A large parking lot across the street from a shuttered Jersey City landmark could soon be home to a modern residential complex if officials greenlight a plan aiming to revitalize a corner of the Marion neighborhood.
Jersey City’s zoning board will be hearing a proposal for 135-143 Broadway later this week. The properties span the road’s intersection with Wallis Avenue and sit across the street from the former Rita & Joe’s restaurant, which shuttered four years ago after decades in business.
The owner of the property, Broadway at Marion LLC, is registered locally out of a private home. Their plan involves demolishing a one-story building to make way for a development that has been labeled Broadway Lofts in renderings submitted to Jersey City.
Designed by Cedar Grove-based Inglese Architecture and Engineering, the project would consist of a four-story multi-family building that rises 48 feet at the tallest point. 26 residential units and 19 off-street parking spaces in a ground-floor garage are included in the plan, which would also provide a few streetscape improvements.
The units within Broadway Flats would be a true mix, consisting of six studios, 11 one-bedrooms, and nine two-bedroom living spaces. No affordable housing is listed on the development’s application, and it is unclear if the residences are proposed as rentals or condos.
Proposed amenities at the complex include a bike storage room on the ground floor and an 800-square-foot roof terrace. The development’s exterior would primarily utilize red brick and grey metal panels alongside cast stone components on the lower floors.
Broadway Flats is seeking several variances from Jersey City’s zoning board related to use, height, the place of rooftop appurtenance, curb cut, rear yard setback, maximum building coverage, and maximum lot coverage.
The board is slated to hear the development’s application during their December 8 meeting, which begins at 6:30 p.m. and is being held virtually on Zoom. Those interested in attending can join at this link or by using the Webinar ID 831 7030 3126.
Marion is a generally quieter section of Jersey City in terms of development, but a few larger projects like a development under construction at 161 Van Wagenen Avenue have nonetheless emerged in recent years. Officials at the Port Authority have floated the idea of adding a PATH station to the area, but tangible progress has been slow on that front.
