Amenities at Vermella Woodbridge include a two-story clubhouse with a fireplace and lounge seating, a high-end fitness center, multiple conference rooms and co-working areas. — All images courtesy: Russo Development/Onyx Equities
By Joshua Burd
Russo Development and Onyx Equities have debuted the first piece of a new 376-unit luxury apartment complex near the site of a well-known office tower in Woodbridge.
The joint venture announced this week that leasing is underway at Vermella Woodbridge, part of a 26-acre tract at the nexus of Main Street and Route 9. The developers have also welcomed the first residents to the site, while they are fielding interest from local and national operators for an available 20,000 square feet of retail space at the property.
The complex is the latest within Russo’s fast-growing Vermella portfolio.
“We are excited to bring the Vermella brand to Woodbridge,” said Ed Russo, CEO of Russo Development. “We are appreciative for the opportunity to develop in such a thriving township and community that places a very high value on well-designed and built projects, with a strong focus on quality construction, expansive amenities and sprawling green spaces.”
SLIDESHOW: Vermella Woodbridge
Russo and Onyx purchased the site from Hess Corp. in 2020, moving ahead with a long-awaited plan to redevelop the land around the oil company’s landmark former office tower. They quickly broke ground on the new apartments, where they launched leasing late last year.
The developers this week said the property is already one of the top performers in the Vermella portfolio, citing amenities such as a two-story clubhouse with a fireplace and lounge seating, a high-end fitness center, multiple conference rooms and co-working areas. The complex also has more than 25,000 square feet of outdoor space such as a community garden, a playground and a resort-style pool.
For Onyx, the offering follows the debut of two successful luxury rental properties in downtown Ridgewood.
“Our corporate roots are in Woodbridge, and we take great pride in developing special projects that are unique in the market,” said John Saraceno, an Onyx co-founder and managing partner. “We recognize the importance of quality redevelopment in suburban communities as many municipalities seek to reinvent their downtowns and former commercial locations.”
With its location in Woodbridge, the complex is minutes from the New Jersey Turnpike, the Garden State Parkway and several other major highways. It’s also a short drive from a host of retailers and restaurants and about a mile from NJ Transit’s Woodbridge station.
