An architect’s concept for a shopping center at the corner of Shrewsbury Avenue and Drs. James Parker Boulevard in Red Bank. The view is to the southwest. (Click to enlarge)
A Red Bank builder plans to go before the borough planning board next week seeking feedback on a project that’s still in the “concept” phase: a shopping center on Shrewsbury Avenue at Drs. James Parker Boulevard.
General contractor Russ Crosson requested the hearing, at which board members are expected to offer their concerns, but won’t hold an up-or-down vote, says planning office director Donna Smith Barr.
Crosson tells redbankgreen he’s trying to determine if it’s worth going ahead with a formal proposal.
“We’re going to put it in front of them,” says Crosson, whose office is in a house he recently gutted and restored on Wallace Street. “If they say no, I can massage some other ideas.”
The center, tentatively called Crosson’s Corner, would be situated on the southwest corner of the intersection, where Crosson owns several vacant lots, as well as one featuring a small brick building that formerly housed his business.
He also owns a house on Shrewsbury Avenue that would be razed if the plan goes ahead, he says.
According to documents filed with the planning office, the center would consist of an L-shaped shopping area with 6,300 square feet of retail lining the south and west property lines at street level. Another 2,400 square feet would be used as office space on a second level. Some underground parking would be provided for employees only.
A second building of about 1,400 square feet would be situated closed to the corner.
Crosson says he hasn’t got any tenants lined up yet, but told Smith Barr in an email that he envisions stores such as Subway, Starbucks, Verizon, Rita’s Ice and UPS there.
According to a letter from Crosson’s attorney, Mark Aikins, the proposal meets the requirements of the BR2 zone in which it sits, but would need board approval for a consolidation of lots and site plan.
The hearing is scheduled for 6:30p on Monday, March 15 at borough hall. Here’s the agenda: 03-15-10planningboardagenda
Hmmm…..vacant store fronts all over the east side of town. Hey wait, lets build a ginormous strip mall. What are people thinking? Maybe there will be more of a need, but what type of stores will go in? Pizza places? Yes, we need more of those!
Looks like a parking shortfall to me. But the parking fund could be used to cover it.
Another place illegals to loiter instead of the wawa
My guess is 125k in fees and other charges and this one is a go
Yea Aholes, shoot down something else that someone is trying to do for the tax burden.
I guess your all happy looking at a vacant lot.
Bunch of racist…….
Dear “T”
I don’t think they are racist, just a bunch of unhappy people. Even when I lived there, it seemed the town would push through projects that the townsfolk did not want. So by reading these posts, nothing much has changed.
I don’t think they are all negative, but the condition of a location should not be used as a basis for the viability of a project based on improvement.
I’m not so quick to judge this without hearing more details and reading the proposal. Sure there are empty storefronts on the east side of town, but I don’t see the same problem with the west side of town. While the downtown area is struggling, the west side seems to be doing fine in terms of vacancies. Can’t fault a developer for wanting to build where the people seem to be shopping (or at least where the rents are affordable and attractive to business owners).
All I’m saying is, I’m interested to hear his proposal and how he reacts to the concerns that are brought up during the hearing.
i’m pro anything that brings more rita’s ice.
the stores downtown are empty because the rents are too high and the conditions to lease are probably not suitable for bsuiness owners.
I think any improivements to the west side helps everyone.
A little strip center sounds nice. Should pass with flying colors.
I don’t believe my comment was racist. So perhaps you can restate your “bunch of racists” comments.
I hope we all head to the planning board meeting Monday to hear the the details. I’ll be there. Complaining here doesn’t do any good.
Oh,and RBG police, please censure the language above. thank you!
This is an interesting proposition — that corner has been empty for such a long time, and providing some shops/services such as the ones Mr. Crosson suggests (Starbucks, UPS, etc) is a great idea. Places like that would actually be used by the surrounding neighborhood, unlike the high-end boutiques that drove the mom-and-pops off of Broad and Monmouth Streets.
