Bergen-Lafayette’s building boom continues to pick up steam and in a pleasant surprise for those looking to purchase a home, the latest project in the pipeline won’t be rentals, but condominiums.
The development expansion at 300 Communipaw Avenue will be part of the Foundry Lofts complex. The century-old property was first developed back in 1904 by American Type Founders, who manufactured typewriter keys at the building. Several fonts that ATF developed, like News Gothic, are still in use today despite the company going out of business in the 1940s.
After the company folded, ATF’s Jersey City property was used as a warehouse for many years before being purchased by developer David Silverstein back in the early 2000s. Silverstein then transformed the building, which is the length of two city blocks, into a 156-unit condominium complex dubbed The Foundry featuring shared outdoor spaces, a gym and a 24-hour front desk.
The Foundry opened its doors in 2005, but there have been two other vacant structures on the eastern section of the lot since. Due in part to the improving economy, those two-story buildings will now be renovated as the development’s third phase, which will consist of 20 residential condos plus additional parking spaces and landscaped areas.
The Planning Board signed off on changes to the old redevelopment plans last month and as a result, the expansion of Foundry Lofts, designed by Jersey City-based C+C Architecture, will consist exclusively of 2-bedroom units that average about 1,200-square feet each. The new sections will be connected to the already existing building via a stairwell and walkway, but will also sport private entrances. A parking space will be included with every unit.
While the timeline for build-out of the final phase is still somewhat fluid, representatives for the Foundry Lofts expect permits to be pulled in the near future. After cleaning out the shell of the two buildings on site, proper construction should commence at some point later this year.
