Although Two Trees confirmed last week that the slow-to-materialize Trader Joe’s at Atlantic and Court was all fact, no fiction, we still had no idea why the store was taking so long to become a reality. Now we know: The grocer’s plans had to pass muster with that merry band of preservationists known as the Landmarks Preservation Commission. As it turns out, TJ’s original application to make minor tweaks to the old Independence Bank building was incomplete, but the store submitted additional documentation a few days ago and the LPC green-lighted the application, according to a Landmarks spokesperson. (The biggest alteration to the building involves the installation of an HVAC system on the roof.) Time to put the No-Joe rumors to rest forever? We hope so.
Two Trees: Trader Joe’s Is Still Coming [Brownstoner] GMAP