Exeter Township officials are reviewing plans to build 232 apartments on the Exeter Promenade property.
John Rathfon of Metropolitan Management Group, Wyomissing, gave an informal presentation on plans for the apartment complex to the township supervisors at their Monday meeting.
A few months ago, he said, Metropolitan and the Berks County Redevelopment Authority, which owns the property, entered into an agreement of sale.
Exeter Township bought the Promenade property in 2019 for over $2.5 million. The vacant structure was demolished in April 2021, and the township sold it to the redevelopment authority in 2024 for $3 million.
The plan calls for eight apartment buildings on the plot along the 3900 block of Perkiomen Avenue: two with 16 units, one with 20 units, and five with 36 units.
Each building would be three stories, with one- or two-bedroom “garden-style” apartments.
One-bedroom units would range from 875 square feet to 1,000 square feet. Monthly rent would likely be about $1,750 to $1,850, Rathfon said.
The two-bedroom units would be 1,175 square feet to 1,350 square feet, with monthly rent at slightly less than $2,000.
Rathfon said the layout of the buildings would resemble Metropolitan’s plans for another apartment complex in Exeter.
Those plans call for 216 units near the Shelbourne Square Shopping Centre.
Rathfon noted developers plan to break ground on that project in the coming months.
Amenities planned for the Promenade site include pickleball courts, a pool, a clubhouse, private garages and storage units.
“We find this (plan) to be a piece of a mixed-use community,” Rathfon said. “I think this complements the existing retail as well as redevelops a property that is somewhat blighted.”
The Promenade complex would be expected to generate an additional $366,000 in taxes for the township, Rathfon noted.
The complex would have two entrances. One would be a signalized entrance at East Neversink Road and another would be further down Perkiomen Avenue.
Supervisors asked about possibly building a road connecting East Neversink Road to East 40th Street.
Some township officials previously made a case that a road there would benefit emergency access, supervisors said.
Rathfon said making that connection would pose issues with having a slope that would be steeper than township rules allow and having to make alterations close to a residential property next to the house.
He said changing the location of the 40th Street connection to fit township rules could result in having to cut several buildings from the plan, which would make it financially unfeasible for developers.
Supervisor George Bell said he would rather see additional affordable housing in the township, even if it means cutting the 40th Street connection.
“I don’t know if it (the road) is (supervisors’) biggest concern,” Bell said. “I personally don’t see fire trucks going down a 15-degree (slope) anyway.”
Supervisors Jack Piho and Amanda Johnsen said they agreed with Bell that a 40th Street connection wasn’t a priority.
Supervisor Clarence Hamm also thought a 40th Street connecting road would be too steep and cause safety issues.
Supervisor Mohammed Mohammed said he also wasn’t concerned about the road but would like to see some of the buildings include shops and grocery stores.
Rathfon said developers expect to break ground in about two years following the plan review and approval process.
Supervisors took no action on the plans at the meeting.