During an April 7th meeting, Sal Paone of Sal Paone Builders proposed to Plymouth Township that the township council rezone the property at 523-531 Plymouth Road in Plymouth Meeting (Plymouth Township) from commercial to residential zoning. The two properties, which are part of the Plymouth Ridge Corporate Center, are home to four mostly vacant office buildings, and Paone is seeking to construct no more than 159 townhouses. The property is owned by EQT Real Estate, which merged with Exeter Property Group, a more recognizable name locally, in 2021.
A proposed map amendment for 523-531 Plymouth Road is now on the July 2nd agenda for the Plymouth Township Planning Agency. The members of the planning agency will review the proposal and have the opportunity to make a recommendation to the township council, which will make the final determination.
During Paone’s April 7th presentation, he stressed the current issues impacting the office market and the inability to secure tenants for the existing buildings. He also highlighted the residential uses adjacent to and near the property, such as the Sussex Square Apartments and the new homes he constructed on the Driscol Tract, also off Plymouth Road.
Paone also compared the uses, commercial vs. residential, and how his proposal will impact the community. Regarding traffic, Paone stated that the commercial uses if the buildings were occupied or if the approved office building was constructed, the number of cars entering and exiting the property would be much greater than the traffic for 159 homes. The homes will also reduce impervious coverage and increase green space in that area of the township.
Who is the target market for the community? Paone shared that there will be two types of homes, and the likely purchasers are empty nesters and “move-up” buyers. The targeted price would be in the mid $500,000s to $600,000s.
In Paone’s application, which the planning agency will review, it requests that the zoning map be amended to “change the Zoning Map classification” of four tracts or parcels of land from “Office Laboratory to D-Residential District.” The four parcels are 523, 525, 527, and 531 Plymouth Road. You can view the proposed ordinance here.
This is not the first redevelopment plan for the Plymouth Ridge Corporate Center. In 2017, Exeter sought and received approval to redevelop two of the five office buildings with a single, five (potentially seven) story office building. In 2023, input was sought from the council about replacing two of the office buildings with 310 apartments. Neither project ever moved forward.
The planning agency meeting is scheduled for July 2nd at 7:00 p.m. at the Plymouth Township building.
Image – Rendering of property from Sal Paone Builder