Plans for a property next to an iconic Art Deco complex in Jersey City have been revamped from an earlier design as the owners of one of the historic structures are looking to build a new tower hoping to blend in with the area.
During a community meeting held on September 29, Richard Garber of GRO Architects presented modified plans for a property at 593 Montgomery Street. Jersey Digs covered a proposal that emerged earlier this year for the land, which falls just outside of The Beacon, a 14-acre collection of buildings that were built during the mid-20th century as Jersey City Medical Center.
The complex, which is New Jersey’s largest listed site on the National Register of Historic Places, completed its conversion into a residential community of 1,500 units in 2016. The owners of Jones Hall, a senior building that is part of the development, are now looking to construct a new high-rise at Montgomery Street’s intersection with Beacon Way.
The project looks to subdivide the property into two lots; one would contain the existing Jones Hall building and another would house the new structure plus a 5,600-square foot park. Some changes have been made to the proposed 17-story tower, which would rise just over 203 feet under the current plan.
The ground floor at the mixed-use development would include a garage with structured parking and 75 spots plus 65 bicycle spaces, while the next two floors would feature 27,102 square feet of community healthcare space plus a surgical center. The architect explained during the meeting that New Horizon, located on Bergen Avenue, is currently in talks to take a significant portion of the space.
The remainder of the tower would consist of 98 units currently breaking down as 42 one-bedrooms and 56 two-bedroom spaces. A private deck on the 15th floor would facilitate the building setting back a bit for the top two floors, and planned amenities at the development include a fourth-floor gym spanning 1,350 square feet.
Vehicular entry to the building would come via a ramp from Cornelison Avenue, while pedestrian access to the proposed healthcare facility and residential lobby would be provided from a plaza along Montgomery Street. The green space would be built along the Cornelison Avenue side of the property, replacing a surface parking lot.
The presentation detailed the owner’s desire to “dematerialize the corners” while hoping to still blend into the nearby Art Deco surroundings. The plans call for the use of light gray brick, cast stone monumental panels, and metal panel accents along the project’s exterior.
The 593 Montgomery Street parcel is located just outside of the historical zone, but the current plan still needs deviations from current zoning to move forward. The most significant variance is for height, as buildings are capped at 110 feet under current zoning.
The project as pitched does not require a density variance but would need to be granted a deviation for use due to the medical component. The architecture team stated during the meeting that Jersey City’s Historic Preservation Commission is slated to hear the revised proposal later this year, possibly as soon as October 24.
