Birch House at 49 Fisk St. — Courtesy: Halpern Real Estate Ventures
By Joshua Burd
The first renters have arrived at one of the highest-profile new luxury apartment buildings in Jersey City’s fast-growing West Side neighborhood.
Known as Birch House, the 337-unit property at 49 Fisk. St. opened for leasing early this year with a mix of studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom homes. Its developer, Halpern Real Estate Ventures, announced Tuesday that the move-ins are underway, marking another milestone for the project and for an area that has seen a surge of new residential development.
Minno & Wasko Architects and Planners designed the six-story building, with interiors and amenities curated by The Meshberg Group. JRM Construction Management was its general contractor.
“We are excited to welcome the first renters and begin the process of establishing a community at Birch House,” said Joel Halpern, managing director of investments for developer Halpern Real Estate Ventures, or HREV. “It’s been gratifying to watch this building come to life with residents enjoying our high-end homes and nature-inspired outdoor and indoor amenities that not only inspire a sense of tranquility, but also provide an activity-rich environment.”
Halpern is leasing Birch House in tandem with Corcoran Group Marketing, with monthly rents starting at $1,995, according to a news release. They hope to attract renters with what they described as oversized units, social spaces and a series of features focused on sustainability.
To that end, the building has a composting system producing fertilizer for the property’s landscaping, community garden planters, rooftop solar panels, electric vehicle chargers, rainwater collection for irrigation and a vast 20,000 square-foot landscaped park, HREV said. The property also has LED lighting and low-flow fixtures.
Amenities include a vast garden courtyard with open green space and extensive landscaping and a 22,000-square-foot rooftop with 360-degree views of the Hackensack Waterfront District, downtown Jersey City and Manhattan in the distance, the news release said. Residents also have access to private and public coworking spaces, a lobby with an interconnected stair to the second floor, a speakeasy-style bar and a modern fitness center, among other offerings.
The arrival of residents comes amid a spike in new investment and revitalization efforts on Jersey City’s West Side. Residents have quick access to the nearby 273-acre Lincoln Park and the nine-hole Skyway Golf Course, as well as Route 440 for a connection to the New Jersey Turnpike and Routes 1 and 9, while Hudson-Bergen Light Rail service is five blocks away.
Halpern unveils 337-unit Birch House, a major addition to Jersey City’s growing West Side