Residences Planned for Former Cosmopolitan Motors

Two-bedroom and studio units could be joining Hatboro’s heavy industrial area. 

The owner of 301 Jacksonville Road–commonly known as Cosmopolitan Motors–intends to reuse the existing structures, with some expansions, to construct 50 two-bedroom, two-bathroom units and 37 studio units. 

In addition to housing, the development, based on plans filed at borough hall, would include 4,000 square feet of office space and would have a 155-space garage, plus 17 off-street parking spaces on neighboring Meadowbrook Avenue.

Jim Cassidy, of C2 Architecture Inc., did not return phone calls seeking comment. Cassidy’s company is listed as the applicant for the project, according to documents filed at borough hall.

Philadelphia-based Jacksonville Green LLC submitted the property’s plans last month. Borough officials said the Hatboro Planning Commission would review the plan during its July 2 meeting.

From there, the project would need conditional use approval from the borough council in order to move forward. Council President John Zygmont told Patch that the area is zoned mixed use, which permits housing, but only by special exception.

Zygmont said the council approved housing plans for the parcel three or four years ago for what officials had dubbed “Stoveworks 2” in the vein of neighboring Hatboro Lofts. Those apartments were built at the former Roberts and Mander Stoveworks manufacturing facility and the shell of the existing structure was used to house the luxury apartments.

The 301 Jacksonville Road parcel has changed hands since the initial land development approval, according to Zygmont, and the original plans are no longer in play.

Councilman Bill Tompkins said the most recent plans are “much different” from the previous ones in that the new owner is looking to “reuse” the existing structures.

The space has been vacant for several years, according to Tompkins, and previously housed auto-related uses.