South + Chestnut
Smart infill redevelopment within a tight footprint.
Located on two underdeveloped sites within the heart of downtown and a block from a commuter rail station, the Township of Cranford saw an opportunity to not only meet their affordable housing obligation but improve the area as a whole in terms of stormwater management, as flooding from the Rahway River has become more severe in recent years.
The Township used this redevelopment opportunity to increase stormwater retention at both sites to allow discharge to slowly re-enter the water table instead of pooling on one of the downtown’s main thoroughfares. Topology represented the Township with the designation, redevelopment planning, negotiation, and land use approval processes.
Program
92 residential units
13 affordable housing units
8,000 SF of commercial space
1,500 SF pocket park
Project Partners
Township of Cranford
Iron Ore Properties, Developers
Blackbird, Project Architect
Public Benefits
Improved storm-water management
Improved public realms/open space
New public parking
Special needs housing
Location
Role
Redevelopment Planner
Project Category
Affordable Housing
Redevelopment