One of the closest vacant lots to the Ferry Street business district in Newark’s Ironbound neighborhood and Newark Penn Station may not be undeveloped for much longer.

A developer would like to construct a mixed-use project at 40-44 Congress Street in the East Ward, between Ferry Street and Market Street. A legal notice from City Hall states that DT Venditti Corp. is seeking Preliminary and Final Site Plan approval from the Newark Zoning Board of Adjustment with variances for height, side and rear yard, building transparency, and lot coverage for their new building. If approved, this development would be five stories tall and consist of 48 residential units. The first floor would include 1,200 sq. ft. dedicated to commercial space and it is not listed whether or not parking is slated to be included.

The Zoning Board was first scheduled to hear the proposal back on January 25th.

Tax records from the City of Newark show that the developer is registered out of a building in the Ridgewood section of Queens. This property in the Ironbound was likely selected by the DT Venditti Corp. because of its location. Just one block from the newly expanded part of Riverfront Park along the Passaic River and within close walking distance of Downtown Newark, Harrison, local businesses, and public transportation, it has managed to remain vacant for the last nine years. Previously, it was used for private parking.