A large parking lot in the middle of Downtown Jersey City is slated to be redeveloped into a mixed-use high-rise with several public amenities and retail space.
During their December 10 meeting, Jersey City’s Planning Board voted 6-1 to approve an application to revamp 107 Morgan Street. Jersey Digs broke the news about the project last month, with comes courtesy New York-based company LCOR.
The site, which spans almost an entire city block at 1.73 acres, was acquired by LCOR last year for $54 million from Veris Residential. The approved plans for the parcel were designed by SLCE Architects and landscaped by Melillo Bauer Carman and sport an industrial look in keeping with the neighborhood’s history.
The totality of the project will rise to 34 stories and include a five-story base, topping out at 350 feet. The lower floors will sport a red brick exterior, while the higher ones will utilize a black brick façade for a two-toned look.
A total of 633 dwelling units are included in the plan, breaking down as 80 studios, 412 one-bedrooms, 134 two-bedrooms, and seven three-bedroom residences. No affordable housing component is included in the development, as none is required under existing zoning.
The street level at 107 Moran Street will feature 19,635 square feet of ground-floor commercial/gallery space split between three storefronts plus some public amenities, the largest of which will be a mid-block open space of approximately 5,200 square feet described as an “arcade” by the company.
The arcade will include seating areas, a plaza, and public art exhibits connected by a series of arches linking with the adjacent development that already exists to the east of the site.
Other components of 107 Morgan Street include a total of 213 parking spaces in a garage within the building’s first five floors. Amenities for residents will consist of a sixth-floor roof deck and indoor amenity space complete with an outdoor pool and amphitheater space.
The development’s 34th floor will also sport a smaller roof deck plus additional indoor amenity space. LCOR will be utilizing a bonus height provision within the neighborhood’s Powerhouse Arts District Redevelopment Plan that the community will soon see the benefits of before the Morgan Street project even begins construction.
Per a staff memo issued by Jersey City, LCOR was responsible for making improvements at the nearby 335 Washington Boulevard property in advance of the 107 Morgan Street application. Jersey City’s Council recently adopted an ordinance approving acceptance of the building from LCOR, with the Washington Creative Center slated to open soon.
The planning board granted LCOR seven variances from current zoning when approving the plan that include deviations related to minimum parking, maximum front yard setback, required stepbacks below the top three floors, rooftop mechanical coverage, bulkhead materials and visibility, minimum sidewalk width, and maximum permitted utility frontage.
The company has not yet announced any potential groundbreaking date or construction timeline at the property, which still currently consists of a paved parking lot.
