With revitalization in Jersey City gradually moving further west, a new proposal is being put together for 39 New York Avenue in The Heights by a development group that’s been in business for almost 38 years.
The project is the latest venture from the Hoboken Brownstone Company. President George Vallone and CEO Daniel Gans purchased the property, just off the Hoboken border, back in 2012 and are currently performing an environmental investigation and cleanup at the site that they hope to complete within 6-9 months.
The specific details of the development are still being worked out. Matawan, N.J. based Chester, Ploussas, Lisowsky Partnership is designing the project, which will include about 155 rental units. HBC says they aren’t sure what the breakdown of the living spaces in the building will look like, but the project will rise four stories over an underground garage and won’t require any variances in terms of zoning.
HBC President George Vallone says that while the company has no set date to go before the city’s Planning Board, they are hopeful the plan will be ready in October. The company is preparing the zoning plan now and will hold a second community meeting with the Riverview Neighborhood Association and others sometime within the next few weeks.
The company previously met with Riverview, The Jersey City Parks Coalition and the Planning Department back in June, where both the development and a potential new community amenity were discussed. The county owns currently vacant property directly next door to 39 New York Avenue and Hoboken Brownstone Company has been in communication about turning the tract into a pocket park, which they say has received a positive reception from both government and neighborhood officials.
Vallone says that HBC’s interest in 39 New York Avenue was driven by the company’s desire to seek out properties that some may view as not ready for primetime. “By the time you get through the environmental, zoning, approval, permitting and construction process, it is prime time,” he says.
But the company was also drawn to the property for more tangible reasons, like its proximity to the 2nd Street Light Rail station. Vallone also cites the unique elevation of the land; it’s a little beneath most of The Heights neighborhood but is still elevated on the Palisades and slopes downward. Because of this topography, even the bottom floor units will have views overlooking Hoboken with Manhattan in the distance.
The area near the Hoboken/Jersey City Heights border has seen some nice improvements in recent years. Some, like the 9th Street Light Rail Station elevator, go back over a decade, but the “100 Steps” staircase between the two neighborhoods was renovated a few years ago. The 14th Street viaduct linking the two areas was also recently rehabilitated and made more pedestrian friendly. With both The Heights and western Hoboken seeing growth right now, 39 New York Avenue should hopefully continue to bridge the gap between the two cities.
[gmap height=”250px”]39 New York Ave, Jersey City, NJ 07307[/gmap]
39 New York Ave, Jersey City, NJ 07307
