JERSEY CITY | Projects and Construction thread

[C.]

Great news for one of the main commercial shopping districts in the Heights. 300 Central Avenue has been approved for a four story, 12 unit building with retail at grade. It looks like the C Town supermarket up the street may be relocating to this site.



The NIMBYs (that don't even live here) downsized the number of units by 50 percent. As a result, there are now about a dozen families cheated out of an affordable housing option because of the selfish interests of a few, but we're still getting 12 units which isn't bad and will help revitalize central avenue by adding an infusion of new residents into the area.

[chris08876]

Construction Update: Marin Residences




Credit: JC_Heights

[C.]

BIG development planned around Cast Iron lofts. Marion to Jersey Avenue and beyond. 4-8,000 units and a million soft of retail and offices.

[chris08876]

^^^^

Wow, 4200+ units.

PDF: http://mhsarchitects.com/wp-content/...pment-Plan.pdf

[Oron Zchut]

I think that's more of a vision/guiding master plan than an actual project - the same developer doesn't own all the lots. That being said, it is being developed more or less according to that master plan, so far.

CIA - I walked around the Bates Street area last weekend and was trying to understand exactly where the 3 projects line up (100 Colden, One Bates, 17-23 Bates).



That's the map of the Bates Street Redevelopment Area (from Jersey City's website). Hopefully that's big enough to see. From what I was able to gather, all three of the projects seem to be on Block 13802 (the block between Colden and Brook Streets). Is it possible these are all renders for various versions of the same project?

[llamaorama]

Do you think one day the Holland Tunnel approach could be moved underground?

Not only would it reduce traffic congestion, but those blocks would have more economic value. As it is, I can't imagine anything being built on the land bounded by the two surface roads leading to the tunnel because it is impossible for local traffic to get in and out of them.

[C.]

Originally Posted by Oron Zchut

That's the map of the Bates Street Redevelopment Area (from Jersey City's website). Hopefully that's big enough to see. From what I was able to gather, all three of the projects seem to be on Block 13802 (the block between Colden and Brook Streets). Is it possible these are all renders for various versions of the same project?

I was thinking that. Maybe 2 of the three maybe the same project. It's hard to tell.

100 Colden is Block 13802, Lots 12-19

17-23 Bates Street is Block 2136, Lots 9-12 aka:

17-23 Bates Street
114, 116, 118, 120 Colden Street
1-3 7 11-13 Brook Street

I think these two are separate projects.

On the other hand, one Bates should be Block 2140, but I'm very skeptical it's not 17-23 Bates.

[C.]

There's some site prep at the Pier 6 site in Jersey City. Is this office tower about to break ground?





http://piersixnewport.com/index.php

Last proposal with the city is for three mixed-use towers with 818 units and 307,000 sqft of office space and retail.

[C.]

Originally Posted by CIA

Another small but important one planned for Journal Sq.



6-story with 54 units planned for Perrine Avenue. I like the density, and it appears they already have zoning authority, but the design is very poor. This is one of the very rare times I side with the neighbors with hopes we get a better planned building for the site.

If you thought this one was too close to the street, you were right. The community raised their concerns at the planning board and a number of changes have been made. It's now setback from the street by the appropriate distance prescribed in zoning. Plans now call for front yard landscaping and the ground floor has been reconfigured. The number of units has been decreased from 54 to 48. The facade has also been modified.

Sounds like a bunch of good changes all around. I'm very impressed with the planners at Jersey City. They're the best in the nation! Keep it up.

[C.]

I want to share a prediction based on following Jersey City's real estate market for the past number of years: the tallest towers in the city will be a twin tower development in Journal Square, located at the Lowe's Theater art district site. Still a decade away but I can see it happening one day as the site has no height limits and efficiently unlimited density thanks to a cleverly written zoning ordinance. A close second may be the Goldman Sachs site at 55 Hudson. Almost nothing is known about it except for a blurp here and there, most recently with YIMBY's interview with Mayor Steven Fulop.

I know there was discussion regarding a new casino project; it’s going to be 100 stories tall?

Ninety-five. We need a legislative change next year for gaming in northern New Jersey, but we’re already building 70-story towers, so getting to 95 floors is not a big deal.

Would you like to push Jersey City’s skyline above Manhattan’s one day?

I don’t think that we’re even in that conversation yet. New York City’s skyline is the best in the world, and I think that we have an impressive skyline by comparable city sizes — we just happen to be next to the best in the world. It’s tough to compete.

Well it’s a collective skyline — it doesn’t end on one side of the harbor.

When you come into the turnpike, New York City and the Jersey City skylines merge together — you can’t tell the difference. And on the harbor, seeing substantial development on all sides — it’s a good thing.

Journal Square and Urban Ready Living are the two largest projects underway now, correct? Are there any similar developments in the pipeline?

The Trump building is going to be a similar size; Goldman Sachs came in regarding a new tower next to their existing building on the waterfront, and we’re just starting to talk about that.

