One of the most prominent developers along the Hudson River waterfront appears to have quietly changed their vision for a vacant pier they own near Newport’s southern border, as plans are in motion that could bring five new buildings, parking facilities, and open space to the land.
For many years, LeFrak has been pitching their Pier Six project for an 8.5-acre site at 2 Sixth Street. The company developed a customizable scheme looking to build Class-A office space on the land consisting of either one or two buildings that would rise between 10 and 17 stories.
Per the New York Times, LeFrak has been searching for a tenant to take the space as far back as 2012. But the only work that has taken place at the property in the years since has been to stabilize the pier structure itself.
All that changed back in February when LeFrak submitted a preliminary application to Jersey City’s planning department that outlines what the future of the property could look like. The company will be requesting approvals to build five residential towers including a total of 1,998 residential units plus two parking podiums sporting 1,009 parking spaces.
Building heights are simply listed as “varies” on the application, but the residential component would include a mix of studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom units. A total of 139,990 square feet of public open space is included in the project and as part of the work, an existing heliport at the site would be relocated.
New York based-Arquitectonica, who also designed the Ellipse building, is listed as the architect of record on the application. No renderings have been released for the project and the plans, although preliminary, do not have any listed retail space. No affordable housing units are included in the proposal, as none are required under current regulations.
The 2 Sixth Street property is unique in that it falls within both the Newport Redevelopment Plan and the Harsimus Cove Redevelopment Plan. The only variance the current proposal would need relates to open space requirements within the Harsimus Cove portion, as it adheres to the Newport plan.
The development would add significant density to the neighborhood even by waterfront standards and it would rise just a block from the planned 70-story, 950-unit Avalon Tower that was approved last year. LeFrak’s latest project, The Beach, is currently under construction and will add 338 new apartments to 700 Washington Boulevard.
LeFrak’s subtle moves to make changes at the Pier Six site are in line with the company’s philosophy. Jersey Digs reported on The Beach’s approval over a year before any details were released and LeFrak has yet to acknowledge plans in place for a three-acre park that’s coming to a Newport pier.
Details of LeFrak’s skyline-changing proposal could be modified in the coming months, and the city’s planning board would need to approve any final application before the development moves forward.
