Neighbors, commissioners press developer to shrink scale in East Livingston redevelopment concept

Developers returned to the German Village Commission on July 2 with a substantially redesigned concept to replace the existing commercial building at 251 East Livingston with a multi‑building residential project. The latest submission reduces unit count from the earlier proposal, breaks the massing into smaller street‑facing pieces and adds alleyside activation, but commissioners and residents said the project remains too large and too tall for the neighborhood.

The applicants — represented by developer Vershad Development with architects from MBBJ and local project team members — described months of additional design work since a March conceptual review. The team said it had walked the surrounding blocks, documented local building rhythms (stoops, narrow parcels, gabled roofs and narrow alleys) and reworked the massing so the Livingston frontage reads as smaller elements stepping back, with lower scaled facades facing the alleys. The revised plan shows multiple linked volumes with a reduced unit count, 35 off‑street parking spaces and upper‑level amenity terraces. The team said the intent is for a contemporary interpretation that reads as residential on multiple…