An old brick structure right in the center of Downtown Hoboken will soon be replaced with a modern, mixed-use building with supersized apartments and retail space.
Demolition started last week at 115-131 Grand Street in preparation for a new beginning. The property, which is nine lots long and spans more than half the block, has been home to businesses like Hoboken Golf over the years, but has had several redevelopment plans proposed over that same time.
The latest version of the project was approved by the Planning Board in September last year. It’s being overseen by local land owner Chanti LLC, who also owns Health Fair Pharmacy at 315 Willow Avenue. Designed by Minervini Vandermark, the development will construct 25 residential units and two storefronts at the site, also including 28 parking spaces.
Lawyers for the developer said during Planning Board testimony that the retail spaces were made larger in response to the needs of the local business community. The two storefronts will both be at the northern end of the property and contain 1,560 and 1,640-square feet of space respectively, which will add 3,200-square feet of retail to the neighborhood.
The residential units, which are intended to be condominiums if market conditions hold, will also be larger by city standards. 14 of them will sport three-bedrooms and average around 1,600-square feet, while the other 11 will be 4-bedrooms that will run about 2,200-square feet. Five units on the second floor will each have a private yard, while the five units on the top floor will all feature individual 730-square foot roof decks.
For sustainable features, a water retention system is being included in the development, as are electric charging stations in the building’s garage. A private gas generator will also be included in the development, plus 50% of the property will have a green roof.
The design of the building itself has some impressive almost floor-to-ceiling windows and will feature both an elevator and a 2,000-square foot common rear yard. Construction at the site is expected to commence shortly after demolition is completed.
