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
Jersey City has snagged a $1.6 million federal grant for the highly touted Bayfront project, where plans call for hundreds of homes for low- and moderate-income renters as part of a sweeping redevelopment of 100 acres along the Hackensack River.
Mayor Steven M. Fulop joined the Jersey City Redevelopment Agency on Tuesday to announce the funding, following advocacy efforts by Jersey City’s and the state’s congressional delegation. The grant will provide another infusion as construction continues on the initial infrastructure at the site along Route 440, including building roadways and installing underground piping.
“Thanks to our federal partners for recognizing the importance of the Bayfront Redevelopment project and the tremendous promise this revitalization holds for Jersey City, bringing new economic opportunities, creating jobs and providing much-needed affordable housing options for residents,” Fulop said.
The announcement follows the city’s approval in fall 2022 of the project’s first ground-up phase, which includes a 210-unit apartment building by a joint venture of Pennrose LLC and Omni America LLC. As with subsequent phases, 35 percent of the apartments will be reserved for low- and moderate-income households, reflecting a long-held goal for the redevelopment of a former Honeywell Corp. property.
Fulop has long said the project will provide the most affordable housing of any private mixed-use, mixed-income community of its size in the country.
“I am proud to have worked closely with the JCRA and Mayor Fulop’s administration to secure this federal funding, which will create pathways for families to access affordable housing in an inclusive community,” U.S. Sen. Cory Booker said. “Investments like this are critical to keeping Jersey City and our high-cost urban areas affordable for everyone. This project will provide affordable housing within a mixed-income development at a scale that could be a model for cities across the nation.”
Rep. Donald M. Payne Jr. added: “I am proud to secure this $1.6 million in federal funding for the Bayfront Redevelopment because I know this project is important to Jersey City’s future. I am a strong supporter of affordable housing bills and projects in Congress, especially in urban areas. The Bayfront Redevelopment will create good-paying union jobs and help public schools with a portion of the tax revenue generated from the project. It is going to benefit the area significantly, and I look forward to working with Mayor Fulop to secure more funding for future projects in Jersey City.”
Officials on Tuesday noted that the first phase also includes community-driven amenities such as green infrastructure, flood mitigation, vehicle and bike parking, a public walkway along the Hackensack River and more than 11,000 square feet of multifunctional retail space for use by residents and the broader public.
“Once the bill is signed into law, we will work with our federal partners to dedicate the Bayfront funding as we move forward with construction,” JCRA Executive Director Diana Jeffrey said. “The Bayfront Promenade is the first building and consists of 210 residential units, of which 74 units are affordable housing.”
