New Jersey-based land-use consultancy Dresdner Robin today announced the completion of civil engineering, site planning and landscape and lighting design services for the SilverLake residential development at 165 Belmont Ave, which opened this spring. The luxury apartment complex includes 232 housing units (nearly 90% of which are already leased), with 75,000-square-feet reserved for green space and a dog park.
“Working with the Dresdner Robin team was a fantastic experience,” said the property developer, Matthew Allen of Klein Enterprises. “They exceeded our expectations throughout the development process and helped make our vision come to life.”
The complex’s outdoor amenity/green space courtyard features private seating areas, landscaped planting beds, and is outfitted with outdoor kitchen/grilling stations. To further encourage sustainability while also reducing impervious coverage –which refers to the amount of land covered by hard surfaces, preventing drainage— Dresdner Robin designed custom green-roof carports. The greenroof carports will include drought tolerant plantings such as sedums, which will absorb rainfall and reduce runoff. Greenroof technology also helps reduce heat and creates a more pleasant view from the apartments.
“Prior to the Silver Lake apartments, housing in Belleville was already in high demand,” said Dresdner Robin’s Mark Vizzini, the Associate Director of Land Development, “By utilizing sustainable design, precise construction, and engineering tailored to the community’s needs, we’re thrilled to have had the opportunity to further enhance the neighborhood and provide luxury and accessible living options for those interested in the area.”
Housing options include studio apartments, and one- and two-bedroom floor plans. The complex is equipped with various amenities including a fitness center, pet spa, roof deck, game room, resident lounge, grilling stations, dog park, bocce court, bike storage and more.
The five-story building also includes ground-floor commercial space, as well as an onsite supermarket. The property is located 15 miles outside of Manhattan and is steps away Branch Brook Park and the Silver Lake and Newark light rail stations operated by New Jersey Transit.
In February, Belleville Township was granted $290,000 for a pedestrian-safety project surrounding the Silver Lake light rail station, which was partially due to SilverLake. The grant will be used for sidewalk replacements, installations of accessible corners, crosswalk-safety and lighting enhancements, and transportation improvements for bike access.
