What once started as Charity Hospital in Jersey City turned into Jersey City Hospital in 1885, but today, you’ll recognize it as The Beacon. Located on Beacon Way near downtown Jersey City, the revamped and revitalized Art Deco landmark now consists of luxury apartments.
Frank Hague, who became the Mayor of Jersey City in 1917, had big dreams for the hospital. In 1931, The Orpheum – a 23-story building – opened to the public. Additional, smaller buildings were added during the Great Depression to form a complex, and medical services were essentially free. The Jersey City Medical Center Complex officially came to be in 1936.
In 2002, construction began at a 15-acre campus located at Jersey Avenue and Grand Street to construct a new medical complex, and in 2004, they officially moved in. Now, all that was left was to decide what to do with the original buildings making up the 2-million square-foot complex, which is listed on the national and New Jersey Register of Historic Places.
The complex was sold to Metrovest for $6.5 million. It was renamed The Beacon and turned into 1,200 units set over ten buildings. In addition to the units, you’ll also find 80,000 square-feet of shopping as well as a 25,000 square-foot lifestyle center by the name of Club Aqua. There are also two dog runs, washers and dryers in each unit, central heat and air, an indoor pool, billiards hall, library, movie theater, private poker room, exercise classes, stainless steel appliances, the 45,000 square-foot Overlook Park, organic garden spaces, a children’s playground, shuttle transportation to the PATH and ferry stations, valet service, 24-hour maintenance, a parking garage, and more. Exquisite detailing includes etched glass, marble walls, bronze chandeliers, an average ceiling height of 14-feet, granite countertops, and terrazzo floors. According to the Metrovest site, it’s the “largest historic restoration in the country and the largest in the history of New Jersey.”
The Tower Grand, which features 128 studio, one-, and two-bedroom residences, opened in 2014, and it’s completely pet-free and smoke-free. The 18-story building features a 24/7 Cybex Club, a zen garden, the Liberty Lounge, and more.
Residents of The Beacon will be privy to stunning views of the Manhattan skyline, especially from the 18th floor sun deck. Studio prices start at $1,655, 1-bedrooms start at $1,755, and 2-bedrooms start at $2,350.
