If the project is approved, the homes will rise on a grassy parcel with a history of illegal dumping.
The developer, Liberty Bell Management, must secure a variance — permission to deviate from zoning law — before construction can start. Currently, the land is zoned for single-family homes and not for a multifamily project.
A hearing before the Zoning Board of Adjustment is scheduled for May 13.
Woodruff said the hope is to start building by the middle of 2027.
“That’s the intention. Obviously things ebb and flow,” he said.
Before the zoning hearing, the project will be considered by the city’s Civic Design Review Committee. The advisory group, composed of architects and planners, provides feedback on proposed developments. And while developers are not required to adopt the committee’s recommendations, they are strongly encouraged to incorporate them into their designs before finalizing them.
The proposal comes as private developers continue to invest in Germantown as part of a wave of new residential projects.
Until a few years ago, few developers wanted to invest in Germantown. More than a dozen companies have now entered the market, raising concerns about affordability among residents.