The Jersey City Summit is returning for a ninth year as part of a program that typically draws more than 1,000 attendees. — Images courtesy: Jersey City Summit
By Joshua Burd
Plans for this year’s Jersey City Summit are quickly taking shape, with featured guests set to include Gov. Phil Murphy, Mayor Steve Fulop and legendary developer Joe Panepinto Sr. alongside dozens of other owners, investors and key players in the city’s renaissance.
The annual event, which is scheduled for May 29, will take place at the iconic Harborside complex with a program that will include a full day of presentations, panel discussions and networking. Organizers expect to draw more than 1,000 attendees as they have in past years, making it a must-attend gathering and one of the industry’s largest in New Jersey.
“The industry is at an inflection point as we host this year’s summit,” said Sherif Abouzied, the event’s founding principal. “We’re covering all of the asset classes — as we always do — and it’s going to be very important for folks to understand what industry heavyweights are doing over the next 12 to 18 months. They’re behind the most transformative projects and are the region’s largest and most active players. They’ll share their outlooks for commercial real estate, which are very different depending on asset class and markets. We want to get a snapshot from the industry’s biggest, best and brightest on where they’re investing, partnering or pivoting.”
In the process, the event will highlight the future of Harborside buildings 1, 2 and 3, following The 601W Cos.’ acquisition of the nearly 2 million-square-foot office complex last year. The Manhattan-based firm is now in the midst of plans to reposition the historic waterfront destination, drawing on more than 25 years of revitalizing major commercial properties around the country.
“We’re thrilled to partner with The 601W Cos. and host the summit back at Harborside, where a lot of really smart, creative leaders are working on transforming it to the epicenter of the waterfront and one of the region’s leading live-learn-work-play neighborhoods,” Abouzied said. “To quote Managing Member Mark Karasick of 601W Cos., Harborside is a ‘unique product of great distinction.’ What the team has planned there is special and will help attract more leading companies into the buildings and supercharge all of the amazing retailers, restaurants and residential towers in the neighborhood. They have an exceptional track record of doing this across the country and we’re excited to see what they’ll do here.”
As in the past, this year’s program will feature panels on affordable housing, mixed use, capital markets, office and multifamily, among others. The agenda also includes remarks by Murphy and Fulop, as well as a special fireside chat with Panepinto, the founder and chairman of Panepinto Properties.
Abouzied also noted the growth of Manhattan developers crossing the Hudson River to New Jersey, which figures to be on display at the May 29 event.
“We are thrilled to see so many of Manhattan’s largest real estate players/families announce major projects here in Jersey City,” he said. “It’s a testament to the ranking Jersey City has with global institutional capital and funds. We’re delighted to have the summit play its part in highlighting Jersey City as a regional darling and accelerating its growth over the last nine years.”
The next chapter: Inside 601W’s plan to reposition Jersey City’s iconic Harborside office complex
