Politics & Government

Council Receives Mostellar Update

Jack Loew reviews his plans for the future of the Mostellar buildings he purchased from the county last year.

Developer Jack Loew spoke at Tuesday’s borough council meeting requesting that the borough takes its time in considering a new height ordinance as Loew and his partner Eli Kahn work up a plan for the Mostellar building.

Loew and Kahn purchased the building from the county last year and have begun the development process.

In response to Loew and Kahn’s potential plans, borough council tried to pass a new height ordinance earlier this year with hopes of limiting the size of the new development.

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At the time, Loew requested that the borough put off any height decisions until June so that his firm would have a chance to “pitch” the renovations for the Mostellar building.

“At this time it’s unrealistic to continue to ask the borough to wait,” Loew said at Tuesday’s meeting.  “We’re still trying to come up with a plan that’s financially viable for us as the developers, but also is sensitive to the architectural integrity of the borough.”

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The borough and Loew had originally agreed on a deadline of June 3 when the development plan would be discussed.  However, Loew said that his firm wouldn’t make the deadline.

“Our plan is to file two conditional use applications at this time,” Loew said.  “That way we can get grandfathered in under the old ordinance.”

One plan calls for a 90-feet tall residential structure, while the other is a 75 feet structure.

Both structures would include first floor retail space and an underground parking garage.

“The plans we’re going to file; we don’t like,” Loew said.  “And you won’t like them either.  We will continue to work on them.”

Loew added, “Whatever we build, it needs to look like it belongs in the borough.”


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