333 Washington St. in Jersey City — Courtesy: HK Organization
By Joshua Burd
The owner of a historic loft office building in Jersey City has unveiled plans to renovate the property, where it recently secured two new tenants for more than 13,000 square feet.
The landlord, HK Organization, is eyeing a multimillion-dollar restoration of 333 Washington St. that will include a new lobby and upgrades to all common areas and building systems. It’s doing so as it looks to capitalize on a location within the downtown, in the city’s Powerhouse Arts District, in luring new tenants to the 45,000-square-foot building.
“We’ve cultivated a COVID-friendly boutique office environment with high ceilings, oversized operable windows, outdoor space and many original details for companies that want the convenience and amenities of Jersey City,” said David Dobkin, HK’s director of investments. “In a market full of anonymous glass towers, we’re able to give companies a unique and personal office setting. 333 Washington is truly one of a kind and even before COVID-19, there was a growing demand for business districts outside of Manhattan.
“In a post-COVID world, the trend of people wanting to live near where they work will continue. Workers will also crave direct access to open space during the workday that will have manageable density. There is no place that includes all of these ingredients better than Jersey City.”
Built in 1900 and first renovated in 2002, the four-story building has a current combined office and retail availability of 31,464 square feet, according to a news release. HK is marketing the property to both larger companies looking for a hub in a dense urban market and smaller startups seeking to move out of co-working spaces.
The Newmark team of Daniel Reider and John Crawford recently completed two new leases at 333 Washington St., including a 11,349-square-foot lease by PuppySpot, an online marketplace that works with responsible breeders. The company will occupy the third floor and will move in the first quarter of 2021.
The second tenant, an undisclosed e-commerce haircare company, leased 2,061 square feet on the second floor and has recently moved in, the news release said. HK is also in discussions with several creative technology, fashion and media companies.
“We’re proud to offer 333 Washington, a true standout in a crowded market, as the option for tenants that want a radically different environment than the cookie-cutter workspaces lining Jersey City’s waterfront,” Reider said. “We know there is an appetite for the turn-of-the-century loft spaces, and as we continue the transformative and comprehensive modernization campaign, including fresh air intake and UV purifiers, and common area design, 333 Washington provides just that.”
Designed by Studio 1200 and Bednark, the new design of 333 Washington in Jersey City draws on the history of the building, featuring selected materials such as polished steel and wooden columns, the landlord said. The lobby will include a renovated reception area, modern updates to the existing floors and the introduction of new signage.
Its renovation plans also call for updated elevator cabs and new HVAC systems. The building, which already features a private rooftop terrace, also has 8,139 square feet of available retail space with 200 feet of frontage on Washington and Morgan streets.
HK Organization has hired Neil Seth of Cushman & Wakefield as its retail broker.
“We have more than 5,000 apartments and a thriving entertainment, dining and retail experience within a 10-block radius, so our location really has a commanding seat to serve thousands of those living and working in this area,” Seth said, noting that a flagship Whole Foods will open just down the block. What’s more, the building is within walking distance of the Grove Street, Newport and Exchange Place PATH stations, along with Hudson-Bergen Light Rail service and the Harborside and Paulus Hook ferry stops.