BY SHERRY CONOHAN
Staff Writer
LITTLE SILVER — A year after the borough Planning/Zoning Board granted its approval — for a second time — a new professional office building is rising alongside the railroad tracks on White Road.
The two-story structure is situated on a triangular lot that lies between the tracks and the Little Silver Commons medical complex on the east.
Patrick D’Onofrio, a member of the family partnership that is building the structure, expects half the offices to be occupied by medical professionals and half by other professionals, such as lawyers and accountants.
The building’s approval by the borough Planning Board on Sept. 17, 2002, restricts medical offices to no more than 50 percent of total occupancy.
D’Onofrio, who owns Little Silver Electric on Birch Avenue with his mother, Jane D’Onofrio, said there is no space under contract yet in the office building, but that there has been a lot of interest in it.
An office building had previously been approved for the site by the Planning Board several years ago, but was never built, and the approvals expired.
Peter J. Liska, who represented the D’Onofrios before the Planning Board on the new application, said it wasn’t built earlier due to the economy.
"At this time, there is significant interest in the project, and Mrs. D’Onofrio and her son would like to go forward," he told the board.
The application was made in the name of Jane D’Onofrio and the late Dominic D’Onofrio, her husband.
Patrick D’Onofrio said the office building is being built by a partnership consisting of himself, his mother and his sister, Barbara D’Onofrio.
The two-story building will consist of 16,000 square feet. It is 138 feet wide by 60 feet deep.
There will be approximately 93 parking spaces.
D’Onofrio said the office building is traditional in design and will have an exterior of beige stucco.
The architect is Leonard V. Martelli, Red Bank, and the engineer is Nelson Engineering Associates Inc., Long Branch. The application said about 60 people are expected to be employed in the building.
D’Onofrio said he expects construction to be completed by February. The contractor is Eagle Construction, of the Oakhurst section of Ocean Township.
"I think it’s going to be really pretty and will work well where it is," he said in an interview. "We’re excited."