The burgeoning Journal Square neighborhood of Jersey City is about to transform even more than it has in recent years, following the green light for a mixed-use complex featuring a ground-floor grocery store.
Jersey City’s Planning Board has officially approved a modern high-rise at 2859-2873 Kennedy Boulevard. Jersey Digs first reported on the plans last October, which comes from local developer Nasser Freres.
The property, directly adjacent to the Loews Jersey Theater, is currently home to a two-story retail building with a curved design. Designed by Handel Architects, the 55-story development would rise to just over 588 feet and include 840 residential units, 84 of which are affordable.
The majority of the residences in the proposed development would be smaller, comprising 198 studios, 417 one-bedroom units, 191 two-bedroom units, and 34 three-bedroom units. Handel Architects released new renderings of the project after the development was approved, which have been slightly modified from last year’s images.
No car parking would be included in the development, but a 420-bike storage room would be located in the property’s cellar. The project would also construct new loading bays along Magnolia Avenue.
Elsewhere in the development, the fifth floor would feature 4,831 square feet of amenity space, plus a 4,097-square-foot outdoor terrace. The building would also have a rooftop amenity space on the 55th floor, boasting a 6,165-square-foot outdoor deck.
The most exciting news for the neighborhood might be on the ground floor. Whole Foods confirmed last month that they were looking to take space on the project’s ground floor, pending full approvals.
“We look forward to continuing to serve the Jersey City community with high-quality natural and organic products and an unparalleled grocery shopping experience,” a Whole Foods spokesperson said at the time.
The grocer’s now-approved Journal Square location will be its second in Jersey City, following a Downtown Greene Street spot that opened in 2023 after years of rumors. The Jersey City Redevelopment Agency’s Board of Commissioners approved a redevelopment deal for the project last month.
The Whole Foods storefront will boast double-height ceilings and approximately 48,687 square feet of commercial space. The exterior of the development would feature a glass-heavy tower while preserving the property’s curved design, with metal and copper components on the lower floors.
The development is utilizing the Commercial Use Bonus and Loew’s Art Walk and Loading Bonus within the Journal Square 2060 Redevelopment Plan, which was granted nine total variances from existing zoning, in addition to deviations from Jersey City’s forestry standards regarding street trees. A groundbreaking date for the project has not been announced.
