Executives with Kushner joined local officials and other well-wishers on Thursday, June 26, to mark the ceremonial groundbreaking for Livana Livingston, a two-building, 280-unit multifamily development at 550 and 570 West Mount Pleasant Ave. in Livingston.
By Joshua Burd
Kushner has broken ground on its redevelopment of the former Westminster Hotel in Livingston, where it’s planning two new apartment buildings with a combined 280 units.
The developer, which owned and operated the hotel for two decades, is constructing both age-restricted and non-age-restricted housing on West Mount Pleasant Avenue under a project that also includes an adjacent former office property. Both new buildings will soon take shape on the nine-acre site, with completion slated for 2027 as the firm adds to its fast-growing Livana multifamily brand with new upscale homes and a host of social and wellness amenities.
Kushner executives, flanked by a large crowd of colleagues, welcomed township officials and other well-wishers on Thursday to mark the start of the closely watched project.
“Livana was envisioned with the goal of providing refined rental communities that speak to how people want to live today,” said Nicole Kushner Meyer, president of Kushner. “From young professionals and growing families to 55-and-better residents seeking community and convenience, we’re focused on creating residences that combine exceptional design, well-curated amenities and a strong sense of place. Livana Livingston will be a perfect example of that mission brought to life.”
The milestone comes more than 20 years after Kushner acquired and repositioned a former Travelodge property to build the Westminster Hotel, creating a destination for the community and prominent asset in the family’s hometown. Meyer spoke to that connection on Thursday, calling it “the backdrop for countless memorable events.”
“I grew up just down the road, and Route 10 was part of our family’s rhythm,” she said. “This stretch of town was truly our backyard — familiar and comforting and full of memories.”
But the need to move on from the hotel became clear in recent years, as Meyer and the firm’s Michael Sommer noted.
“As hands-on operators and opportunistic developers, we’re always reassessing our portfolio,” said Sommer, Kushner’s chief development officer. “And the Westminster Hotel was on what I’ll call our ‘watch list’ for some time. Regional hotels have had their challenges, and the pandemic only further exacerbated the underlying issues.”
That was also true for the adjacent property, the former home of an aging suburban office building for Somerset Regal Bank.
“It was clear that the highest and best use for the properties was no longer hotel and office, and that multifamily was the answer,” Sommer said.
Spearheaded by Lessard Design, the new buildings will have a mix of luxury one- and two-bedroom apartments, some with dens, across both properties. The development at 550 and 570 West Mount Pleasant Ave. also includes a combined 56 affordable units, a 20 percent set-aside, allowing Livingston to fulfill part of its obligations under the state’s Fair Housing Act.
It’s part of what Sommer said became a “great collaboration” with township officials, despite a rocky start when Kushner set out to redevelop the hotel. Accordingly, he thanked Mayor Edward Meinhardt, the township council, Attorney Jarrid Kantor and Township Manager Barry Lewis.
Sommer also praised a series of colleagues at Kushner and the outside professionals involved with Livana Livingston. They include land use counsel Craig Gianetti and Amanda Curley of Day Pitney LLP, consulting planner Art Bernard and a design and engineering team comprised of Lessard Design, Casey & Keller Inc., Dolan & Dean Consulting Engineers LLC, Melillo Bauer Carman, Mulhern+Kulp and KEA Engineers, as well as Cahn Communications.
According to Lewis, the township manager, Kushner’s ties to the community and willingness to adapt the project were also critical, especially in a time when municipalities are flooded with applications related to affordable housing.
“What set Kushner apart and what made us ultimately reach this great partnership was their demonstrated commitment to the community,” Lewis said. “They heard our concerns, they were willing to work with us … They addressed the density in a way that worked for Kushner and worked for the town.”
Kushner noted that the 55-plus building will have a fitness center, private men’s and women’s sauna and steam rooms and a coworking mezzanine, along with social and recreational spaces such as a clubroom with lounge seating and card tables, a private dining room, a game room with billiards and a golf simulator. Plans also call for a rooftop terrace with grilling stations, firepits, and outdoor games, along with dedicated pickleball courts, a pet spa and a community garden lawn.
The neighboring building, which will serve families and residents of all ages, will also have a modern fitness center, a party room with multiple lounge areas and fireplaces, a card and poker room, a coworking mezzanine and a hidden speakeasy lounge and movie room, according to a news release. Younger residents will enjoy a kids’ playroom and a teen arcade lounge, while outdoor offerings include a rooftop deck with grilling stations and firepits, a resort-style pool and covered dining and lawn areas.
It’s all part of a development pipeline for Kushner that includes some 10,000 apartments, including nearly 3,400 under construction in Jersey City, Eatontown, Colts Neck and Long Branch alone. And Thursday’s groundbreaking came amid several high-profile financing transactions for the firm’s projects in northern New Jersey and South Florida.
“As you can tell, our company is in motion,” Kushner CEO Laurent Morali said. “And it’s good to take the time to acknowledge each accomplishment. It’s good to thank everybody and it’s also good to always stay focused and look at the bright future ahead of us.”
