GROUP PRESENTS PLANS FOR PAPA J’S SITE
The Troiani Group has presented preliminary plans to the Carnegie Planning Commission for a new restaurant and 42 apartments on the site of the original Papa J’s Ristorante destroyed by fire in March 2018.
The presentation was made during a Zoom meeting on Feb. 23.
After fire consumed the landmark restaurant at the corner of Broadway and East Main streets in the heart of the Carnegie business district, the Troiani Group demolished the structure and purchased two adjacent buildings at 212 and 214 East Main St., then tore down those structures to make way for a new, potentially larger development.
Steve Regan, an attorney representing the Troiani Group, outlined a plan that will consolidate seven lots into one and vacate Williams Way, an alley that separates the five lots facing East Main from two lots behind Williams Way that will become a gravel and crushed asphalt parking lot to serve the new development.
“There is a safety issue for pedestrians,” Mr. Regan cited as the main reason to make Williams Way part of the development. He showed a video of a tractor-trailer on Williams Way trying to make a turn onto Broadway Street and smashing flower planters in the process.
The building planned for the five lots facing East Main Street will be four stories high, and, at 59 feet, will be a foot short of the 60-foot Carnegie zoning height limit requirement, Mr. Regan said.
A private fitness center will face Roberts Street and Williams Way. The new restaurant will face Broadway and East Main, just as the old one did, with the three upper floors in the new building each featuring 14 apartments.
“We believe this will be a great anchor for the business district. People want to see activity on the street, and this development will help the other businesses,” said Michael Troiani, president of the Troiani Group.
The parking lot will offer 45 spaces for cars and 15 spots for bicycles. Mr. Regan said fencing will be erected along Roberts Street and Broadway to shield residents and other businesses from auto headlights.
“Parking will be exclusive to support on-site uses, Mr. Troiani said.
One parking spot will be reserved for each apartment, leaving a parking deficit of 15 spaces per the borough parking ordinance, but Mr. Regan said there will be enough on-street and municipal parking to make up the difference.
“After 5 p.m. when permit parking expires, there will be enough spaces to cover the nominal 15-space deficit,” Mr. Regan said.
The borough leases parking spaces in municipal lots and leases some on-street spaces from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. On weekends and evenings anyone can park in those spots free of charge.
“We are honoring Carnegie with a building that is contextual to the town,” Mr. Troiani said.
“The original building had a parapet with a turret detail. It was a beautifullooking detail, and we want to re-create it. We are taking our cues from the Sterling Building. We can re-create those details in the windows and arches, and we want those details ready to present to council.”
The Sterling Building was the name of the original building when it was purchased by the Troiani family, which opened Papa J’s Ristorante in 1988. The 1890sera building first housed the Sterling Lumber & Supply Company. After the Sterling Company moved out, it housed Bells Drug Store and for a time, the Carnegie Trust and Loan Office.
Mr. Troiani is hoping for final council approval at its April meeting. He estimates a 15- month construction schedule once council gives the go ahead.
“The apartments will be market- rate, first- class apartments with quality finishes, ceramic floors in the kitchen and bathroom, highend cabinetry and high-quality HVAC systems,” he said.
Rent will be $ 1.70 per square foot, comparable to the rates for apartments in nearby Robinson, and the Troiani Group projects rent will range from $1,000 a month for a small one-bedroom up to $1,200 to $1,250 for two-bedroom apartments.
The planning commission and the borough legal counsel are reviewing the plans.