Building 78 at Kearny Point — Courtesy: Hugo Neu
By Joshua Burd
A developer’s plan to transform a 2 million-square-foot former shipyard in Kearny is among several projects that will be honored later this spring by the organization New Jersey Future.
The project, Kearny Point, will be recognized June 7 at the annual Smart Growth Awards ceremony in Newark, developer Hugo Neu said Friday. The firm is overseeing the redevelopment of the massive shipyard property as a modern workplace, capitalizing on its location less than five miles from Manhattan and minutes from several mass transit options.
New Jersey Future’s Smart Growth Awards honor projects that promote land-use policies that help revitalize cities and towns, protect natural lands, provide robust transportation access, expand access to safe and affordable neighborhoods and fuel a prosperous economy, according to a news release. Kearny Point is among projects slated to be honored at the event, with other honorees including Linc at Orange Station in Orange, Woodmont Metro at Metuchen and the Gloria Robinson Court Homes in Jersey City.
Hugo Neu touted its adaptive reuse efforts at Kearny Point, which have been underway for a little more than a year, as a model for socially, economically and environmentally conscious development.
SEE THE FULL LIST: New Jersey Future’s 2017 Smart Growth Awards
“This recognition is much more than an award. It’s an affirmation of Kearny Point’s bold mission to create a thriving business community with an emphasis on environmental protection, historic preservation, and expanding economic opportunity,” Wendy Neu, CEO at Hugo Neu, said in a prepared statement. “As Kearny Point continues to evolve, we will continue to implement these responsible development practices, and we value the support of organizations like New Jersey Future throughout this process.”
Hugo Neu has already redeveloped one piece of the former shipyard as creative flex office space, now home to nearly 100 tenants ranging from craft food artisans to tech firms to filmmakers. Known as Building 78, the facility has a variety of flexible office spaces, prefurnished team offices and a co-working facility known as Kearny Works.
The building is also home to a 5,000-square-foot roof deck and lounge, along with a 3,000-square-foot indoor event space, managed by JPO Concepts.
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This year, Hugo Neu will embark on a second phase that includes the redevelopment of Building 100, one of several former craneway buildings on the site, according to a news release. Hugo Neu said the building “will be transformed into a technologically advanced creative office environment geared toward larger companies.”
The developer has tapped a team from Cushman & Wakefield, led by Executive Director Mitch Arkin and Associate Director Dan Johnsen, to market the space to office users.
“Kearny Point has a long history of fueling job creation in the region — during wartime, as a ship making facility, and in today’s economy, as an emerging hub for creative businesses,”
Kearny Mayor Alberto Santos said. “Hugo Neu’s thoughtful redevelopment plan for this site is truly revitalizing this site, and I’m excited for what the future has to hold for Kearny Point.”
