The City of Lambertville has decided not to renew the the “conditional redeveloper designation” with K. Hovnanian, effectively canceling the developer’s plans for the redevelopment of the former Lambertville High School property.
Mayor Andrew Nowick announced the decision Wednesday afternoon, stating that the city informed K. Hovnanian of its choice last Friday.
The “conditional redeveloper designation” was set to expire on Thursday.
The decision comes after significant public outcry over the proposed development, which included 124 townhomes, 32 stack townhomes, and 40 affordable apartments. Residents raised concerns about the number of housing units, potential stormwater runoff issues, and environmental concerns discovered at the site.
The redevelopment plan is subject to court oversight as part of a settlement agreement involving the city’s power of eminent domain.
The court has been notified of the city’s decision, according to the mayor.
Lambertville is under a court order to build 32 affordable housing units by June 2025. Failure to meet this deadline could result in the New Jersey Courts taking control of affordable housing development in the city and potentially building the units in locations of their choosing.
The redevelopment and court order has caused friction among council, the mayor, and residents since it came into focus earlier this year.
While the mayor acknowledged that a new potential project to meet the court’s requirement is being considered, he declined to provide further details.
The old high school was demolished in autumn 2012 after damage from a 1992 arson and 20 years of exposure to the elements and vandalism. The school gained a reputation as a “haunted” destination, drawing teens from around the region and causing headaches for police and neighbors.
Built as a regional school in 1854, Lambertville High School became a high school in the late 1800s and added a large addition in 1926 after a fire forced renovations. The school closed in 1959 ahead of the opening of South Hunterdon Regional High School. For many years, Taurus Corp. operated an electronics manufacturing facility on the property.
Below is the mayor’s full statement:
On Friday, December 6, 2024, I sent a letter to K. Hovnanian Homes (KHH) informing them that the City will not extend their conditional redeveloper designation, which expires tomorrow. The decision follows two and a half years of multiple proposals and discussions regarding the possible redevelopment of the Lambertville High School Redevelopment Area (LHSRA).
In the months following the introduction of the Ordinance to amend the Redevelopment Plan, the City has heard the concerns of residents related to, among other issues, the potential impact of stormwater runoff to downhill neighborhoods and traffic circulation on Connaught Hill. There has also been significant concern that the former landfill area located on the property will not be closed, even if the proposed project were to proceed. Moreover, the City is now aware of contamination in groundwater wells that service certain residential properties near or adjacent to the property, which has raised additional concerns about the impact of the proposed development. For these reasons, the City has decided to step away from the project.
As you likely know, the LHSRA is a required element of the City’s 2020 Third Round Housing Element and Fair Share Plan. As such, I have also sent a letter to the Court advising them of the City’s decision.
The Council Members and I want to acknowledge how difficult this process has been for the community. Some of this may have been about different points of view, or a feeling of frustration in not knowing the specifics of confidential and continued negotiations, or concerns about environmental issues, or other feelings related to the possibility of large-scale change. Whatever you may be feeling, or have felt, I think it’s a good moment to reiterate that the Council Members and I have a deeply held appreciation for the trust we’ve been given to make the right decisions on behalf of the community.
A few of you have expressed concern about the end of the Third Round and the City’s ability to fully meet its present obligation. The Council Members and I have begun to consider a potential project, though it’s too soon to share any information about it. When I’m confident we’re in a place to discuss it in public, I will bring it forward—probably early in the new year.
Owing to the possible implications of this decision, the City will refrain from further public comment. And I respectfully ask the community to honor the process and the decision with care and thoughtfulness.
Yours in service,
Mayor Nowick
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