There is no firm proposal for the Goldman Sachs' site at the moment, but the city estimates it could be 95 storys, per the most recent development map for downtown (August 2016). We'll see if that ever comes to fruition since 99 Hudson was also announced to be 95-storys, and 950 feet, but was reduced in the final design as they had a rather large site to work with and development rights only allowed a building of 1.2 million sqft.

[C.]

101 Newkirk

Originally Posted by CIA

I don't believe it myself, but a developer is planning a 50 story residential building with an attached 6-story parking garage on a vacant lot near 87 Newkirk Street and behind 30 Journal Square.

I have some more background information on 101 Newkirk. The project was planned to be just 21 floors last year and has grown over time as the city is very supportive of development. As recently of May 2016, this tower was 35 storys.

The Chairman acknowledge Frank Regan, Esq. for a presentation by 101 Newkirk, LLC. Mr. Regan noted that the developer has been meeting with Councilmen Boggiano and Rivera regarding their proposed project of a residential tower with market rate rentals and condos. There will be a parking deck which will also be used by the Justice Complex. John Nastasi,AIA showed concept drawings to the Board and indicated that the project is sympathetic to the history of Journal Square. The key components are: a six-story parking garage forthe courts,the public and the residents.

Mr. Nastasi indicated that Councilman Boggiano referenced a memorial at the base of the building for Jane Tuers. He indicated the building would be a destination including a restaurant in the building over the Jane Tuers memorial. The base of the building will be rental units and the top ten floors will be condo units. It will be 35 stories. It will include all amenities.

It's now 50 based on latest information. I wonder if it will grow some more before it gains formal approvals.

[Hamilton]

Stupid NIMBYs defeated a plan for a building that was completely in compliance with the zoning plan, complaining that it was "too big." Nevermind that just around the corner there is a 5-story prewar building, and there's another 5-story building already approved right on the corner of this same block.

And they're complaining about PARKING (which is not required under the Journal Sq zoning). This lot isn't even a 5-minute walk from 24/7 PATH service. Jeez.

CIA, were you at the meeting? I'm sorry that I couldn't show up to speak in favor of the development. What worries me most is what this means for the future of development in the area. That old dinosaur Boggiano wants to downzone Journal Square, and the Fulop administration says it's revisiting the zoning guidelines...

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

Residents of Perrine Avenue are cheering today after they helped to defeat a plan for a six-story, 48-unit building on the small dead-end street near Journal Square.

The Planning Board voted down the site plan Tuesday night, with one member voting in favor. The board agreed with residents in opposition that the plan was too large for the neighborhood.

The six-story building at 19 Perrine Ave. would have replaced three single-family homes. Residents in opposition criticized the plan not just for its scale but for not including any parking.

The Planning Board's action comes as developers move beyond Journal Square proper and creep into the surrounding neighborhoods, irking some longtime residents who say high-density residential developments will aggravate parking and infrastructure problems.

Councilman Rich Boggiano, who represents the area and opposed the project, called Tuesday's decision "a victory for the people." Boggiano has supported high-rises in Journal Square but says even low-rise buildings shouldn't be approved for neighborhoods of one- and two-family homes.

"You can't sacrifice a neighborhood," he said. "We're destroying our neighborhoods in this city."

Planning Board member Michael Sims voted in favor of approving the plan. Sims said he understands neighbors' complaints about the size of the building compared to their two- and three-story homes, but he noted that the project met the requirements of the area's redevelopment plan.

The developer "did everything to the standard codes," Sims said. "I don't like it. They did all their homework."

Daniel O'Connell's parents own one of the three houses slated to be purchased and demolished to make way for 19 Perrine Ave. O'Connell told The Jersey Journal the size of the opposition to the plan has been overstated and he criticized neighbors for working to kill the project.

He pointed to two nearby projects that won approval from the Planning Board and did not face neighborhood opposition, the 37-unit 3 Perrine Ave. and the 40-unit 205 Baldwin Ave.

"Why did they oppose this and not the others?" he asked.

Mary Horsfield, a Perrine Avenue resident who objected to the 19 Perrine Ave. plan, said residents were not aware of the 3 Perrine Ave. project until it was already approved by the Planning Board in February. As for Baldwin, she said, that's a "major thoroughfare" and no comparison to the narrow Perrine Avenue.

WHAT'S NEXT FOR JOURNAL SQUARE

Now that 19 Perrine Ave. has been killed, Boggiano wants the redevelopment plan that includes the area, known as the Journal Square 2060 Redevelopment Plan, revised to restrict developers from constructing dense residential housing in neighborhoods with single-family homes.

The plan includes most everything between State Highway and Vroom Street and from Garrison Avenue over to Baldwin Avenue.

In August, when the Planning Board approved two plans for three high-rises in Journal Square, member and Councilwoman-at-large Joyce Watterman said she would like to see affordable housing requirements added to the redevelopment plan, which does not have any requirements for moderate- or low-income housing.

City spokeswoman Jennifer Morrill said the city is aiming to review the Journal Square 2060 Redevelopment Plan in upcoming months for changes that would "better reflect priorities."

