Looks like a new Charter School for grades 6-12 may be coming to The Beacon. They also recently announced a new daycare center is opening there for kids 6 weeks to 5 years old, and are trying to bring in a kindergarten-5th grade school.

http://www.nj.com/news/jjournal/jerse ... 75891946300011.xml&coll=3

I came out of my apartment the other day and saw a guy walk out of his building holding a TV, cross the street and throw it behind some bushes lining the sidewalk. He then turned around and started back to his front door. I was in shock. People are nuts.

Where exactly in this article does it compare JC to Chelsea? Her reason to move, according to her quotes, was based solely on the apartment. She wanted a nicer place with more windows and amenities. You're the one who raised the area comparison.

People need to actually read these stories a little more closely before launching into pre-determined rubuttals. And for those who think the papers are filled with developer-paid positive stories, you should actually read the paper once in a while instead of waiting to get your news on these sites. If you did, you'd realize the real estate coverage, particularly in the Times, has been much more negative than not.

http://hudsonreporter.com/view/full_s ... ndary_stories_left_column


Learning about Hudson County history
Chamber of Commerce brings theme to networking events

by Ricardo Kaulessar
Reporter Staff Writer
Hudson Reporter

A BEACON OF HISTORY ? The Beacon, the complex of buildings built in the 1930s as the Jersey City Medical Center, is now a luxury mixed-use development. A tour of the Beacon is part of a Hudson County Chamber of Commerce networking event that be held this Tuesday from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.


The Beacon, a complex that was originally built in the 1930s as the Jersey City Medical Center, is now a luxury mixed-use development that has won accolades for its historic restoration. And next week it will be part of a history tour.

The Hudson County Chamber of Commerce kicks off their new Hudson County History Series with the first event highlighting ?The History of Jersey City? at the Beacon on Montgomery Street in downtown Jersey City. The event will be held this Tuesday from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

The series is meant as a way to bring local history and business networking under one roof.

Tuesday?s kickoff will start with a tour of the Beacon given by Ulana Zakalak, the Beacon?s Historic Restoration Consultant, to show off the details that were preserved in the building such as the original chandeliers. After the tour, there will be a book signing by Cynthia Harris & Leon Yost, co-authors of the recent book ?Changing Jersey City: A History in Photographs,? and then a lecture on Journal Square history, ?A Suspended Place,? given by Dr. Eric Friedman, a dean at Hudson County Community College.

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The event will be held this Tuesday from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
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Brian J. Dunlap, president and CEO of the Hudson County Chamber of Commerce, said, ?The preservation of such an iconic landmark is a pleasure for us to showcase and share with the public, and will serve as an ideal setting for our business network event. We?re confident the public will take advantage of this unique opportunity to experience this wonderful and compelling look into Jersey City?s storied past.?

The chamber, which has served the Hudson County business community since 1888, has 250 companies with over 1,000 people and businesses as members. Among them is Metrovest Equities, the development company responsible for the Beacon.

Dunlap said the chamber is also planning events for the history series in other towns such as Bayonne, Weehawken, and Hoboken over the next year.

The business of history

Dunlap, who became the chamber?s president and CEO last summer, said in creating the history series he was looking to ?invigorate? the Chamber of Commerce and bring ?pride? and ?possible theme? to their business networking events. Dunlap also looked at the rich history of Hudson County, and especially Jersey City, which is celebrating its 350th anniversary this year.

?I felt there were some opportunities to have an interesting theme and event around the history of Jersey City,? Dunlap said. ?And since the chamber is countywide, we looked to show off the history in different towns in the county.?

Dunlap also said the Beacon?s developer, George Filopoulos, wanted to show off what he has done in terms of the restoration.

The History of Jersey City takes place Tuesday, March 23, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at 4 Beacon Way (at Montgomery St. and Mill Road) in Jersey City. Hors d?oeuvres and beverages will be served. The registration fee is $25 for Hudson County Chamber of Commerce members and $40 for non-members. Payment is required upon registration. Convenient valet parking will be available for $5.

To register, contact Janet Estremera at (201)386-0699, ext. 27. You can email her at janet.estremera@hudsonchamber.org, or visit www.hudsonchamber.org.

For more information on The Beacon, visit www.thebeaconjc.com.

Ricardo Kaulessar can be reached at rkaulessar@hudsonreporter.com.

So XYZ Realty, Inc. went out, found a girl living in Chelsea, paid for her to move to JC and then paid her to say how much she liked it. Maybe all of the renters in that 400-unit building are also paid to live there. Can't be that people actually like it, or that maybe, in light of today's economic climate, they're actually happy about paying less for more in JC than they could get in Manhattan.

Another Mercury Lofts buyer comes forward in today's Metro NY issue:

http://www.metro.us/us/article/2010/03/03/02/0334-82/index.xml

According to the NY Post blog today, five of those huge lofts at the Mercury Lofts building at The Beacon were sold in the last two weeks:

http://www.nypost.com/p/blogs/realest ... ng_pm2Sgj0AlRYOacTqEl6NDN

Huge children's entertainment center coming to The Beacon in Jersey City.

http://www3.timeoutny.com/newyork/kid ... ag/be-kids-at-the-beacon/


http://thebeaconkids.com/

Halstead Property just posted a video on the new Mercury Lofts at The Beacon. Spaces look pretty amazing. Here's a link to the video:

http://www.halstead.com/properTV.aspx?video=E80FED5AF3

Just saw this press release online. The Beacon won Project of the Year:


URBAN LAND INSTITUTE?S NJ DISTRICT COUNCIL
NAMES THE BEACON ?PROJECT OF THE YEAR?

