Executives with KABR Group and Hornrock Properties joined Ridgefield Park Mayor Adam MacNeill and other officials on Oct. 22 to break ground on a new 216-unit luxury apartment building at 95 Challenger Road in Overpeck Corporate Center. — Courtesy: KABR/Hornrock
By Joshua Burd
A new 216-unit luxury apartment building will soon rise in Ridgefield Park under a project that will mark the first residential phase of the Overpeck Corporate Center along Interstate 95.
Its developers, KABR Group and Hornrock Properties, gathered Wednesday to mark the start of construction for the collection of studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom homes with amenities and 2,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space. The project at 95 Challenger Road will take shape over the next 24 to 30 months, transforming a long-vacant lot within the well-known, 60-acre campus that is home to more than 1 million square feet of office space, an AMC movie theater and a Hilton Garden Inn.
Minno & Wasko Architects and Planners is the building’s architect.
“For more than a decade, KABR has been deeply invested in this campus, owning and managing commercial assets that have made it a premier destination for businesses,” said Michael Goldstein, chief operating officer of KABR Group. “With this new ground-up multifamily building, we’re complementing that legacy, creating a vibrant, mixed-use environment where people can live, work and enjoy the amenities of the property and surrounding area.”
Goldstein said the project “represents an exciting next chapter for Overpeck Corporate Center,” where KABR made its first acquisition in 2009 and remains the largest property owner, despite selling two office buildings there in 2020. Located just five miles west of Manhattan, the complex is highly visible to motorists on Interstate 95 and has its own exit on the highway, making it a well-known destination that’s also adjacent to the 805-acre Overpeck County Park.
The new apartment building, which will include 22 affordable units, is the first phase of what could be a three-phase residential development at the campus originally developed by Hartz Mountain Industries. Goldstein, who added that Mayor Adam MacNeill and his team “have been instrumental in getting us to this point,” noted that KABR also controls 64 Challenger Road and is working with the municipality to advance that plan.
“We’d like to thank Mayor MacNeill and Ridgefield Park’s civic leaders for their support of this development,” said David Hornblass, principal of Hornrock Properties. “This is an incredibly unique site, offering the tranquility of being nestled between Overpeck Creek and Overpeck County Park, yet located in the heart of one of Bergen County’s key business centers. Today’s groundbreaking is the culmination of years of planning, and we’re excited to officially get construction underway.”
Plans for 95 Challenger Road call for amenities such as an outdoor pool, a resident lounge, a café, coworking space, a high-end fitness center and a golf simulator, among others, while residents will have access to enclosed garage parking with electric vehicle charging stations. They’ll also have quick access to the New Jersey Turnpike, Interstate 80 and Route 46, allowing them to easily reach New York City, as well as nearby Hudson River waterfront communities such as Fort Lee, Edgewater, Hoboken and Jersey City.
“This partnership stands ready to transform a challenging site into one of North Jersey’s premier living destinations,” MacNeill said. “With its ideal location near beautiful county park and unbeatable proximity to New York City, this development truly offers the best of both worlds … On behalf of the village, we are proud to be part of this endeavor and look forward to the positive impact it will have for years to come. Thank you, and let’s get to work.”
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