An irregular parcel in Jersey City’s Bergen-Lafayette neighborhood could soon be home to a modern three-building complex with all components set to feature retail space and affordable housing.
During their October 7 meeting, Jersey City’s Planning Board greenlit an application to revitalize a large parcel at 590 Grand Street. Currently home to an auto mechanic, car wash, and surface parking, the lot sits at the corner with Fairmount Avenue.
The land is owned by Jersey City-based Mecca Realty Properties and sits within the Mixed Use F District of the Morris Canal Redevelopment Plan. The three-phase development, designed by Architectura, is slated to consist of three six-story buildings totaling 235 units, 12,879 square feet of retail space, and 72 surface parking spaces between the structures.
Overall, the total 235 residences will break down as 55 studios, 138 one-bedroom units, 35 two-bedroom units, and seven three-bedroom spaces. Consistent with affordable housing requirements of the Redevelopment Plan, the project will feature a total of 24 affordable units.
Breaking down the phasing of the project, the initial portion will include 60 units (six affordable) and 19 parking spaces, while phase two will also include 60 residences with six affordable units plus 26 parking spaces. Phase three, the largest building, will span 115 units, 12 affordable spaces, and 27 parking spots.
A widening of Grand Street is included in the development and will be completed as part of phase one, per the application. The vehicle access for all three phases is from Johnston Avenue, which carries the least amount of traffic of the three nearby streets.
Most of the retail component of the project is in the third phase, with 8,756 square feet included in that portion. Phase one will feature 2,331 square feet of storefront, while phase two will have 1,792 square feet of retail.
All portions of the development are slated to utilize aluminum panels on the exterior, with wood-look accents on the top floors. The developer was granted final approval for phase one of the project, with preliminary approval granted for the second and third phases.
Mecca Realty was also granted preliminary subdivision approval by the board to expand the Grand Street public right-of-way and consolidate all the lots. The development was granted several variances when approved, including deviations for stilted buildings, minimum loading space depth dimension, and the required parking location/landscape.
A potential groundbreaking date for the project has not been announced, but Mecca Realty has a significant stake in the neighborhood. The company has put forth several proposals at properties they own including a now-completed development down the road at 665 Grand Street.
