During an April 7th meeting, Sal Paone of Sal Paone Builders proposed to Plymouth Township that the township council rezone the property at 523-525 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.

The Plymouth Ridge Corporate Center also includes a fifth office building at 521 Plymouth Road, which Mission Kids purchased in 2024. Paone’s proposal will not impact that property.

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 never moved forward.

During Paone’s recent 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.

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.

Some of the questions asked by council members focused on points of access and connectivity, sidewalks, affordability, density, and stormwater.

Due to a timeline set by the property owner, Paone is seeking to have the council pass a rezoning amendment by the end of October 2025.

Council members did not offer an opinion on Paone’s request for rezoning.

The video in this article is the audio of the meeting and is cued to Paone’s presentation.

Images: Sal Paone Builder