawczun, and his loyal staff members and council,” Maffei said. “Hard decisions had to be made, but I can certainly tell you that all decisions were made with the future of Lawrence always at the forefront.”
Maffei also touched on 500,000 in physical improvements made to the township’s parks and recreational fields between 2014 and 2016. He praised Lawrence’s three fire departments, which answered 1,990 fire calls in 2015 and noted that robberies decreased 20 percent, assaults decreased 10 percent, burglaries decreased 18 percent and motor vehicle thefts decreased 17 percent.
He praised Police Chief Mike Ubry and the department’s efforts at activities like the annual egg hunt, National Night Out, Safety Town, the Bike Rodeo and the youth police academy.
“Lawrence is unique, tolerant, complex and cooperative,” said Maffei, a lifelong Lawrence resident. “It has earned the phrase ‘the jewel of Mercer County.’ I like to think it is.”
David Maffei,
