JERSEY CITY | Projects and Construction thread

[C.]

500 Summit is being shopped for $45,000,000, or $49.13 per buildable square foot.

http://www.masseyknakal.com/listingi...ting_Flyer.pdf

[citybooster]

Regarding One Journal Square, I'm glad at least the other one is bumped to 777 ft. as well. I would have had a preference for 800 ft, at least would have pushed hard to get the FAA not to reduce from 942 for the second tower, but we have to make due with what is. It's Charles Kushner, Jared's dad, that is running the company after years of disgrace following his imprisonment on lurid charges centering on blackmail of a relative. Hopefully the value engineering theory isn't correct, and it was the FAA. I do think we should hold off judgement on how they're going to look, hopefully we'll get updated renders as well as groundbreaking very soon.

I think this makes it essential that they build 30 Journal Square as soon as possible... hopefully no shorter than the 799 ft and 72 floors they were going with most recently which had won approval by the Planning Board. It's different looking and will contrast the two One Journal Square towers well right across the street. I'm gathering though that it won't be until these towers are built they will go with starting up 30 Journal Square. It would be a logistical nightmare to have all three going up at once so no way they will all be developed at the same time. Maybe around mid 2019, when hopefully the other two are being marketed, will bring it to groundbreaking time for that tower.

I don't think we should be down, within a few years we will have at least the three Journal Squared towers, the two tower One Journal Square and across Sip Avenue 30 Journal Square. Four of those towers will be at least 759 ft... the tallest of the Journal Squared towers starting up hopefully within three months as CIA has discovered as well as the twin 777 ft. towers at One Journal Square and the 799ft. 30 Journal Square(fingers crossed it stays that height). While I would love more variety in height this is still going to be monumentally transformative. The key thing we should do is try to use our voice to support other high rise potentials such as 101 Newkirk, the two Loew's Theater towers that could be developed by the approval and implementation of the arts district plan in the immediate neighborhood around the Loew's as well as whoever buys the 500 Summit site that CIA displayed being on the market.

We have to fight for midrises in the area, and not watering down the Journal Square 2060 blueprint to the point the NIMBYs win and thwart smart density projects with their own flabbergasting obsession with "keeping with the scale of the neighborhood" and parking, parking, parking! There have got to be more wins for developments like the 20 story recently(and finally) approved 2973 Journal Square. Projects like the two 25 story towers going between Summit Avenue and Baldwin Avenue where the old Mueller's Pasta factories will soon be demolished.

I'm disappointed by the downsizing of the second tower of One Journal Square but as you can see certainly still very excited about the transformation of the Square into something really great. Not just high rises but exciting possibilities like to remake the building currently being used by Hudson County Community college as the new home for the Jersey City Museum. As well as finally by 2021 getting the landmark Loew's Theater into the hands of management that can actually arrange for the funding to make it the world class cultural and entertainment palace it should be. Friends of Loews was extraordinary and wonderful in getting the Loews saved but they alone CANNOT run it, or fund it like a world class institution. It's never going to make it long term being used as it currently exists... some movie theme nights and weekends, an occasional show. How can we have a Loews Theater district without having a relevant, dynamic, exciting world class theater?

[chris08876]

Project: 380 Newark Avenue

But local developer Weingarten Group recently broke ground on their latest project at 380 Newark Avenue, which will add 45 new units to Downtown’s condominium inventory next year. Molfetta Corp. is handling the construction of the building, which seeks to provide The Village neighborhood’s eclectic residents with other options besides renting.

“What’s so great about Jersey City is that as more and more areas are revitalizing, people want to stay and plant roots here,” says Weingarten Group co-founder Scott Weingarten. “There are a lot of rental units out now, but we’re hearing constantly that residents want to stay for the long term and invest in themselves.”

380 Newark is another sign that construction Downtown is heading further west, but Weingarten doesn’t think that being away from the waterfront means a lack of conveniences. “We’re amazed at how within just 2-3 blocks of the development, you have fantastic amenities,” he says, noting that two green spaces, Jones Park and Mary Benson Park, are within walking distance.

The property itself was designed by architect Scott Mahaffey and will rise six stories, feature a 20-space garage, sport a lobby with a virtual doorman, and include a package room for deliveries. When completed, the project will have five one-bedrooms, 30 two-bedrooms of varying sizes and ten large three-bedroom units. Two select condos will have 250-square foot private decks.

===================
JC_Digs

[C.]

Originally Posted by CIA

From http://www.lwdmr.com

165 Academy

Per the latest Planning Board agenda, this one has increased from 14 storys and 128 units to 18 storys and 176 units. Every little bit helps to make up for the loss at One Journal Square. I feel better. Academy Street in Journal Square is undergoing a major transformation. Nearly every lot is being redeveloped into a mid-rise district. It's going to be very cool one day soon.

