A large chunk of vacant land along Bayonne’s portion of the Hudson River waterfront could one day be home to buildings that rival the heights seen in Jersey City. Zoning changes have paved the way for as many as seven new high-rises in Peninsula City.
During a recent meeting, Bayonne’s Planning Board approved changes to a redevelopment plan that spans about 27 acres. The modifications apply to several lots between East 40th Street and Goldsborough Drive spanning from Chosin Few Way through to Flagship Street.
The sites are located within the HS-2 District of the Harbor Station South Redevelopment Plan and the changes were requested by Mahalaxmi Bayonne Urban Renewal, a Roselle Park-based developer. The company is behind NY Vue, a 26-story tower that was approved back in 2023 but has yet to break ground.
That plan was always part of more ambitious efforts, which at the time involved six mixed-use high-rise towers alongside additional garage parking. The changes approved by Bayonne now allow for a total of seven towers on the various sites, which are not far from the 34th Street Light Rail Station.
The maximum height in the redevelopment plan is now 50 stories, up from the previous 25. The heights allowable under the plan vary significantly from property to property, as demonstrated by plans released by the City of Bayonne.
The plans also include a pedestrian-only plaza spanning about two blocks and a public park near the center of the redevelopment plot. Several new streets would be created under the plan to connect the developments, and under the approved changes, all potential buildings are required to include retail.
The density increases included in the plan are notable. The allowable residential units at the sites have now grown from 4,500 to 16,800. The hotel capacity at the properties has also surged, from 218 to 718 units.
Following the changes, the master developer of the properties holds the rights to 4,900 residential units and 218 hotel units. The company tells Jersey Digs that they plan to vest the changes over the next 10 years, but any of the upsized developments would still need to win further Planning Board approval before moving forward.
