Jersey City is no stranger to development explosions, with several Downtown areas experiencing massive growth over the last decade. But the sheer amount of construction currently taking place in Journal Square is eye-popping even by local standards, as thousands of new residences are being built within just a few blocks.
One Journal Square
Perhaps the most prominent project in the area is One Journal Square, which sits directly next to the neighborhood’s PATH station. Kushner finally broke ground last year on the long-delayed project, which is set to include 1,723 residential units within a two-million-square-foot development.
Consisting of two 64-story structures including a joined 12-story base, the glass-heavy design aims to express a slender verticality with a series of stepped volumes. Construction is currently near the building’s apex, with a completion date expected in 2026.
The base of One Journal Square will include 883 parking spaces plus 40,000 square feet of retail space that will be home to a Target. The buildout of the project will also see the construction of a new public plaza facing John F. Kennedy Boulevard, which will transform a taxi parking lot into green space with new seating areas.
Journal Squared
On the other side of the PATH station, the third tower of KRE’s Journal Squared is wrapping construction. The final 60-story tower will add 598 rental residences and 18,000 square feet of amenities to the existing complex, which began to rise about a decade ago.
All told, the transformational project will add 1,840 rental residences and 36,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space. New perks in the third tower will include a performance lounge, karaoke room, lobby café, and a sky lounge that will be available to all residents of the entire complex.
425 Summit Avenue
Just two blocks south, another mixed-use tower is also in the home stretch. Developers Spitzer Enterprises and Arden Group are teaming up to build 425 Summit Avenue, a 26-story residential tower that will comprise 390 rental units and feature large windows with an exterior that utilizes cream-colored brick, cement, and stone components.
The ground floor of 425 Summit Avenue will include two storefronts, with construction on the ground floor and sidewalk areas starting to take shape. The development is expected to come online later this year.
Singh Tower
Elsewhere at 622 Summit Avenue, the angles of Singh Tower are starting to come into focus. GN Management is bringing a modern 209-unit development to the neighborhood that includes 1,372 square feet of ground-floor retail as will 16,000 square feet of office space.
Exterior balconies on the project will begin at floor nine, projecting and rotating as they ascend on the building. The development will also be constructing a public park at the rear of the building with opportunities for seating overlooking the Bergen Arches, a proposed park through an abandoned rail line.
MetroVue
Another project from GN Management, MetroVue at 161 Van Wagenen Avenue wrapped up construction earlier this year and is now in the leasing phase. Designed by Fort Lee-based Architectura, the development rises 141 feet and contains 124 residential units.
The project’s 124 apartments break down as 25 studios, 91 one-bedrooms, seven two-bedrooms, and one three-bedroom space. 39 parking spaces are included in the project, which features tiered top floors and an exterior consisting of brick, metal panels, and concrete masonry.
Pathside Tower
Two other high-rises that are not nearly as far along but will add significantly to the skyline include 499 Summit Avenue, which is being built by Panepinto Properties. Dubbed Pathside, the 53-story tower will consist of 605 studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom units that average 710 square feet.
3,200 square feet of retail space will be situated on the ground floor next to a 3,200 square-foot public plaza that will run adjacent to the roadway as part of the development. A crane is on site at the property, which should start to properly go vertical in the coming months.
Imperial Tower
Along John F. Kennedy Boulevard, another project called Imperial Tower has ramped up work. The development, which has completed foundation work, is truly a mixed-use endeavor, as it includes 252 apartments, hotel rooms, event spaces, offices, and a sky-high restaurant.
The 35-story development will sport a double-height ground floor with a retail café space plus three separate lobbies. One of them will grant access to 154 Fairfield by Marriott hotel rooms, while a rooftop restaurant and event space will be open to the public.
626 Newark Avenue
Along the main retail corridor of Journal Square, Namdar Group has quietly begun work on their latest high rise. The company’s latest 27-story development at 626 Newark Avenue has already poured several floors and is set to include a total of 576 residential units.
The project is set to feature 8,231 square feet of ground-floor retail fronting the new Central Avenue extension. The second and third floors of 626 Newark Avenue will include a combined 9,988 square feet of office space, while a rooftop amenity space is also called for at the development.
All told, over 4,400 new residential units will be added to the neighborhood just within these buildings under construction. Several new cultural venues including the renovation of the Loews Theater and a Pompidou art museum are also in the works.
