A rendering of a new mixed-use townhome and day care building at 360 New York Ave. in Newark — Courtesy: Martin Architectural Group
By Joshua Burd
An architectural firm has completed its design of a new mixed-use residential and day care building that is now under construction in Newark’s Ironbound section.
The Philadelphia-based firm, Martin Architectural Group, is working on behalf of developer CitiBay at the five-story, 95,866-square-foot project at 360 New York Ave. The design includes plans for a day care center on the bottom two floors and 35 townhomes on the upper three floors.
Construction crews are now building the superstructure for the project, Martin Architectural said in a news release. The property will occupy a half-acre site that had been a dilapidated warehouse, with completion slated before the end of the year.
“We are extremely proud of our work on this new building,” James Riviello, president and managing partner of Martin Architectural Group, said in a prepared statement. “Being able to create a cooperative design that positions the building to act as a community center for this area in Newark is a fantastic opportunity for us.”
The new day care center, which will have a drive-through drop-off area, will allow easy access to childcare for residents, the news release said. The townhomes will vary in size from 1,200 square feet to 1,350 square-feet, providing one-, two- and three-bedroom options for potential occupants and amenities such as game rooms, a gym, lounge and off-street parking.
CitiBay hired Martin Architecture Group to work on the project after the firms collaborated on Station Commons, a new 100-unit luxury apartment building in Elizabeth that opened in 2015, the news release said. The seven-story building, located at 727 Pennsylvania Ave., is adjacent to the North Elizabeth train station and minutes from Route 22, NJ Transit bus lines and Newark Liberty International Airport.
The complex offers views of the Lower Manhattan skyline, an outdoor terrace atop a parking structure and a small retail space. Station Commons is close to being fully leased.
“We chose Martin Architectural for the Station Commons and New York Ave projects because of the firm’s rich experience in urban planning and expertise in residential development,” said Albino Cerqueira, principal of CitiBay LLC. “They are ahead of the curve on trends like transit oriented designs, creating residential centers that offer ample connectivity for commuters, pedestrians and bicycle riders.
“They were able to create an unrivaled sense of community in the middle of a transportation hub with a walkable design.”
