The Laurelton School building, Brick, N.J., Aug. 2020. (Photo: Daniel Nee)
A private healthcare company and the new owner of a building that once housed a Brick Township public elementary school will jointly pitch a proposal to the planning board to turn the facility into an adult day-care center.
Signature Behavioral Health and Apex Realty Investment have filed to appear before the township’s planning board at its Nov. 6 meeting to propose the adult day-care center at the former Laurelton Elementary School building, located at 1811 Route 88, located between Post Road and the Route 70 intersection on the state highway.
The companies will seek preliminary and final site plan approval to convert the existing building into a day-care center, not tear the building down or initiate any new construction. The former school, built in 1934, was sold at auction in the spring of 2022 after several previous attempts to sell the building failed to materialize. The school last housed students in 2008.
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The health care provider and property owner will ask the board for just a single variance, which would allow 30 off-street parking spaces where 50 is the minimum required. The companies will also ask for more minor “design waivers,” including for existing stormwater drainage, soil boring logs, being in an area known for housing certain animal species and the size of sidewalks and landscaped areas.
Laurelton School, Brick, N.J. (Credit: Max Spann)
The sale price of the building was $1,125,000 at auction, and the buyer was obligated to pay a commission of $112,500 to the auction house since the property is taxpayer-owned. The school board voted unanimously to accept the offer at their meeting following the return of bids.
The hearing will be held Nov. 6 at 7 p.m. in the council chambers of the municipal complex on Chambers Bridge Road.
