A rendering of The Boundary, a planned 500,000-square-foot mixed-use project by JDA Group LLC on the border of Hoboken and Jersey City — Courtesy: JDA Group LLC
By Joshua Burd
Commercial real estate firm JDA Group LLC has announced a promotion on its team as it looks ahead to a high-profile development project and other growth opportunities.
In his role as vice president, Timothy J. Connell facilitates all aspects of development, portfolio management and investment initiatives for the Hoboken-based company. He joined JDA in 2019 and previously was an assistant vice president, the firm said, noting that the promotion follows a recent local approval for a 500,000-square-foot, mixed-use project on the border of Hoboken and Jersey City and a recent key acquisition in Bergen County.
“Tim and I work side by side on the high-level strategy and deals that are driving JDA forward,” said Gregory Dell’Aquila, the firm’s CEO. “Much of his success stems from his personal approach and commitment to being honest and transparent with stakeholders, and it is this mindset that makes him a perfect fit with our firm’s culture and expansion plans.”
In a news release, JDA said Connell has played a key role in positioning it to grow, including spearheading refinancing deals and acquisitions. He has also supported the positioning of Mission 50, the firm’s 80,000-square-foot co-working facility in southwest Hoboken.
Connell brings a background in banking combined with a degree in real estate finance, the firm said. He initially joined JDA to focus on development, specifically on the mixed-use project known as The Boundary, which is now moving ahead after securing its final approval from the Hoboken zoning board.
Plans for the two-acre development include commercial and medical office space, retail, apartments, structured parking and an elevated park. Connell was also integral to JDA’s expansion and rebranding of theMission 50, which recently completed its transition to full-fledged co-working space and will serve as a key piece of The Boundary project.
“We achieved the vision of an entire office and co-working building that is a vibrant, supportive community,” said Connell. “That involved top-down analysis, from estimating the pro forma to designing and building out the new space.”
Connell has recently focused on expanding the firm through both acquisition and development, while refinancing a 50-unit luxury apartment building in Hoboken known as The Lexington. He also guided JDA’s acquisition of 2215 Route 4 East in Fort Lee, the site of a 1,800-square-foot Starbucks building and a freestanding Bank of America ATM kiosk.
Prior to joining JDA, Connell was a commercial real estate portfolio manager with Provident Bank in Iselin, specializing in commercial real estate lending analysis, the news release said. He holds a bachelor’s in business administration in real estate and finance from Villanova University and served as a judge for the Villanova Mulroy Real Estate Challenge in 2020 and 2021.
“I share JDA Group’s desire for growth and a passion for doing the job right,” Connell said. “I quickly realized that the core values of this family style company aligned with my own, and that has allowed Greg and me to accomplish many of the tasks we originally set out for when I started here.”
