Jersey City Rising

**Nexis4Jersey** · June 12th, 2012, 02:04 PM

So the PATH station will become a part of the building? Interesting...

**joshuaspellman** · June 12th, 2012, 03:28 PM

GSKA revises Costas Kondylis design for two-tower Jersey City development

Gene Kaufman and 70-90 Columbus Streets

Gwathmey Siegel Kaufman & Associates has unveiled a new design for a planned 1.2 million-square-foot development project in downtown Jersey City (see rendering to the right). The firm was recently selected by Ironstate Development and partner Panepinto Properties to replace Costas Kondylis as the architect of two 50-story residential and hotel towers planned for 70 and 90 Columbus Street in Jersey City.
Ironstate chose GSKA after it successfully designed the firm’s development of a W hotel in Hoboken, according to James Ronga, vice president of development for Ironstate. Gene Kaufman, a principal at GSKA, toldThe Real Deal in a statement that his firm is working with the same footprint and square footage, but will make “qualitative modifications that result in a project with a distinct geometry and a plan that better integrates the site into the Jersey City community.”
Kondylis did not respond to requests for comment.
The project was first proposed in 2007, but a combination of issues delayed the start of construction, according to Ronga. Now, the first tower of the $350 million project is expected to break ground in the first quarter of 2013 and is slated for completion two years later. At that point, construction would begin on the second tower.
“We wanted to get a premier architect on board to sort of make a statement,” said James Ronga, vice president of development for Ironstate. “The change was more about aesthetics, making it more efficient, and making sure [the development] was impressive. We wanted an architectural statement.”
The first tower, 70 Columbus Street, will have a 20,000-square-foot retail space, below about 150 hotel rooms and 550 rental apartments. Ronga said Ironstate and Panepinto are hoping to land a high-end grocer for the retail space and are in talks with extended stay hotel brands to operate the 100,000 square feet dedicated for the rooms. They’re interested in the extended stay sector because they believe it is an underserved sector both nationally and in Jersey City.
Once construction finishes at 70, the fully residential 90 Columbus Street will begin to rise. Ironstate and Panepinto also plan to develop a public plaza around the nearby PATH station to serve commuters, hotel guests and tenants.

**tbal** · June 12th, 2012, 04:57 PM

Looks far better than the original design IMO. So it sounds like there will be several large highrises breaking ground in downtown Jersey City early next year (including 99 Hudson).

**JoeSas** · June 12th, 2012, 08:05 PM

so is majestic II happening soon? check out this letter that was sent to residents about a meeting tonight...

Click image for larger version.

Name: image.jpeg
Views: 96
Size: 92.8 KB
ID: 15665

**tbal** · June 12th, 2012, 09:48 PM

Sounds like it. The new building design can be seen at the link below (scroll over to the far right on the filmstrip of buildings). Silverman apparently increased the proposed unit count by about 25%; the original plans called for only 80-85 units.

http://www.mullmanseidman.com/pages/hsng.php

**JoeSas** · June 13th, 2012, 05:29 AM

Originally Posted by tbal

Sounds like it. The new building design can be seen at the link below (scroll over to the far right on the filmstrip of buildings). Silverman apparently increased the proposed unit count by about 25%; the original plans called for only 80-85 units.

http://www.mullmanseidman.com/pages/hsng.php

i think this will improve the look of that strip of grove st., as long as the retail spaces rent out with something useful. some new restaurants options on that strip would be great.

so is that erie and ninth st project ever set to take off?

**ianmac47** · June 14th, 2012, 03:37 PM

Click image for larger version.

Name: 7090columbus_image.jpeg
Views: 485
Size: 100.7 KB
ID: 15676

In some ways, the previous design for 70 / 90 Columbus feels a bit more urban while the new rendering looks a lot more like the kind of crap that went up in pseudo cities in the 1960s and 1970s. Primarily what I'm talking about here is in the previous design, building out to the sidewalk around the whole corner rather than that oddly shaped pile between the two towers and the mini tower in the new render. The previous design seems slightly bulkier, as though it recognizes and really owns the scale of the building while the new design is trying to pretend to be something else other than a large residential complex.

**citybooster** · June 15th, 2012, 10:45 AM

Ianmac,think you're being too negative about the design....I'd like to see a more detailed full vision,including any public plaza,but anything that takes away from the garish zebra striped 50 Columbus is fine.The old version looked typically cluttered,this actually feels less claustrophobic.....you hate the Toll Brothers towers,and the more I saw the renditions,they are much better than you give em credit for.Same for your perception of the oddness of the new Harborside complex.....it's different,but that makes it stand out,they're geometrically striking.I think when they're all up and part of our skyline,ugly weon't be a word most will use to describe them.Really,it's amazing that knock on wood no severe economic downturns put the kibbosh to things but in the nest few years our skyline will truly be rising.Maybe 20 or so projects in the vicinity of 40 stories or taller....it will be the most impressive skyline for a mid sized city anywhere,of course thanks to our location right across from New York City.Nonetheless it will be amazing!

**Don31** · June 15th, 2012, 04:01 PM

What's a pseudo city?

**tbal** · June 15th, 2012, 09:27 PM

I completely agree with you, citybooster. The new design for 70-90 Columbus has some unique geometry that you won't find on any other skyscraper in Jersey City (I particularly like the Flatiron-like design for the hotel); a more creative use of colors, and wider variety of materials (looks like they will be using some stainless steel or aluminum cladding and precast concrete instead of the incredibly boring brick that you see on every other building in JC). I also like the verticality of 90 Columbus, with its authoritative contrast to the more playful appearance of 70 Columbus with the hotel. The new design actually has character to it, something every skyscraper (with the exception of Monaco and maybe Trump) is missing (the massive block-like base of 77 Hudson totally ruined that complex for me).

**ianmac47** · June 18th, 2012, 11:40 AM

Originally Posted by Don31

What's a pseudo city?

Hackensack.

**stache** · June 18th, 2012, 12:53 PM

pseu·do

[soo-doh]
adjective
1.not actually but having the appearance of; pretended; false orspurious; sham.

2.almost, approaching, or trying to be.

**tbal** · June 18th, 2012, 10:52 PM

According to the JC EDC:

-Fields' Madox (198 Van Vorst) will be complete by August
-Toll Bros' Provost Square is still set to begin construction in July
-Ironstate/Panepinto's 70 Columbus will begin construction in January
-Marbella II is now under construction (?)