The Bates Street Redevelopment Area might take up only a couple of blocks, but this compact part of Jersey City has seen no shortage of proposals and controversial decisions over the last several years when it comes to development. Now, another project is being planned for the neighborhood, which is located between Interstate 78 and Downtown Jersey City.
The Board of Commissioners of the Jersey City Redevelopment Agency (JCRA) approved a resolution on January 21 that will conditionally designate a company called York Street West, LLC as the “sub-redeveloper” of five tracts in the Bates Street Redevelopment Area, including 58 and 60 Center Street, 214 Bright Street, and a parcel at the corner of Colgate and York Streets.
York Street West is planning “for the development of a mixed use residential and retail project consisting of up to 100 residential rental units, retail space, and parking,” according to the JCRA’s resolution. The resolution did not state what individuals or companies are behind York Street West, LLC. State business filings show that the firm was registered in 2017 out of Holmdel in Monmouth County.
The JCRA’s Board of Commissioners designated Bates Redevelopment, LLC, a business associated with the Manhattan Building Company, as the “master redeveloper” of scores of parcels within the Bates Street Redevelopment Area in 2017, including the five in question. The resolution mentioned that. York Street West applied to “enter into a sub-redeveloper agreement with the JCRA and the master redeveloper” on January 15 of this year in regards to these five lots, which are being referred to as the “York Street Properties.”
Municipal tax records currently list Vincent and Rosa Ruggiero as the owners of all five properties. The premises include a house, a vacant lot, and buildings that have been home to the Quisqueya Restaurant and multiple auto repair shops.
The passing of this JCRA resolution comes more than half a year after plans were revealed by the Manhattan Building Company for several high-rise towers that could bring upwards of 2,000 units near the York Street Properties. Previously, the Bates Street Redevelopment Area had been the subject of an 870-unit development proposal and a lawsuit related to development rights.