[C.]

Wow. It's been awhile since I've seen an outright denial. The residents must have been really organized. Especially since this development conforms to all zoning (in the Journal Square 2060 redevelopment plan). The site plan approval was denied. All other legal requirements in the zoning was met, so the developer has a legal right to build something of similar density. I'm not sure on next steps. I assume the developer asks the city how it would like the buildings designed in order to gain site plan approval. Parking is not a requirement in the Journal Square plan, so the city or community cannot ask the developer to provide it as a condition of approval.

Any experienced planners know?

I wonder if the developer should have hired a better attorney...

[C.]

CIA, were you at the meeting? I'm sorry that I couldn't show up to speak in favor of the development. What worries me most is what this means for the future of development in the area. That old dinosaur Boggiano wants to downzone Journal Square, and the Fulop administration says it's revisiting the zoning guidelines...

No, I was out of town on other matters but wow. Just wow. One month ago a twin tower site had its zoned changed for unlimited height and density in exchange for an art district and better connections to the PATH. Next month, the entire Journal Square 2060 plan risks coming undone because of a failed 6 story proposal that conformed exactly to zoning.

Dear Kushner, either one of ya, can you do something about this problem next year??
https://ballotpedia.org/Municipal_el..._Jersey_(2017)

[citybooster]

The whining about parking gets me.... enough with this thought you have to provide tons of parking when you live right by the transit hub of the city. Provide some parking but emphasize less of a car culture... and this entitled approach by these neighborhoods is totally ridiculous. Yeah, we really need hundreds, if not thousands, of more cars on our already congested city roads.

[C.]

25 Columbus comes in at 52 floors. They were limited to 750 units and was able to fit it in 52 storys out of the 60 maximum allowed. The same thing happened for the 95 story, 990 ft limit for 99 Hudson, when only 72 floors was needed to fill the maximum allowed 1.2 million sqft.

A little disappointed as there will be three towers all around the same height. But 750 units and a school is 750 units and a school

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

Construction is expected to start in July and complete in January 2020.

Wow. This one is happening much faster than I expected.

[chris08876]

Project: 61 Newkirk Street

A five-story building originally proposed in 2015 for 61-65 Newkirk Street is about to begin construction. The 29-unit project, which was proposed by Newkirk Realty, LLC and is being developed by Manhattan-based Titanium Realty Group, LLC and Old City Investment Partners, LLC, was approved last May by the Jersey City Planning Board. Old City is also a partner in developments in Baltimore and Brooklyn.

Diego Hodara of Titanium told Jersey Digs that the development recently received a five-year tax abatement, and “we are finally moving forward with the construction of the building”. WDesigne of Peekskill, New York and Hollister Construction Services of Parsippany are partners in the building’s construction, according to Hodara.

The property is located a few blocks away from the Journal Square business district, and lies just around the corner from several restaurants and the Lewis S. McRae Justice Complex. For the past few years, the tract has been a vacant lot with graffiti covering a fence outside of it. Part of the lot used to contain a vacant boarded-up house until it was demolished approximately three years ago.

==========================
https://jerseydigs.com/jersey-city-d...ewkirk-street/

[chris08876]

Edit: never mind, just realized there's post for this on the last page. Disregard.

It was for a 12 floor project on 100 Colden Street. See: post 297

[chris08876]

Project Update: New Renderings for 305 Coles Street






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https://jerseydigs.com/305-coles-str...st-jesey-city/

[C.]

^ Excellent.

101 Newkirk

News on everyone's favorite "I'll believe it when I see it" project. New details revealed today from the Jersey City Redevelopment Agency that this will contain both rental and condo units. I believe it's 35 rental floors and 10 condo floors. The height is still 50 storys. I hope they do taller with more condo units because more homeownership opportunities is absolutely vital to this area of the city.

This is also moving at a decent clip through the process. I would not be surprised to see this one break ground by the end of 2017. They still need an amendment to the Journal Square plan and site approval, but in my experience that can happen very quickly in Jersey City.

A parking garage will be built next door to this tower which will not only provide parking for residents but also spaces for a neighboring municipal justice center, which recently received negative press about the lack of parking for city employees and a controversial parking lease agreement with at a neighboring lot. The city may have have a vested interest in seeing this tower and the garage built sooner rather than later.

808 Pavoina - Arts District behind Lowes

Now that city approvals are in place, there is behind the scenes negotiating going on regarding the final product. Hartz Mountain sounded very timid on their development plans in a Jersey Journal article from earlier this year, so I hope the city insists on something big to help in the continued revitalization of the area. Hartz Mountain has a tendency to sell properties once they get zoning approval. If Journal Squared 1 is a big success, I would not be surprised to see Jonathan Kushner from KRE group pick this up for future development. I have no inside information, and just speculating but I have a good track record on predicting this kinda stuff, including the sale of 26 Journal Square to Jared Kushner as part of an expanded 30 Journal Square eight months before it happened.