If you’ve driven near the George Washington Bridge, you most likely have noticed the towering glass structure otherwise known as The Modern. With views of NYC, the Hudson River, and the George Washington Bridge, The Modern is putting Fort Lee on the map. The residential development is known for it’s array of indoor and outdoor lifestyle amenities – the luxuriousness competes with other New Jersey Gold Coast properties as well as Manhattan.
The 47-story, 450 unit sits on a site that is the culmination of one of the longest and most storied sagas in the history of New Jersey real estate. In 1974, a group of developers wanted to build on the property badly enough that they enlisted a Mafia representative to bribe Burt Ross, the Fort Lee mayor at the time. But, Mr. Ross wore a wire, resulting in the developers going to prison. The story is detailed in a 1976 book about the case, called “The Bribe.”
A decade later, real estate mogul Harry Helmsley and his wife, Leona, purchased the site and planned a significant mixed-use development. But that fell apart after Leona was sent to jail in 1989 for tax evasion. The property languished in the Helmsley portfolio until Town and County eventually bought the site in 2005 – but their plans for Centuria, a massive mixed-use development, got caught in the market downturn and the project never got off the ground.
Eventually Fort Lee deemed the property in need of redevelopment and bid the project out. It was ultimately SJP Properties that acquired the eastern portion of the land, where The Modern now sits.
Besides the incredible views, The Modern sets a high standard of amenities for the Fort Lee area. Things like business lounges, play areas, screening rooms, and golf simulators are just the beginning of well-thought out areas that allow residents to spend most of their downtime in the complex if they so desire. During our tour, we were blown away by both the fitness area and the outdoor space. The fitness area features a yoga room, cycling room, and barre and pilates equipment. The roof deck is also quite incredible, with the views of the NYC skyline, the Hudson River and the George Washington Bridge. The outdoor area also features a huge lawn-sized projector screen for outdoor movie or sporting event viewings, full-size basketball courts, cabanas with grills and a pretty spectacular pool.
More uniquely, the Modern also offers a karaoke lounge, for a fun night singing with friends. And, my personal favorite amenity: a spa. It comes complete with a sauna, on-call masseuse, and purified tap water system.
An on-site lifestyle manager works with The Modern to schedule fun events to foster a sense of community, like Food Truck Tuesday, where different food trucks visit the building.
The units are also on-par with the high quality amenities. Floor-to-ceiling windows make the most of the breath-taking views. Kitchens feature gas ranges, and units also have central air and and Bosch washer-dryers within the units. Of course, transportation to Manhattan is also available in the form of a shuttle or ferry. The Modern has helped launched the beginning of a renaissance for Fort Lee, and is a great addition to the area.
Current rental rates:
1BRs from $2420 net (2 months free on a 14 month lease)
2BRs from $3300 net (2 months free on a 14 month lease)
3BRs and studios are also available.
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