From left: Bellville Township Manager Brian Barda, Councilwoman Diana Guardabasco, Deputy Mayor Thomas Graziano, Mayor Michael Melham; John Resciniti of the Motorcycle Mall and Russo Development’s Ed Russo, Chris Minks, Courtney Lopez, Diogo Santos and Courtney Mulligan were among those on hand Sept. 26 to mark the opening of Rev by Vermella at 630 Washington Ave. in Belleville — Courtesy: Russo Development
By Joshua Burd
Russo Development is hailing the success of a new mixed-use apartment property in Belleville, where it has teamed with a well-known business to transform part of a key corridor.
The 268-unit project, Rev by Vermella, is now 75 percent leased just four months after hitting the market at 630 Washington Ave., according to the developer. Russo celebrated that milestone recently alongside the Resciniti family, its partner in the project and the owner of the iconic Motorcycle Mall across the street, while showcasing the apartment building’s new piazza and 19,283-square-foot retail center that will house as many as 12 stores.
“This courtyard is absolutely beautiful and everything we thought it would be,” Belleville Mayor Michael Melham said. “We see how fast we are leasing up, and it is absolutely extraordinary. This particular project is absolutely the feather in our cap. This is what we want — this kind of building and this kind of developer.”
Those on hand for the Sept. 26 event also included Belleville Township Council members and other community stakeholders. According to the developer, Rev by Vermella represents a distinctive collaboration with longtime Belleville businessman John Resciniti, whose family opened the Motorcycle Mall 50 years ago and has been a fixture in the township for decades.
To that end, Resciniti said he envisioned the project as an expression of his family’s local legacy as importantly as its development promise.
“My family has been tied to Belleville for generations, and I wanted to make sure this project wasn’t just another building but something that reflects our roots here,” Resciniti said. “By partnering with Russo, we’ve created a place that is not only cool and unexpected, but one that will leave a lasting mark for the community and our family.”
Amenities at Rev by Vermella include a rooftop lounge, a resort-style pool, coworking spaces and the central piazza designed to serve both residents and the surrounding neighborhood.
“The pace of leasing speaks for itself: People are finding in Rev a lifestyle they couldn’t locate anywhere else,” said Ed Russo, CEO of Russo Development. “We’re proud that Rev is attracting a wide mix of residents — longtime Belleville locals, regional renters and even newcomers from farther afield who were searching for a vibe unique to this community.”
