A rendering of a 42-story, 902-unit apartment tower at 500 Summit Ave. in Jersey City — Courtesy: HAP Investments
By Joshua Burd
A developer has unveiled plans to build a 42-story, 902-unit apartment tower in the burgeoning Journal Square section of Jersey City.
HAP Investments, which is based in Midtown Manhattan, said the project at 500 Summit Ave. would also include a nearly one-acre public park, retail space and an 8,500-square-foot community center. The luxury high-rise would be among the latest and most high-profile additions to the historic neighborhood, the onetime commercial heart of Jersey City, as developers look to capitalize on the nearby Journal Square PATH station.
“We look forward to continue working with the city of Jersey City and local community board to finalize our plans for 500 Summit Avenue,” said Eran Polack, CEO and co-founder of HAP Investments, adding: “Our goal is to create a destination that serves not only the residents of 500 Summit Avenue, but the entire neighborhood as well.”
In a news release, HAP said designs for the park call for an open-air terrace with seating, a playground, pedestrian footpaths and a dog run. The community center will include a large glass façade, with flexible spaces for art, culture, classes and meetings.
Tuesday’s announcement comes nearly a year after HAP settled a lawsuit with the city, dating back to 2018, in which the developer claimed that local officials were intentionally stalling the project, according to The Jersey Journal. The settlement resulted in the firm adding the park and the community center, which reportedly will be built after the residential tower and transferred to city ownership upon completion.
The project site spans nearly a full block on Summit Avenue and is just east of the Journal Square transit hub, which provides rail service to Manhattan and other points along the PATH line.
The developer also said it will provide $500,000 toward new plantings and public amenities in the nearby Hilltop section, as well as designated parking spaces for visitors to the community center and the Hilltop Neighborhood Association.
