There are some serious changes that are coming to the western area now. Crescent Court over at the back side of Merseles Street will also increase the base population out this way, as well as the 4 story building at 369 Fifth Street. There are two other towers 361 and 380 Newark that are currently stalled at the moment, but if these go forward will mark a major improvement for Newark Ave.

This is great news! Has everyone seen all the other new stuff -- like that new big building at Brunswick just off Newark Avenue. This area is really changing fast - now we just need to slow the racing buses and trucks and resurface Newark Avenue!

Someday nicer street lights would be nice -- as would making it one way only!


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They seem to moving along much faster than I would expected; seems like the whole lot has been dug out now. If they construct this place at the same rate they are building 154 Steuben Street (Ivy House), this section of Newark Avenue will be revitalized by next year. Pretty amazing stuff; not that the building itself is particularly attractive, but filling in that big empty lot and putting some residents on Newark Avenue will really improve that whole area west of Jersey.

Are you referring to 213 Newark Avenue?

http://www.treetopdev.com/main.html

I think this?



New kid on the block

Developers bring apartments to Newark Avenue


By Donald M. Kelly
Reporter staff writer 02/09/2003



AFTER - An artists conception of what the new apartment development scheduled to be built at the corner of Newark Avenue and First Street.
After clearing the final hurdle of Zoning Board approval last week, Longstreet Associates will soon begin construction of a residential development to be located on Newark Avenue.

According to owner-developer Carter Sackman, the residential structure will be divided into two buildings, located on the corner of Newark Avenue and First Street.

"The building will be a new 76-unit, four-and-a-half-story apartment complex," said Sackman. "The top of the building has a penthouse which is set back. The penthouse takes up about half the footprint of the entire building."


In addition to the residential portion of the building, Sackman said there would be approximately 3,800 square feet dedicated to retail, making the development a mixed-use building.

The as yet unnamed residence will contain a 50-space parking garage, which will be split between in-ground and above-ground portions.

"It is a split-garage facility," said Sackman, adding that there will be entrances and exits on both Newark Avenue and First Street.

It was on the subject of parking that the project first ran into problems with the Jersey City Zoning Board of Adjustment in early 2002 .

"There was some concern over the issue of a two-to-one ratio between parking and dwelling units," Sackman explained.

"There are really two ways of looking at the problem. If you have too much parking, you encourage people to have cars in the development."

Conversely, Sackman argued that if you trim the number of parking spaces in a project, people are encouraged to use public transportation.

"If you want people to rent from you who have a car, you have to make the parking reasonable," Sackman added.

After being denied by the Zoning Board, Sackman refigured the spaces to 50, allowing what he described as a "reasonable" ratio between parking spaces and dwelling units.

The residential project will occupy the space where the now vacant Palmer Furniture store used to exist. It will be directly across the street from the Independence Community Bank.

"This improvement to the neighborhood will increase tax revenue for the city,' said Harriet Hughes, branch manager of the Independence Bank. Hughes supported the approval of the project by the Zoning Board when it came up for reconsideration two weeks ago.

"The project will help make Newark Avenue a better place to work and live," said Hughes, noting that the development is only a block and half walk from the Grove Street PATH station. "With the people coming and going both to and from work in New York City, the new apartments will increase store patronage."

Hughes added Newark Avenue had a variety of mom-and-pop stores, such as delis and grocery stores, all of which would benefit from new residents in the area.

Sackman said the architecture of the proposed residential dwelling will be in keeping with the general architecture of the Newark Avenue area.

"The structure will maintain the same design as the Independence Bank," Sackman added. "For instance, it will have the same arched windows as the bank does."

Longstreet Associates is not a stranger to Jersey City. Last year, Longstreet Associates redeveloped the Earl Hotel at 57 Sipp Ave., near Journal Square.

"Restoration and rehabilitation are what we do," said Sackman. Sackman added that his firm has been working with old buildings in places like Asbury Park and New Brunswick. "We have been working for 30 years."

Sackman said the Newark Avenue project would be priced at market value, though he was not sure whether the project would be rentals or condos.

"We're keeping an eye on the market," said Sackman.

Potentially, renters would pay approximately $1,250 a month for a two-room unit and $1,000 for a one-bedroom apartment.

"The residence will have only one- or two-bedroom apartments," said Sackman. "There will be no studios or three-room units."

I know this was an old thread, but i cant find any info when I do search. They have been digging there recently . Anyone know what is going on ?