A former metal scrap yard and defunct telephone building languished for well over a decade, nestled between residential backyards and an elevated rail embankment. Unique physical conditions, such as a lack of road frontage, a sloping rail embankment, and adjacent residences created design challenges.  Complicating matters was a complex relationship between two adjacent owners.

As planners for the Town of Morristown, Topology, in collaboration with Common Ground Design, developed a vision for a new community that integrated with the surrounding neighborhood fabric.  The concept inspired a renewed collaboration amongst the two owners. The result is a project that established a new model for infill development.

Key insight: The difficulty of coordinating multiple-redevelopers on one project should not be underestimated. Under such circumstances, planners can create value by offering creative solutions that align multiple bottom-lines and keep good projects moving.