Parking might be an issue, but I imagine the majority of the expected patrons of this center would be coming from walking distance.
sounds good as long as we don’t get another store repeat..hey chris your a racist that’s the first thing that comes to your mind about a new building
Who do they think they will get there as Store renters? isn’t there an eyesore “strip mall” across the street, So this is not going to be “upscale” no way, no matter what “anchor” store you can get there “pigs-feet-r-us”, “tamales-to-go”, another Bodega, another Laundry mat, What is happening here is that the “Dream Concept” will be a selling pint for the parcel of land once the Democrats downtown are paid off. and then they all can get a piece of the “Dream” pie.(as a Republican I consider myself a racists, as an American it is my freedom and my right!!”
PLEASE land a hardware store as the anchor tenant!!!
The concept sounds great, unfortunately
the high density of this project will
create a road hazard with all the day laborers hanging out there causing more stress on the police department.
Once you have that problem, who will be the retail tenants? Dah, common sense has it, there will be
all illegal alien bodegas.
His email idea would be wonderful except that…………….It may not be a reality. Another WAWA situation instantly comes to mind.
Honestly, does anybody in their right mind think it is a nice way to present their town with dozens of illegal immigrants hanging on the corner as they do at WAWA?
Mission for all………Who took away the NO LOITERING law ordinance? Find them.
I have lived in this town for almost 50 years, I used to like to see green grass at the corner at WAWA and St.
Anthonys Church between the sidewalk and the curb. And the trees being allowed to grow without having dozens of bikes chained to them. Doesn’t anybody get it?
The idea this man has is wonderful if in fact the lazy, pothetic, unamerican govering body that runs Red Bank move heaven and earth to correct the illegal overcrowding problem here.
They say they are getting it under control, they are blowing smoke up our ass. Does anybody know that Red Bank
is second to Asbury Park to having more renters than owner occupied residential dwellings. Transit Village here we come!
Mr Crosson if you really want this project to work out, pressure this adminstration for you to be able to have the quality, legal businesses.
I was once told 7 years ago by some
illegal guys that “we gonna own Red Bank” they maybe rigt here because yesterday I was told by 3 illegals
“no gringo gonna rent around the mexican so we gonna make the rent go low, gringo have no choice” Think about that concept INVESTORS.
You better pull you head out of your ass people,it is gonna get ugly.
Thanks Ed, should be really proud of your legacy. I am not talking about Broad St, I am talking about the backbone, the residental quality of life.
Wait, did you say Starbucks? OK, I’m in. Build whatever you want there as long as I can get a latte on the West side.
Think about it - Starbucks is already on Broad St - that won’t happen.
This idea is good but the location isn’t.
It’s up to people whom live in Red Bank to hold the Zoning Board, Planning Board and Council accountable.
THAT’S ALL WE NEED….WHY NOT PUT UP A WALMART INSTEAD?
This will be an illegal hang out and Mexican grocery in no time. Who the heck would stop to buy friggin Starbucks on the west side? What, you think some yuppie is going to park her Lexus on the corner of Shby and Bergen (sorry, I’m old school) and go grab a cup of coffe and a croisant? …and on top of it navigate her way through 50 illegals? I highly doubt it.
Beam up another Latte for Snotty.
“Who the heck would stop to buy friggin Starbucks on the west side?”
Well, I would on my way to work in the a.m. if there was parking and if I was comfortable w/the presence of any loiterers.
A few points to think about, neutrally delivered:
The developer can try to attract certain tenants, but that doesn’t mean he’ll get them.
A parking shortfall may be the case based on zoning, but it would be better if it were based on the tenants, and how much walking takes place in the area. Also, there is underground parking specified in the article.
Its going up on vacant property, and supposedly complies with the zoning. If you feel Red Bank needs protection from these kinds of developments (I don’t, but I’m just saying), petition the legislature to change the zoning.
This is a mixed use office/retail development in an area that needs some invigorating. Add some apartments there, and _Make_Sure_All_Sides_Address_The_Street_ and I think its a winner.
I’m just not seeing this fitting in with the very walkable Shrewsbury corridor. If this was out on Newman Springs, sure…but I just don’t see this enhancing the community in any way in that location.