[C.]

Originally Posted by CIA

From http://www.lwdmr.com

232 Sip

This one has also increased from 8 floors with 81 units to 14 floors with 129 units. Keep 'em coming!

[C.]

342 Johnston Ave New 8 story mixed-use building.

15. Case: P16-110 Preliminary and Final Major Site Plan with
Deviations
Applicant: RUC Holdings, LLC
Review Planner: Matt Ward
Attorney: Charles Harrington
Address: 342 Johnston Ave
Block: 17506 Lot: 11
Zone: Lafayette Park Redevelopment Plan
Description: Proposed 8-story mixed-use building with 55 dwelling units and 2,246 square feet of
ground floor retail, 13 parking spaces, and a public resiliency space and 12 bedrooms dedicated toward affordable housing.
Deviations: Minimum setbacks, maximum building height, and building coverage CARRIED TO MARCH 14, 2017 MEETING WITH NOTICE.

[C.]

Originally Posted by CIA

From http://www.lwdmr.com

75 Jordan

Right next to 75 Jordan is 55 Jordan, a new 16-story building coming to up and coming McGinley Square.

7. Case: P16-102 Preliminary and Final Major Site Plan
Applicant: Mercer Jordan, LLC
Review Planner: Matt Ward
Attorney: Steven J. Tripp
Address: 55 Jordan Avenue, 26 Tuers Avenue, 535-545 Mercer Street
Block: 13504 Lots: 7, 10-14
Zone: McGinley Square East Redevelopment Plan
Description: Proposed 16-story mixed-use building with 267 dwelling units (of which 53 units are dedicated affordable), 4,340 square feet of ground floor retail, and 112 parking spaces. CARRIED FROM FEBRUARY 14, 2017 MEETING. TESTIMONY TAKEN.

The old building suspiciously burnt down a couple years ago...

37 people displaced by suspicious Jersey City fire off McGinley Square

[chris08876]

All of these projects are great. You can already tell the impact of the boom from the street level. The streets are a lot more livelier. More pedestrians on the streets than ever before.

The good thing is that they are replacing rubbish to begin with.

[dc_denizen]

I really need to get out to jc and see this boom firsthand

[citybooster]

I still think the One Journal Square project will be amazing even with the cut of the second tower(and the increase to same 777 ft height as the second tower, which CIA wasn't thrilled with)...BUT...I LOVE this new wave of mid sizers coming around the neighborhood, and the fact that the increases have gone through despite the NIMBY yapping elsewhere by the Square and spreading out through Mc Ginley Square is heartening. Going to be sweet in just 3-5 years seeing the transformation of the Square area to something really exciting and revitalized. Keep em coming, Planning Board.. and keep updating us about them, CIA!

[C.]

Thanks! We really need to start a website and start outreach efforts to encourage the city to pursue pro-development policies like these and to counteract NIMBY bull****.

Chris said it best:

All of these projects are great. You can already tell the impact of the boom from the street level. The streets are a lot more livelier. More pedestrians on the streets than ever before.

The good thing is that they are replacing rubbish to begin with.

The city is becoming more livelier and better than before.

A long way from:

[chris08876]

Project: 445 Ocean Avenue

After years of planning, development is underway for a new residential project in Jersey City. The building will rise in the northern edge of the city’s Greenville neighborhood at 445 Ocean Avenue, between Fulton Avenue and Dwight Street, in Ward F, directly across the street from the Ward A border.

County documents show that the project, proposed by MidAtlantic Engineering Partners, LLC of Hamilton Township, Mercer County in partnership with the Jersey City Redevelopment Agency and the New Jersey Redevelopment Authority, is slated to include 64 residential rental units, all of which will be designated as affordable housing. 12 of the units will contain one bedroom, 36 will contain two bedrooms, and 16 will contain three bedrooms. Hudson County’s Planning Board unanimously approved the proposal during its meeting on November 14, 2016.

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JC Digs

[Hamilton]

Got this in my inbox today:

The New JSQ Community Association will hold a special meeting this Wednesday, March 1, at 7 pm to consider a development plan for a 14-story building at 232-238 Sip Ave. (the northwest corner of Sip and Van Wagenen). The property is currently a parking lot. The meeting will be held at Starting Points, 2737 Kennedy Blvd., between Bond St. and Stuyvesant Ave.

The developer, Raj Gupta, and his attorney, Donald Pepe of Scarinci Hollenbeck, will be there to discuss the plan and to listen to our concerns.

The Planning Board previously approved the developer’s application for an eight-story building on this property; the developer was planning to request approval for the amended plan at a Planning Board meeting scheduled for this Tuesday, but agreed to postpone the application in order to meet with members of the community concerned about the height of the building as well as the failure to provide any parking for residents.

