The landmark Southend Lofts at 38 Jackson St. in Hoboken has welcomed its first residents, in a key milestone for the project as its developer and city officials look ahead to the new dining and retail hub that will take shape inside the building’s dramatic public atrium. — Images/renderings courtesy: The Taurasi Group
By Joshua Burd
The first residents have arrived at Hoboken’s distinctive new Southend Lofts building — and it won’t be long before the property becomes a destination for the community at large.
That was evident last week as The Taurasi Group hosted a sneak peak of the property’s dramatic indoor public atrium, which was abuzz with city officials and other guests who were on hand to sample the offerings of businesses that will build out their spaces in the months ahead. For many, it was a glimpse of what’s to come after a nearly five-year effort to restore and repurpose a historic factory building into not only 110 luxury condominiums, but 50,000 square feet of vibrant, inviting retail and restaurant space at the ground level.
“This is an exciting moment for Hoboken because it really does change the entire feel of this neighborhood,” said Emily Jabbour, the city’s mayor, standing alongside developers Gary Mezzatesta and Nick Petruzzelli. “I’m very excited because I think a project like this one is a real testament of what happens when you have someone who lives locally, who has a vision for the neighborhood and for the city at large. And, certainly, knowing Nick and Gary as long as I have at this point, I know how much they truly love not just the city, but this neighborhood, and have been so invested in what this project brings to our city.”
Taurasi’s vision for the building — along with its location, character and expansive amenities — has already struck a chord with buyers. The firm has sold more than one-third of its inventory at property, at 38 Jackson St., where it’s offering a mix of upscale one- to five-bedroom floorplans with prices ranging from $875,000 to nearly $5 million.
That includes 2,500- to 3,600-square-foot penthouses with duplex layouts, expansive terraces, striking Manhattan views and outdoor kitchens overlooking Southwest Hoboken.
“The start of closings at Southend Lofts is an exciting moment and the next step in bringing our vision to life,” said Mezzatesta, a managing partner of The Taurasi Group. “We’re thrilled to welcome our first homeowners, who will help bring energy and a true sense of community to the building.”
Designed by Nastasi Architects, with interiors by D&G Interiors + Design, the project includes the restoration of the 133-year-old, five-story building that once housed the Davis Baking Powder and My-T-Fine Pudding factory. The Taurasi Group has also expanded the property with newly constructed wings that rise nine stories and stretch it to a full city block, blending its industrial heritage with contemporary design through features such as oversized factory windows, soaring ceilings and exposed columns.
The developer and its sales team, Brown Harris Stevens Development Marketing NJ, have seen demand from buyers from Manhattan, Brooklyn and New Jersey — including those downsizing from Millburn, New Providence and other affluent suburbs. Those residents will have access to a sprawling eighth-floor rooftop terrace known as The Overlook with a 40-foot swimming pool, green lawns, shaded dining and lounge areas and panoramic views stretching from Midtown to Lower Manhattan. Other common spaces will include a modern fitness center, an open-air coworking lounge, a virtual suite with a multisport simulator with golf capability and an epicurean children’s playroom.
But it’s the property’s commercial space and light-filled public atrium that may truly differentiate Southend Lofts, all while opening it to the broader Hoboken community. The space, topped by a translucent PTFE canopy similar to the material used at The Shed at Hudson Yards, has attracted tenants such the grocer Southend Market, Nana’s Dim Sum + Dumplings, Under Pressure Espresso Bar and a 25,000-square-foot City Fitness. The property has a lease with the Hoboken Public School District to house a dedicated pre-kindergarten and early childhood education center, adding to its connection to the community.
“We’re delighted with how buyers and brokers have responded, particularly those from New York City who value the size, quality and refined finishes of the homes, as well as the building’s curated amenities,” said Stephen Kliegerman, president of Brown Harris Stevens Development Marketing. “With closings now underway, we expect that enthusiasm to continue.”
Residents and patrons will benefit from the site’s proximity to PATH and ferry service to Manhattan and major arteries such as the Holland Tunnel and New Jersey Turnpike. Also nearby is the recently completed Southwest Resiliency Park — an innovative public space featuring six pickleball courts, a full basketball court, playground, picnic tables, splash pad, swings, shade structures, restrooms and a social plaza — along with Hoboken’s vast selection of shops, restaurants and cafés and the vibrant waterfront along the Hudson River.
Dim sum, dumplings eatery takes 3,700 sq. ft. at Taurasi Group’s Southend Hoboken project
