The New Jersey Supreme Court on Friday agreed to answer whether a municipality flexing its powers under the state's eminent domain law must negotiate with a lien holder that has secured a final foreclosure judgment on a targeted property. LB-RPR REO Holdings LLC won certification of its petition arguing that Merchantville, N.J., had a duty to engage in good faith negotiations with the national developer of distressed properties over the condemnation of a 54-unit apartment building. LB held the mortgage on the property, had obtained a foreclosure order and was set to acquire the parcel through a sheriff's sale. 

There will be a Task Force Meeting on Thursday April 11th at 1:00 p.m. We will be discussing a number of neighborhood projects, including the New Jersey Tree Foundation’s upcoming tree planting along areas of Maple Avenue and the Overpass in Pennsauken. Additionally, a representative from the Camden Metro Area of the Rails to Trails Conservancy Program will be making a presentation to the Task Force. Please come out and join us!

Hello West Maple Neighborhood Stakeholders, 

Task Force Meeting: Our next Task Force meeting is THIS Thursday, February 7^th at 1pm in Merchantville Borough Hall. Please feel free to come out and join us.

Street Trees: We have some great news!  We are very excited to announce that the West Maple Task Force will be partnering with the New Jersey Tree Foundation (NJTF) to plant street trees along Maple Avenue in the Pennsauken portion of the neighborhood this spring.   A big ‘shout out’ goes to Lisa Simms of the NJTF who has garnered a federal grant to plant trees in underserved areas.  The Pennsauken portion of the neighborhood qualifies under the grant parameters.  The trees and labor for planting are FREE!  Mike Carruth, Chairman of the Pennsauken Shade Tree Commission, has been assisting with tree selection and evaluating potential planting locations.   Pennsauken Public Works will assist with concrete and asphalt cutting for tree pits, where needed.  We are grateful for their assistance!

Facebook Page: The Task Force has created a West Maple Neighborhood Facebook page so please help us get the word out and ‘Like’ us on facebook. https://www.facebook.com/TheWestMapleNeighborhood Do you want to publicize your neighborhood business?  Do know of something happening in the Neighborhood?   Feel free to let us know and we’ll try to post it on our facebook page.

Upcoming Evening Meeting: For those of you who have been asking, there will be an evening public meeting for West Maple Neighborhood residents, businesses, and interested persons on Monday, February 25^th at 7:30 at the Merchantville Borough Council caucus meeting. We will discuss Task Force recommendations that came out of the first phase of study, update the public on what has been happening during this second phase of study, collect input from the public on neighborhood issues, and discuss plans for future.

Mara Wuebker, PP/AICP

Ragan Design Group, LLC

30 Jackson Road, Suite C-3

Medford, NJ 08055

(609) 654-8800

www.ragandesign.com

Members of the West Maple Neighborhood and the New Jersey Tree Foundation are planting 34 trees along West Maple Avenue and the Federal Street Overpass on Wednesday, May 1st and Thursday, May 2st. "It has been a long road with several unexpected hurdles, such as an abundance of underground utilities, causing us to reduce and change planting locations", said project coordinator, Mara Wuebker, from Ragan Design.

The West Maple Neighborhood Task Force is working to help improve the appearance, quality of life and business vitality of the West Maple Neighborhood, which spans Merchantville, Pennsauken, and Camden. They will be making a presentation on Task Force activities to Merchantville Borough Council on Monday, February 25th at 7:30 p.m. They are always looking to reach out to more neighborhood residents and businesses, so please "like" them on facebook and share with your friends and other persons who may be interested.

The West Maple Neighborhood Task Force is working to help improve the appearance, quality of life and business vitality of the West Maple Neighborhood, which spans Merchantville, Pennsauken, and Camden. Interested parties are invited to join the next Task Force meeting, held on Thursday, December 13 at 1:00 p.m. in the Merchantville Borough Hall, One West Maple Ave., Second Floor. For more information, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..