Newark May Convert Historic Former Hospital To Mixed-Use
A historic former hospital in Newark may be getting a second life.
St. Michael's Hospital, built in 1871 but abandoned after St. Michael's Medical Center moved to Downtown Newark, could potentially be converted into a mixed-use facility with apartments, offices and a nonprofit, Jersey Digs reports.
New Jersey Community Capital's Community Asset Preservation Corp., in partnership with local developers Hanini Group, Crawford Street Partners and CTS Group, will have their proposal for the buildings heard by the Newark Zoning Board of Adjustment Thursday. The plan has already been approved by the Newark Landmarks and Historic Preservation Committee.
CAPC's plan for the buildings at 292-306 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. call for 25 apartments spread through floors three to six, office space on the second floor, and a new location for nonprofit Glass Roots, a glass-blowing gallery and educational center, on the ground and basement floors. The buildings vary between four and six stories tall.
As of February 2017, the oldest hospital buildings in Newark were set to be an “arts and cultural incubator for Newark nonprofits and educational institutions,” according to a CAPC spokesman, with plans for an arts-focused charter school. The proposal submitted to the ZBA did not include a school.
The exact nature of the residential units remains to be seen, but considering Newark's status as one of the most rental-heavy cities in the country, condos seem unlikely.
