Seniors’ safety concerns residents

High Point is a proposed age-restricted independent living facility for low- and moderate-income seniors on Route 518 in Lambertville.

By: Linda Seida
   LAMBERTVILLE — Neighbors of a proposed senior housing center for on Brunswick Pike (Route 518) turned out last week to voice their concerns over the potential for increased traffic problems, light pollution and the lack of a safe walking area for senior citizens if the center is built.
   High Point, an age-restricted independent living facility for low- and moderate-income seniors, is being developed by Community Investment Strategies of Bordentown. It is planned for construction on a 4.5-acre lot owned by Dr. Donald Hart at 256 Brunswick Pike.
   After a series of public hearings, the Zoning Board of Adjustment must decide whether to rezone the property from assisted living to rental. Such a change would pave the way for the senior housing center to be built.
   At a hearing Jan. 9, Barbara K. Schoor, vice president and project manager of Community Investment Strategies, tried to put concerns to rest. When one neighbor from 240 Brunswick Pike asked what would happen if her 60-foot well was contaminated or hurt in any way by the proposed construction, Ms. Schoor responded her company would be "reasonable."
   But the developer’s attorney, Thomas Kelso of the New Brunswick firm of Kelso and Bradshaw, tried to forestall any promises. He cautioned that trying to prove the cause of a well’s problems is next to impossible in some instances. Board attorney William Shurts agreed.
   David Burd, who lives across from the site, wondered whether headlights from the parking lot would flash into his home’s windows and disturb him.
   The developer’s engineer, Jim Matticola of Schoor DePalma in Clinton, contended the lights would not be a problem.
   "There is a good 3 or 4 foot difference in elevation" between Mr. Burd’s property and the parking lot, Mt. Matticola explained.
   From the vantage point of Brunswick Pike, a passerby would be looking down a gentle slope at the facility, said CSI’s architect, David Minno of Minno and Wasko in Lambertville.
   The rear of the building, however, rests on a much steeper slope, he said. The slope is sharp enough to allow four stories to be constructed in the back while only two stories will be constructed in the front on the Brunswick Pike side.
   "I think it’s a good project, but much work needs to be done," Mr. Burd said.
   He said he’d like to see more buffers or screens to protect neighbors from light and noise.
   "Certainly it’s a professional project and a lovely building," he said. "But this is certainly going to impact our quality of life. For immediate neighbors, there’s a forever impact on quality of life."
   James Curran, whose property abuts Mr. Burd’s, voiced concerns about a safe walking area for senior citizens. Also, he wanted to know if convenient transportation to town would be available for seniors.
   Ms. Schoor assured him transportation would be available whenever a senior citizen wanted to go into the business district.
   The issue of a safe walking area, however, was a little trickier. No sidewalks would be installed on Brunswick Pike, Mr. Matticola said.
   Many seniors who walk for enjoyment or health tend to stick to asphalt because it’s less bumpy than grassy areas and, therefore, safer for the elderly, Mr. Minno said. He added seniors usually walk around a housing center’s parking lot and are very aware of the lot’s traffic patterns.
   "It’s a good idea. Obviously there’s a need," Mr. Curran said of the facility. "I’m not necessarily opposed to the project itself. I just have a tremendous amount of angst because of these issues."
   Senior citizens walking or trying to drive their own vehicles along Brunswick Pike, also known as Route 518, would be an accident waiting to happen, he said.
   "Leaving your driveway is life-threatening," he said.
   Despite the lack of specified walking trails or additional sidewalks on Route 518, Mr. Minno contended senior citizens will like the living spaces designed by CSI.
   "Seniors really like the lightness and brightness of the apartments," he said.
   In addition to being designed for brightness, all units can be made handicapped accessible, Mr. Minno said.
   Plans call for 87 units, 10 of which would contain two bedrooms. The remainder would be one-bedroom units. There would be no extra charge to adapt any of the apartments.
   If needed, light switches could be lowered, and outlets could be raised. For someone who uses a wheelchair, the kitchen counter can be lowered and a cabinet removed for wheelchair convenience in the kitchen.
   All doors are wide enough for a wheelchair or walker, and elevators are large enough to accommodate a gurney, Mr. Minno said.
   In addition, there will be a pull-cord system in place for emergencies. Ms. Schoor called it "an extra precaution," which would be manned by an outside company. If a resident pulled the cord, the company would notify emergency services, which would be dispatched to the facility.
   A one-bedroom apartment will range from 630 square feet to 730 square feet. A two-bedroom unit will range from 780 square feet to 830 square feet. Rent at the proposed housing center would start at $785 and top at $1,135.
   The project is estimated to cost almost $12 million, according to Ms. Schoor. To help with funding, the City Council is seeking a grant in the amount of $700,000 from the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs.
   The city already has two senior housing centers on Main Street, but the waiting list is long. City officials say the proposed project could help ease the long wait as well as offer affordable housing to senior citizens, who often must struggle to meet their taxes while paying for a house’s upkeep.
   "It’s keeping your best resources in the community," Mr. Minno said of the effort to build affordable housing for the city’s elderly population.
   He noted senior citizens frequently volunteer their time to organizations, and they have lived and worshipped in one area for decades. If a spouse is ill or has died, many seniors might leave if they didn’t have the resources to keep their house.
   High Point would be restricted to persons age 55 and over. Under federal housing guidelines, no children under 19 will be permitted.
   The state Council on Affordable Housing sets the income limit for senior housing in High Point. Depending on the rental price of the apartment, the maximum income for 2002 will range between $30,500 and $42,500.