Development close to construction near Freehold Mall

A 75-unit, affordable housing development for people 55 and older has been granted state environmental permits and is slated for construction in October, developer PIRHL announced Friday.

Cleveland, Ohio-based PIRHL, which has offices in Hamilton, will build the four-story property, Wemrock Senior Living, and said it plans for it to be completed by November 2019.

The property will be located near the Freehold Raceway Mall. It will sit on seven acres on the south side of Route 33 between Cardigan Bay Lane and Wemrock Road.

“Coupled with stable demographic fundamentals, low senior multifamily residential supply, and a governmental openness to affordable housing that typically is not available, Wemrock Senior Living is positioned to provide the residents of Freehold and the surrounding area much needed, quality affordable housing,” said Lara Schwager, development vice president of PIRHL.

The building will have 65 one-bedroom apartments and 10 two-bedroom apartments ranging in size from 750 to 925 square feet. It will offer tenants community spaces including a fitness center, laundry facilities, a computer room, an outdoor patio and more. There will also be an on-site coordinator to connect residents with comprehensive services.

“These features enhance the project’s appeal and the lives of those who reside there,” said Michael Gross, a shareholder with Giordano, Halleran & Ciesla in Red Bank, who is PIRHL’s environmental lawyer on the project.

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection approved the flood hazard and freshwater wetlands permit on June 5. The project is awaiting soil conservation, road opening and building permits.

“We are fortunate to be guided through this process and other legal matters by Michael Gross, of Giordano, Halleran and Ciesla,” Schwager said.