Element Harrison-Newark at 399 Somerset St. in Harrison — Courtesy: Harrison Hotel 1
By Joshua Burd
The developers of an extended-stay hotel in Harrison — a key piece of the town’s redevelopment efforts — have marked its 10-year anniversary while debuting a multimillion-dollar renovation.
The owners, Ironstate Development Co. and Pegasus Group, were on site recently to unveil the updates at the Element Harrison-Newark, a 138-room property at 399 Somerset St. They did so alongside Marriott International CEO and President Anthony Capuano, detailing the hotel’s redesigned guest rooms, refreshed meeting spaces and enhanced amenities that they say position it as an attractive location for both business events and weddings.
“When the property joined the Element brand in 2014, we recognized the potential for both the brand and Harrison,” said Michael Barry, president of Ironstate and a principal of the joint venture known as Harrison Hotel 1. “Over the past decade, Harrison has become one of the New York metro region’s most successful redevelopment stories, and Element Harrison-Newark has grown alongside it, providing outstanding hospitality for business and leisure travelers while serving as a vibrant social and corporate hub for the community.”
The Element hotel was among the earliest and most impactful projects in a redevelopment zone, that has welcomed thousands of apartments in recent years, thanks in part to the nearby PATH station and a waterfront location across from Newark. That followed a push by local officials that began some 25 years ago, bringing new life to what was a cluster of dilapidated industrial buildings along the Passaic River, including several other mixed-use projects by Ironstate and Pegasus that have created 2,250 housing units, 80,000 square feet of retail space and a commuter parking garage.
The hotel’s redesigned guestrooms include kitchenettes, rainfall showers and complimentary WiFi, as well as large windows that fill the spaces with natural light, according to a news release. Flexible and newly designed meeting rooms are equipped with modern technology and contemporary furnishings, positioning the hotel as a destination for corporate events, team gatherings and small conferences that benefit from their proximity to Newark, Manhattan and other destinations.
The developers have also unveiled enhanced spaces such as a 24-hour fitness center and programs like Bikes to Borrow and the pet-friendly Love That Dog initiative, the news release said. Other offerings include The Station Bar & Bites, a dining space with pub-style cuisine, craft beers and signature cocktails that is open to both hotel guests and the public.
Guests and visitors, meantime, have quick access to the Harrison PATH Station, which the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey renovated to the tune of $256 million, as well as Newark Liberty International Airport and venues like Sports Illustrated Stadium, the Prudential Center and the New Jersey Performing Arts Center.
