The first phase of the 100-acre Bayfront project in Jersey City is slated to include 209 apartments, 35 percent of which will be for lower-income renters. — Courtesy: Jersey City
By Joshua Burd
Plans to transform Jersey City’s massive Bayfront property took a key step forward this week with the approval of a redevelopment agreement for the first phase, a proposed 209-unit building with more than a third of its apartments reserved for lower-income renters.
According to Mayor Steven Fulop, the agreement with Bayfront Development Partners LLC secured a unanimous 6-0 vote from the Jersey City Redevelopment Agency’s board of commissioners. The approval is another step in a multilayered plan for the 100-acre site just west of Route 440, where infrastructure work is well underway, in a location that the city plans to make the largest collection of affordable housing of any private, mixed-income community of its size in the country.
This week’s approval for what’s known as Bayfront Promenade earmarks 35 percent of the units for low-income households earning 60 percent and or less of the area median income.
“This marks a major milestone as we successfully move forward with the Bayfront redevelopment project, which has already triggered interest, investment and revitalization within the city’s Greenville and West Side neighborhoods,” Fulop said. “The transformation of the formerly contaminated site into the largest mixed-income community in the region serves as a model for sustainable and affordable mixed-income development.
“To take it a step further, throughout the redevelopment process, we require job prioritization for local residents during and after construction, public access along the Hackensack River waterfront and flood mitigation infrastructure, among other key elements to ensure our community benefits most.”
The city acquired the Bayfront property from Honeywell Corp. in 2018 with a goal of increasing the on-site affordable housing requirements from 5 percent, as was previously stipulated in the redevelopment plan, to 35 percent with the property under municipal control, according to a news release. The agreement, passed by the city council, bonded $170 million to purchase the land and build the necessary infrastructure for the redevelopment.
In late spring 2020, the city unveiled a development team for the first phase that includes Pennrose LLC and Omni America LLC, which make up the joint venture known as Bayfront Development Partners LLC. It also detailed a plan that called for nearly 1,100 units on 16 acres, with the 35 percent affordable housing component.
On Wednesday, the city said Bayfront’s first six-story building will incorporate multifunctional retail space, job prioritization for local residents, green infrastructure, flood mitigation and other community-driven amenities along the Hackensack River waterfront.
“We are seeing incredible progress as we transform the 100 acres of underutilized and remediated land into a welcoming and affordable community along the Hackensack River waterfront,” JCRA Executive Director Diana Jeffrey said. “This RDA approval comes after a vigorous vetting process in which the city hosted numerous public meetings to ensure the entire community is part of the decision-making process, maintaining transparency and incorporating residents’ input.”
The Bayfront Promenade building will also house nearly 10,000 square feet of community facility space and a wide array of amenities, such as an expansive outdoor terrace with grilling stations, a community lounge with a kitchen, a co-working lounge and media room, a fitness center, a yoga room, a dog wash and bike storage.
“Omni is delighted to move forward with Pennrose and our local and state partners on this transformational mixed-use, mixed-income project that will serve as a model for future public-private partnerships in New Jersey and beyond,” said David Fleming, executive director of development with Omni America LLC. “We look forward to making Bayfront Promenade a vibrant, community-oriented development that enhances quality of life for all.”
Pennrose Regional Vice President Jacob Fisher added: “We’re thrilled to work closely with the mayor, JCRA, HEDC and all project partners on the transformative Bayfront Promenade redevelopment. The comprehensive redevelopment will transform a former industrial site into a vibrant, transit-oriented community with high-quality, affordable housing.”
Jersey City names development team to launch 100-acre, mixed-income Bayfront project
