EATONTOWN – After receiving approval from the Eatontown Planning Board in June 2018, a plan to redevelop the Monmouth Mall and construct 700 rental apartments on the mall’s property remains at a standstill.
Attorney Patrick McNamara represents Eatontown Monmouth Mall, a joint effort between Kushner Companies and Brookfield Properties.
In an interview on Feb. 21, McNamara said more than 70 borough residents have hired an attorney to appeal the board’s approval of the redevelopment plan.
The residents, many of whom live in a neighborhood near the mall, have previously said they do not support the construction of apartments on the mall’s property.
McNamara said a trial will be held on April 12 before state Superior Court Judge Lisa P. Thornton, sitting in Freehold. He said it is unlikely construction at the mall’s property would begin before the trial date.
“We also have a lot of tenant vacancies” in the mall, McNamara said.
The Heights of Monmouth apartments were approved to include 340 one-bedroom, 340 two-bedroom and 18 three-bedroom apartments. The average rent for a one-bedroom apartment could be about $2,300 per month, according to testimony that was offered during the Planning Board hearings.
The developers also plan to remodel, renovate and repurpose the Monmouth Mall for commercial and retail use.
Representatives of the developers said the redevelopment would help to revive the shopping center and encourage economic growth to “survive and thrive during the age of Amazon.”
The Monmouth Mall is located at the intersection of Route 35, Route 36 and Wyckoff Road.