A long-vacant school property in Mays Landing could be transformed into a 69-unit residential community under a redevelopment proposal presented to township officials this week.
Philadelphia-based Odin Properties has been designated the conditional redeveloper of the former Harold J. Duberson School property following approval of a Township Committee resolution. The designation marks an early step in what is expected to be a lengthy approval process.
The former K-8 school was sold to the developer by the Hamilton Township Board of Education last September. Financial terms of the sale were not released. Odin Properties, established in 2009, focuses on redeveloping aging and underused properties.
Plans call for converting the historic school building into one-bedroom apartments while constructing additional duplex homes throughout the property. The duplexes would include a combination of two- and three-bedroom residences.
Developers told township officials the proposal is intended to preserve the school’s historic appearance while adapting the property for residential use. The building has remained vacant for more than two decades and will require extensive rehabilitation before construction can move forward.
Preservation efforts will be reviewed by multiple state and federal agencies, including the New Jersey Historic Trust, the New Jersey Historic Preservation Office, the New Jersey Pinelands Commission and the National Park Service. The township’s Preservation Commission also will review the project to help ensure the building’s historic character is maintained.
Township officials expressed support for the concept, describing the proposal as an opportunity to breathe new life into a property that has sat unused for years.
Before construction can begin, the developer must obtain Planning Board approval and negotiate a formal redevelopment agreement with the township. Officials said the proposal remains in the preliminary stages, with additional reviews and approvals still required.