$350 Million Jersey City Development
Nation?s Largest Historic Residential Restoration Project

JERSEY CITY, NJ -- The New Jersey District Council of the Urban Land Institute (ULI-NNJ) has awarded The Beacon its 2009 ?Project of the Year? honor in recognition of the ongoing transformation of the former Jersey City Medical Center into successful mixed-use development that is currently the largest residential restoration project in the country and the largest in the history of New Jersey. The award was presented to developer Metrovest Equities during the annual Leadership in Land Use Awards held at the Heldrich Center in New Brunswick, N.J. on December 10th.

Previous recipients of this prestigious award include the Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa in Atlantic City and Pier Village on the oceanfront in Long Branch.

"The award winners exemplify ULI's mission to provide leadership in the responsible use of land and in creating and sustaining thriving communities,? says Lawrence Jacobs, Esq., chair of the ULI-NNJ. ?Each of the award winners has taken steps beyond industry norms to advance goals of smart and sustainable development. The winners show a commitment to successful development in New Jersey that is also mindful of societal goals."

Situated on a rise in the center of Jersey City, The Beacon is a cluster of ten art deco buildings built in the 1930?s during Frank Hague?s reign as Mayor. The elaborate complex included such architectural and designer trappings as marble walls, terrazzo floors, etched glass, decorative moldings and glittering chandeliers, and had one of the most famous maternity wards in the country ? the Margaret Hague Maternity Ward. Overbuilt and understaffed, the complex closed down in 1988.

Metrovest Equities was designated the redeveloper of the property in 2003, and began a massive recycling and adaptive reuse effort executed under the Secretary of Interior?s Guidelines for Historic Rehabilitation. Today, the developer is well on its way to converting the 14-acre site and federally landmarked buildings into a ?City within a City? that, when completed, will contain two million square feet of residential and retail space, including 1,200 luxury residences and 80,000 square feet of retail space.

?The Beacon is perhaps the most important development in Jersey City as it demonstrates that you can successfully redevelop outside of the small band of property along the waterfront,? stated Robert Antonicello, Executive Director of the Jersey City Redevelopment Agency. ?George Filopoulos recognized that these buildings not only possess tremendous historical and architectural significance, but also hold a special place in the hearts of Jersey City residents. As such, he thoughtfully restored them to their original grandeur while also integrated modern amenities and services to create a world-class residential property.?

The Beacon?s initial phase, The Rialto and Capital buildings, feature 315 condominium homes that are more than 90% sold and occupied, as well as 45,000 square feet of completed interior amenities. The second phase, the 17-story Mercury Lofts building, recently opened sales with 25 half- and full-floor lofts offering from 2,994 to 6,665 square-feet. The unique loft building has received a Live/Work designation. Work is also underway on creating 66,000 square feet of onsite retail space which will be devoted to children?s education and recreation including early childhood learning and sports training.

?We?re delighted to receive this prestigious honor from ULI which is an affirmation of The Beacon?s standing as an architecturally- and historically-significant landmark worthy of preservation,? notes George Filopoulos, President of Metrovest Equities.

?This ambitious process, led by our talented and committed project team and a host of skilled professionals and consultants, has resulted in a viable new use for an underutilized property that has already yielded significant economic benefits to the City, helped spearhead new revitalization efforts in the area and created a truly unique living experience for more than 500 residents to date.?

The Beacon?s existing buildings, which are listed on the
New Jersey State and National Register of Historic Places, are the largest concentration of Art Deco buildings in the state. Metrovest has assembled the finest team of craftsmen and historic preservationists in the region to execute the restoration. The historic grandeur of the interior has been immaculately restored by refurbishing and preserving the original chandeliers, marble, terracotta details, terrazzo flooring, brass elevator door surrounds and windows, and utilizing historic paint analysis to match gold and silver leafing to the original colors schemes.

Former Art Deco theaters, lobbies, and public corridors have
been converted to elaborate private amenity spaces for residents, including a billiards hall with a massive stone Bas-relief chronicling the history of medicine.

For more information on The Beacon, visit www.thebeaconjc.com.

About the Urban Land Institute
The Urban Land Institute is a non-profit education and research institute that is supported and directed by its members. Its mission is to provide leadership in the responsible use of land and in creating and sustaining thriving communities worldwide. Established in 1936, the Institute today has over 34,000 members and associates representing the entire spectrum of the land use and development disciplines. It is comprised of developers, builders, property owners, investors, architects, public officials, planners, real estate brokers, appraisers, attorneys, engineers, financiers, academics, students and librarians.

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Hey drgoogle,

Show us some proof that Fisher is talking to an auction company as a contingency plan. You can't, because it's total BS. Some of you guys love to jump all over every word attributed to a developer but have no problem irresponsibly throwing rumors out over the Internet.

No big revelation that sales are slow here like every other region in the Country. But every developer is financed differently, has different loan obligations and varying abilitities to withstand a downturn. Public companies have to answer to stockholders. Do a little research into Fisher and you'll see how much they've developed on both sides of the river for decades and how well-financed they are. They could sit on this building for five years and it wouldn't hurt them that much. Totally different story than national public companies like Hovnanian, Toll Brothers and Pulte (which was purchased by Centex earlier this year) who have projects all over the country that aren't selling.