A long vacant lot along one the Jersey City’s main retail stretches will be getting a modern development with 20% affordable housing and a brand-new storefront.
NUIC, a local real estate development firm led by Principals Daniel Mirabel and Brenly Tolentino, has announced a plan to transform a dormant site at 174-178 Martin Luther King Drive into a project called the Harmony House. The firm has a plethora of Jersey City revitalization efforts on a smaller scale, but Harmony House is their largest and most ambitious effort to date.
The project was designed in collaboration with Jersey City-based Hampton Hill Architects and Hoboken’s walkTHIShouse. Set to rise five and add 44 residential units to the Jackson Hill neighborhood, the mixed-use development will consist of 34 market-rate apartments alongside 10 affordable housing units.
Spanning 54,397 square feet of gross residential space, the development will also feature square feet of ground-floor commercial space and include a garage with space for 16 cars and 24 bicycles. The endeavor hopes to represent a significant milestone in rejuvenating a parcel that has languished unused for several decades.
“While Jersey City has been proactive in increasing its housing stock, projects like Harmony House ensure that growth is inclusive and benefit longtime residents,” said Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop. “Led by lifelong Jersey City residents, this project reflects our commitment to balancing smart, sustainable growth with affordability keeping Jersey City accessible to everyone.”
In addition to its residential and commercial components, the project will boast a nearly 6,000 square foot green roof, enhancing sustainability and promoting green spaces within the urban landscape.
“Harmony House is not just about providing housing; it’s about being a catalyst for positive change within the community, by members of the community,” says Brenly Tolentino, Principal at NUIC. “In revitalizing this space, we aim to reignite the commercial district’s economic potential, fostering job creation and an overall more vibrant community.”
NUIC partner Brenly Tolentino additionally stated that the 20% affordability component “demonstrates our commitment to ensuring that diverse socioeconomic backgrounds can thrive in this community.”
“Harmony House symbolizes the emergence of a new generation of developers, who don’t necessarily mirror the last” NUIC Principal Daniel Mirabel continues. “We aim to bring fresh perspectives and inclusive practices to the forefront of urban development.”
A groundbreaking date has not been announced for the project, but the development’s application was recently granted unanimous approval by the Jersey City Planning Board.
