Lambertville townhouse project OK’d

George Michael will build three luxury units on Clinton Street.

By: Linda Seida
   LAMBERTVILLE — The Planning Board has approved developer George Michael’s preliminary plan to construct three luxury townhouses on Clinton Street.
   The April 6 approval of the plan for 19 S. Clinton St., just north of the post office, included a compromise over the number of units as well as over some architectural details.
   Mr. Michael agreed to reduce the number of townhouses from four to three.
   Earlier this year, Mr. Michael had requested permission to build four units, which would have required a variance from the minimum lot size. The lots do not conform to the minimum size requirement of 1,500 feet because of their irregular shape.
   Mr. Michael also agreed to incorporate suggestions from the city’s Historic Preservation Commission designed to keep the style of the buildings more on par with the Federal-style architecture found within the city. For example, the windows will simulate the more balanced style of six-over-six panes utilized by the period rather than a single pane.
   The commission also recommended shutters be placed on all windows instead of just some of them. The shutters’ dimensions will be large enough to appear as if they are functional shutters and not just there for appearance.
   Also, the original plan called for a type of handmade brick that would not be close to the type used in the construction of period homes, according to commission Chairman Michael Burns. Mr. Michael agreed with the commission’s recommendation to change the type of brick he would use.
   The commission supported the developer’s desire to construct recessed garages. The commission’s opinion "reinforced what he proposed was a good thing," Mr. Burns said.
   The garage doors will be set back 8 feet under the house. The doors themselves also will have a period look, resembling the doors of carriage houses. If an occupant owns two cars, parking one in the garage and one in the driveway, a recessed garage will allow the vehicle in the driveway to be farther from the view of the street and partially hidden from view.
   "So it doesn’t have a suburban look," said commission Secretary John Hencheck.
   "I think the design benefited," Mr. Hencheck said. He noted the developer and his architect were "very cooperative" and open to the commission’s suggestions.
   He added, "We were all talking the same language. Lambertville was a very sophisticated little city at one time."
   Even if the buildings are not historic, they will resemble the city’s other Federal architecture enough so that occupants "would feel as if they are a part of the community," Mr. Hencheck said.
   The selling price of the townhouses is expected to be more than $600,000. Each unit will be three stories and approximately 1,800 square feet with two bedrooms.
   The first floor will house the recessed parking area. The second floor will contain living space, and the bedrooms will be located on the third floor.