Developer Plans To Build Affordable Housing Units on Wall Street in West Long Branch

A developer is proposing to build an affordable housing development on Wall Street in West Long Branch.

The developer . Now, the plan before the board is 14 market-value units and four affordable-housing units instead of the age-restricted housing on a block of land bordered by Wall Street, Elmwood Avenue, and Larchwood Avenue in the borough.

The developer would require a conversion of a use variance for the project to move forward.

The application would also involve the demolition of the old Larchwood bar located next door to University Subs.

The development would also include a parking lot with 49 spaces and an open space area for passive recreational use.

The developer's attorney Arnold B. Levin has been asked about the possibility of the existence of an Indian cemetery being located on the property.

According to board meeting minutes, "Levin stated that at the original application hearing, the only information of the possibility was based on a former Long Branch Daily Record article. There was no indication by block and lot, or whether it was thought that human remains might be located under existing housing."

Levin said that if anything was found during construction, that the project would be stopped and that the borough, Department of Environmental Protection and county would be notified.

"If there are remains found, they would be relocated and given a proper burial," the minutes state.

The application was last heard by the board on June 28 and is scheduled to be heard again on Sept. 27 when the architect for the project will be available to give his testimony and comment on the application.