DMR Architects’ services include both multifamily design and redevelopment consulting in municipalities throughout the state, including Ridgefield Park, where the firm developed the master plan for the mixed-use, 55-acre Skymark Town Center, while designing a 19-story, 522-unit high-rise known as Wyndham Place at Ridgefield Park. — Courtesy: DMR
Commercial real estate truly is a people business, which explains why our stories highlighting new hires, promotions and other personnel moves are among the most popular. We’re fortunate to see a steady diet of these updates from all corners of the industry, including the types of announcements that have come from DMR Architects just about every year since we launched Real Estate NJ — five hires here, three new additions there — all to support a growing pipeline and portfolio that includes everything from apartments and hospitals to government buildings.
As you’ll read in this month’s cover story, the design and planning firm has grown considerably from its days as a three-person shop focused on public school projects. Education is still a cornerstone of DMR’s business, but the Hasbrouck Heights-based firm now has a robust, multidisciplinary practice that also touches multifamily, government, health care and interiors, along with a distinctive redevelopment and consulting practice best-known for its work in downtown Hackensack. That growth is seemingly poised to continue as the company marks its 30th anniversary, with a pipeline of some 200 projects valued at more than $1 billion.
Our November edition also includes our coverage of last month’s Atlantic Builders Convention and of a high-profile panel discussion that took place at the conference. As you’ll read, homebuilding industry leaders joined key public officials to confront New Jersey’s housing supply and affordability crisis, pledging to work together as they search for solutions. Front and center was the need to stem the rising costs of construction, echoing a top concern for developers and building industry advocates, but also a key focus for the likes of Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver and Newark Mayor Ras Baraka.
Elsewhere in this issue, we detail how a developer is moving ahead with plans to build 80 new apartments and ground-floor retail space inside a historic building in downtown Newark, following backlash from members of a congregation that had worshipped at the property for some four decades. The locally based firm, Paramount Assets, will mark its fifth project in the last five years in which it is converting an existing structure in the city, but its latest effort will be its biggest and perhaps its most high-profile to date after the controversy.
We are heading into November after what seemed like our busiest month since before the pandemic. One major reason is the return of fantastic in-person events like the Atlantic Builders Convention and NAIOP’s annual Commercial Real Estate Awards gala. As I’ve told many of you, it’s nice to reconnect after nearly two years apart, so you can bet I’m looking forward to what’s left on the schedule in 2021 and everything that’s in store for 2022. I’m sure many of you would agree. After all, what is a people business without actually seeing people?
Until then, thanks for reading and enjoy the issue!
Joshua Burd
Editor
josh@re-nj.com
