Construction is underway on a massive apartment complex at the corner of North Broad Street and Atkinson Drive in the Doylestown district.
Formerly owned by The Intelligencer newspaper, the 7-acre assets are being redeveloped into 233 apartments in 3 buildings. A swimming pool is included in the design.
Approximately 10,000 square feet of commercial area will be located on the first floor. It is unclear what kind of businesses will occupy this area, it is expected that a place to eat will be one of them.
The third building, a seven-story structure, is being built in the far corner of the site, near Center Square Towers, a neighboring apartment complex.
As the as-yet-unnamed complex continues to expand, a new traffic barrier is expected to be installed at the intersection within a few months, said Phil Ehlinger, the town’s deputy superintendent.
Once the task is complete, Ehlinger said, Atkinson Drive will be rebuilt, with motorcycle lanes on both sides of the road and a narrow median in the center. No data is available on when the complex will be completed.
More than 100 new trees are expected to be planted in the area, as well as 750 shrubs and other plantings, Ehlinger said. A wooded acre bordering the assets of the U. S. Post Office. UU. se will become a public park with walking trails and benches, he added.
The municipality’s plans commissioned the approval of the plan a little over 3 years ago. The lone dissenting voice was Heather Mahaley, who voiced considerations about affordable housing and traffic. At the time, Villanova-based real estate developer CornerstoneTracy said rents would be “at market price. “
“This is one of the most significant developments that have been or will be noticed in the township,” Ehlinger said in previous comments.
Across North Broad Street, a 60-home townhouse build is planned where assets extend all the way to Doylestown Township. As part of the agreement, the portion of the township land facing North Broad will be a dog park.