Apartment Complex Near Belleville, Nutley Border Breaks Ground

BELLEVILLE, NJ — A new, 56-unit apartment complex on Franklin Avenue in Belleville with about 1,750 square feet of commercial space is expected to be complete as soon as early 2021, officials say.

On Tuesday, stakeholders in the mixed-use project, dubbed The Ethos At Franklin Avenue, gathered for a groundbreaking ceremony at the construction site, which is located near the border of Belleville and Nutley.

The event drew several local and state officials, including New Jersey Assemblyman Ralph Caputo, Belleville Mayor Michael Melham, Deputy Mayor Vincent Cozzarelli, Belleville Town Council members Marie Strumolo-Burke and Thomas Graziano, township business administrator Anthony Iacono and chief of police Mark Minichini.

According to the developer, Sound Development LLC of Newark, construction should begin in about three to five weeks, with a grand opening targeted for early 2021.

When complete, the currently vacant lot will have a “modern, three-story, red-brick building” that features 56 apartments. The development will also include three ground-floor commercial spaces – one is about 750 square feet; the other two are about 500 square feet.

Michael Pacillo, a Belleville native and director of acquisitions at Sound Development, said the building will feature covered parking, a residential rooftop lounge with a fire pit and a barbecue, as well as a fitness center. It will also have electric car chargers and an on-site timeshare Zipcar that can be accessed by residents.

“We had a lot of the same old, same old in Belleville,” Pacillo said. “It’s time for a change.”

Mayor Melham said the project is privately financed and no tax abatement was offered to the developer.

The local zoning and planning boards – as well as the town council – played a big role in bringing the “quality redevelopment” to Belleville, Melham stated.

“We’re very excited about this project,” Melham said. “We hope it’s the first of many redevelopment projects during my administration to revitalize many of the great neighborhoods of Belleville. We are focused on finding the right development for Belleville, taking advantage of our terrific location and suburban feel.”

• See related article: Belleville Mayor 'State Of Town' Speech: Taxes, Development, Free Pre-K

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