I can’t for the life of me figure out what people have against the Mexican groceries (although I have a hunch).
As a resident on the West Side, these places are awesome to have nearby. They are always open if I need milk at 11 pm on a Sunday like I did this week, no problem. Total, utter asset to the neighborhood.
As for the actual topic at hand, this is a pretty interesting proposal for a piece of land that now sits vacant. Not sure if I like the strip mall concept, but I’d have to see the details. It would be great if the town could broadcast or webcast council and planning board meetings. As someone with two rugrats at home, it’s impossible to get to night meetings. All it would take is a single camera and a free ustream account.
Nothing build community like a strip mall
It used to be: NIMBY (not in my back yard) Now it is BANANA (build absolutely nothing anywhere near anyone)
hey Brian-get real-Do you think that your quart of Milk at 11 PM pays the freakin bills at the Bodega? it is a luxury to you to have this in you neighborhood but you don’t buy all your groceries there. Therefore ,You are just a poser making like ytou support the community. Let me see you buy all your groceries at the bodega rather than a quart of milk that supports no one. he doesn’t need you as a customer. Get real-you are a user of the west side establishments only when you need them in an emergency. Think about it. How much do you spend a week at the places? spend more then you can talk about it. Comprende?
perfectly said, “getreal”. As with all small local stores, its not the small one time convenience purchase that they need. A true “local store” customer will be a patron for core products on a regular basis….not just that last resort purchase. Too many people spend all their major purchasers at conglomerate stores….and then spend a few cents at the local store and consider themselves a supporter of small local business. I couldnt of said it better.
getreal and theboss,
Brian wasn’t trying to portray himself as the savior of the West Side bodegas. He just said that he was happy to have them around.
Dan, you are correct. No ill feelings torward Brian. Getreal just made an excellent observation…;.didnt mean to project that observation on Brian. For all i know, he may be a regular shopper of the small west side shops. Sorry Brian.
They should build it over at East Side Park. that way the landscapers are closer to work. Think green Gringos!
Wow, Mr. or Mrs Getreal. Wow.
Please re-read my post. I never said anything about supporting local businesses or building community or anything. I’m not a poseur “making like I support the community.”
What I AM, however, is a proud, simple, but fairly lazy guy who needed a gallon of milk.
I know you may find that hard to accept.
You will find some issue with that - and perhaps some others on this board will find a way to blame illegal immigrants or the town administration for my household dairy crisis. You are all free to express your opinions and to do so using fake names to ensure zero accountability and zero percent of being taken seriously.
But, me, really, I’m just a guy whose kids drank all the milk.
Mr Donohue is proud of using his real name…but it’s really not all that courageous….look the name up on the white pages….you’ll get the book.
RUSS open a PROWNS, WOOLWORTHS, BEN & JERRY’S, QUICKSILVER, KRAUSERS, and STIENBACKS!!! SCREW EVERYBODY ELSE!!!
I’m not proud of using my real name, Mr. or Mrs. Dooper I just stick those digs in there because I wish more people would use their real names here. Without the mask of anonymity, it makes things a lot more civil, and allows people to discuss things a lot more honestly. For example, I have no idea if you, Dooper, are a 12 year old kid, a middle aged P.h.d, a Nobel Prize winner, my next door neighbor, a nun, a mentally ill person or a convicted criminal. So I am forced to ignore everything you say. If everyone used their real names, as on Facebook, the level of discourse here would be ten times higher. Excuse me, I have to run out to Costco for some milk.
Brian Donohue,
Let me ask this. Does your name shed any more light as to who you really are or say you are? Brian Donohue could also just as easily be a 12 year old kid, middle aged PhD, Nobel Prize Winner, etc.
So what’s your point here?
Part of blogging on a site like this is that you really have no idea about who is really typing on the other end. Although you can get an idea sometimes by what they are saying. That’s just the nature of it. If you cannot accept that, then don’t get on line and post!
