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Developer pitches conversion of Hebron Elementary into apartments, incubator spaces
Summary
A developer told Hebron—s Planning & Zoning Board he is under contract to buy Hebron Elementary and proposes about 30 market-rate apartments, four small-business incubators and community use of the gymnasium; environmental hazards in the 115-year-old building were raised as a potential constraint.
Steve Newland, owner of Newland Development, told the Planning & Zoning Board Feb. 9 that he is in a purchase agreement for the Hebron Elementary building and about two acres and presented a conceptual plan to repurpose the property.
Newland said the project could yield roughly 30 market-rate units (a mix of studios, one-bedroom and a few two-bedrooms) and create about four incubator spaces for small businesses in the south portion of the building. He said he would like to activate the gymnasium for community programming — examples he mentioned included after-school programming, YMCA activities, indoor sports leagues and weekend rentals by religious groups. He suggested rents could range from about $1,300 to $1,500 per month based on a market study his team ran in nearby Newark.
On constraints, Newland noted the building is roughly 115 years old and that environmental hazards uncovered during redevelopment could be a deterrent; he also said one of two curb cuts might need replacement depending on adjacent parcel development that he does not control. Director Brittany Misner said staff could organize an open house for surrounding residents to review plans and provide input.
No formal application for redevelopment of the school or the rear parcel had been submitted to the board at the time of the meeting; Misner said a separate application is being prepared for single-family development on the adjacent parcel. Newland asked for community input and said he wants to reactivate the building for mixed residential and community uses.