We urge you to attend, particularly if you live or know someone in the immediate area.

Our next regular meeting will be Saturday, March 11, from 10 a.m. to 12 noon, also at Starting Points. Our guest speakers will be Judi Reilly, director of the city’s Resident Response Center, and Bob Antonicello, a representative of Harwood Properties. He will discuss Harwood’s proposed development of the Square Ramp Parking Garage on Magnolia Avenue into a mixed-use residential and commercial facility, with space for the arts.

[C.]

Originally Posted by Hamilton

Got this in my inbox today:

The New JSQ Community Association will hold a special meeting this Wednesday, March 1, at 7 pm to consider a development plan for a 14-story building at 232-238 Sip Ave. (the northwest corner of Sip and Van Wagenen). The property is currently a parking lot. The meeting will be held at Starting Points, 2737 Kennedy Blvd., between Bond St. and Stuyvesant Ave.

The developer, Raj Gupta, and his attorney, Donald Pepe of Scarinci Hollenbeck, will be there to discuss the plan and to listen to our concerns.

The Planning Board previously approved the developer’s application for an eight-story building on this property; the developer was planning to request approval for the amended plan at a Planning Board meeting scheduled for this Tuesday, but agreed to postpone the application in order to meet with members of the community concerned about the height of the building as well as the failure to provide any parking for residents.

We urge you to attend, particularly if you live or know someone in the immediate area.

Our next regular meeting will be Saturday, March 11, from 10 a.m. to 12 noon, also at Starting Points. Our guest speakers will be Judi Reilly, director of the city’s Resident Response Center, and Bob Antonicello, a representative of Harwood Properties. He will discuss Harwood’s proposed development of the Square Ramp Parking Garage on Magnolia Avenue into a mixed-use residential and commercial facility, with space for the arts.

Thanks. I may crash this.

On a side note, Jersey City, and especially Journal Square, is one of the most diverse communities in the country, if not the most diverse. How are all the officers of the New JSQ Neighborhood Association all white?

[dc_denizen]

Originally Posted by CIA

Thanks! We really need to start a website and start outreach efforts to encourage the city to pursue pro-development policies like these and to counteract NIMBY bull****.

Chris said it best:



The city is becoming more livelier and better than before.

A long way from:

Ah, the good old days.

[Hamilton]

Originally Posted by dc_denizen

Ah, the good old days.

I see plenty of parking spots in those pics. Good old days, indeed.

[Hamilton]

Here is an excerpt from the Mayor's State of the City speech from today:

This year, we will work with Councilman Boggiano to revisit the Journal Square 2060 Plan with local community groups to redefine our vision for this neighborhood. We promise to be thoughtful during this process, and not simply accept the practices that were put in place by previous administrations. Just like you, we feel strongly about preserving the character of this neighborhood.

Here is the "character" that Boggiano and the Hilltop Neighborhood Association rallied to preserve on Perrine Ave. Fulop sided with them against this development:

[Hamilton]

Here's Fulop's full speech: http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/2...rt_river_index

Boggiano has been opposing the Journal Square Redevelopment Plan and tall buildings in Journal Square since before he became a council member:

Rich Boggiano, president of the Hilltop Neighborhood Association, and other members of the association, recently met with a representative from a developer who owns land in the redevelopment zone and expressed concern over the heights permitted by the plan.

Boggiano said he was concerned about eminent domain, but the redevelopment plan specifically says that is not permitted.

Nonetheless, Boggiano remained concerned about the community being "busted up and destroyed."

http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/2...ize_journ.html

Why is Flop giving in to Boggiano's NIMBY agenda now, after ignoring him for 3 years? My take is that Fulop is trying to keep Boggiano from running against him in the municipal election in November.

However, insiders say that November’s ballot is likely to be crowded and possibly include the likes of state Senator Cunningham or Jersey City Ward C Councilman Richard Boggiano.

http://observer.com/2017/02/fulop-pr...nts-in-hudson/

[C.]

Jared Kushner, time to come back to Journal Square and crack some heads.

[C.]

Small update: There are concerns in the development community that Jersey City may be in an over development situation. However, fears have been unwarranted thus far based on the data.

The M2 at Marbella development is fully leased up in just six months. An average of 50 units were absorbed a month. On a national level, typical developments of this size usually take about 3 years to hit stabilized occupancy. Also, they were able to command 19 percent in higher rents then the developer originally planned for in the pro-forma. This is excellent news!

Why invest real estate dollars elsewhere when the big bucks is to be made in Jersey City! The lease-up of Urby I will be another test. If it's looking just as good, construction for Urby II & III may be moved up. Current target date is 2018 or beyond.

Journal Squared I will be a big test for the Journal Square market. It must succeed!