And also, by knowing what my stature in life is, does that change whether you will listen to my ideas or just write the idea off because I am deemed unfit for your definition of who is worthy to be posting opinions? I see you mention Mr or Mrs. Dooper. So I gather if I am a man or woman, that makes a difference in how you respond?
p.s. I think you can tell from my postings here, Dooper is not a 12 year old. But neither is Dooper a Nobel Prize Winner. Somewhere in between is more correct. Ponder that please and let me know who you think I really am.
Pat, you got me thinking -
Convenience store Power Rankings:
1. Wawa - The Iced Tea kills it.
2. Quick Check - Almost tempted to give them the one spot.
3. 7-11 - Like the first two, but lower quality products.
4. Circle K - Rare in NJ. Some are crap, others great.
5. Welsh Farm - They should invest in mops.
6. Krauzer’s - Giant Venus fly traps.
Please don’t take it personal, Dooper. I’m just trying to make a general point that the level of discourse is higher when people use their real identities. I was making the point after a previous post in which someone harshly criticized me and called me a “poseur” for saying I like bodegas because they’re convenient, a pretty odd criticism and something they probably wouldn’t do if they used their real name.
Nothing personal taken. And you are right, who cares, so you use the local bodega for a quick gallon of milk? It’s convenient. I use the local deli for the same reason. And it’s owned by Indians. What of it? Am I going to drive out of my way to some strip mall, because we need to support new building growth? And it fits the ‘profile’ of the type of business owners we should be giving our $’s to? No.
Dooper,
Ever get a gallon of milk from the Raceway on 35N in Middletown? I chuckle each time I see the advert.
I would buy Starbucks on the West Side. I go to the post office there & I park my BMW at Sienna Grill all the time. So get over yourself WhatExit.
Dooper,
I was in a rush the other night & knew that I needed an onion for something I was cooking for dinner. I stopped at one of the bodegas. In & out in 2 minutes. Not always the case at Foodtown. I agree…..who cares?
I will gladly welcome the people who have come to reside on the westside,and I will gladly share their bodegas,shops, offices ect…..
Maybe all you tight ass republicans would like it better the way it was when Big Jims BBQ used to host the loitering of all the animals who have either been locked up or are dead from drugs.
No worries though it appears that the next generation of animals are getting busy shooting at each other for drugs and mother jokes.
Mike,
You left out the reason WaWa will always be my #1: free ATMs.
Years back, when the banks wanted to add fees to the ATMs in WaWa (and give WaWa a cut), the President of WaWa refused. So there is never an ATM charge at WaWa.
Unsweetened iced tea is my #2 reason.
#3 reason: Whole wheat sub rolls (only the small size, though).
You know what one of those “bodegas” on Shrewsbury Ave pays for my sisters college education and mine as well.
I wish I could be at the meeting but I have to be at school. But any way…
It’s sad to see how much racism there is in Red Bank. I am tired of reading all these racist comments every time I’m on the website. My parents are Mexican and we own a Mexican deli on Shrewsbury Ave. If you were wondering my parents are in the country legally and my sister and I were born here. I would love to see the west side prosper.
Who ever thinks that no one would park their Lexus on Shrewsbury Ave, well your wrong. Many people come into our deli without fearing that something happens to their car.
I could keep writing, but I don’t have time. Soon many of us Mexicans will have an education, that’s what all you ignorant’s fear.
Oh, and the name think, that really bothers me allot too. Why not use your real name when posting comments.
Ms. Camargo, unfortunately the willfully ignorant class simply don’t know any better – that’s why they’re ignorant. Many have never struggled or known any form of hardship. Some have been given so much that they have no concept of want. For them, use small words, keep it positive and reassuring, that and lower your expectations. Remember that the “tyranny of the majority” remains a threat only while the minority remains unorganized – and said organization comes through education, economic elevation, and social mobility. The U.S. remains a meritocracy – of which RB is only a small part. Welcome to the melting pot.
E pluribus Unum – “out of many one”.
Ms. Camargo, why don’t you give your address and phone # too? You dope.
Pointing out a bodega is not a racist remark. Get over it sweety. Join the melting pot and work your tail off like everyone else.
Enough said.