Maplewood may seek artwork to keep downtown beautiful during redevelopment project

MAPLEWOOD, NJ — Between passing ordinances and resolutions at its Feb. 16 meeting, the Maplewood Township Committee discussed the post office site redevelopment and some possible initiatives that may come with it.

Although the redevelopment project, which drew mixed conversation of both support and ire for years, is now under way, there is still more to discuss.

Mayor Vic DeLuca cited the merits of prohibiting the unloading of delivery trucks in the Ricalton Parking Lot during the redevelopment process, as well as establishing a train station pickup location across the street from the Burgdorff Center at 10 Durand Road.

The new pickup location would give commuters easier access to the train, as the construction process will affect the commute for some. The question of where current businesses can unload goods has previously been discussed. At the Feb. 2 meeting, DeLuca announced the township would be create a temporary loading zone in front of Kings and Bank of America from 6 to 10 a.m. during weekdays. With construction vehicles parking in the lot next to Ricalton Square, Kings has lost the space it previously used to unload its merchandise. Until Kings can begin using that lot again, the parking spaces in front of Kings will be designated for loading and unloading in the morning.

DeLuca also suggested at the Feb. 16 meeting that the township create a free “employee construction pass,” to allow employees of businesses in Maplewood Village to park in a designated area beyond the current time-limited parking. According to DeLuca, the Construction Mitigation Committee is proposing that the parking pass be free to employees, as it would encourage them to park a bit farther away from the construction zone. This pass would likely be in effect through 2016 and part of 2017, until the main construction at the post office site is completed.

Lastly, the Construction Mitigation Committee is looking to permit public artwork, such as murals, and appropriate signage in and around Maplewood Village during the construction. This was a suggestion made by a retail consultant in discussion with the CMC.

“Right now, certain things are not permitted, signage and murals for example,” DeLuca said. “What we’re looking at is to try to make some of the bulk there that will be fencing and covered walkways more appealing than fencing and covered walkways. So the idea here would be during the construction to allow a grace period where we would allow the artwork and the signage.”

Committeewoman India Larrier questioned whether “signage” included advertisements, but DeLuca assured her ads would not be allowed. According to the mayor, the purpose of the signs would be to let people know what is being constructed and that the village is still open to consumers, in addition to required OSHA signage.

Deputy Mayor Nancy Adams, who works with the Maplewood Village Alliance, told her colleagues that the alliance is currently working on creating a logo or brand for the project, so that each sign about the project could bear this logo. This would inform people as to what the sign is about, as well as keep the downtown looking uniform.

As for the art, DeLuca suggested the township seek out local artists and ask them to paint certain scenes.

“We might have contests or have artists in the community do some displays and give them sections to be responsible for,” DeLuca said.

These four discussion items are expected to be written up as resolutions for the March 1 Township Committee meeting.

  Maplewood Village Alliance, Post Office