Jersey City Rising

[JCMAN320]

Hey everybody sorry for not reporting I've been sick as hell. Badger I will take the pics. There are actually big red neon letters in the windows which I will take a picture off. With teh abatements they do suck but they are econmically sound. Also with these towers going up I can't wait Jersey City's skyline will rival most North American cities and is a great compliment to Lower Manhattan's skyline.

[JCMAN320]

Here is the story behind the red letters:

Joan Osborne at art opening in Jersey City tonight

Drivers using the Pulaski Skyway in Jersey City at night have been greeted by a startling neon green message lining the top windows of the old American Can Company Building.

The large, illuminated letters read "IT IS GREEN THINKS NATURE EVEN IN THE DARK."

"Indestructable Language" is the brain child of New York City artist Mary Ellen Caroll. The eight-foot letters, powered by an energy efficient, low wattage transformer, are intended to raise awareness about conservation and energy alternatives.

People can learn more about the conceptual word art project tonight at the the opening reception at the building, at 50 Dey St., from 7 to 10 p.m.

It is open to the public and there will be a musical performance by Joan Osborne and DJs from White Dove. Andrew C. Revkin, an environmental reporter for The New York Times and author of "The North Pole Was Here," will speak.

Jarrett Renshaw

[investordude]

According to this, conditions still aren't right for building office space in New Jersey: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/15/re.../15office.html

[tbal]

Keep in mind that the authors are counting places like Weehawken and Hoboken in their 'waterfront vacancy rate' figure. The rate is probably closer to 10 percent in Jersey City (it may well be under 10), primarily because the fact that we have the big Wall Street players here already attracts even more of them, and because we have far better infrastructure than either Hoboken or Weehawken - higher-capacity roads, lightrail stations in our downtown business district, and PATH stops within a 5 minute walk from all of our major office buildings.

As long as the economy doesn't slip into a recession, I see Jersey City being the place of choice for office construction outside of Manhattan.

[MrWolf]

E-Trade signs 15-year Mack-Cali lease


"Real estate investment trust Mack-Cali Realty Corp. said Thursday financial services provider E-Trade Financial signed an additional 15-year lease at Jersey City, N.J.-based Harborside Financial Center..." -- Business Week

--------------------------------------------------------------------
Mack-Cali Leases over 106,500 Square Feet to E*Trade at Jersey City Office Building

Financial Services Firm Signs Long-Term Lease at Harborside Financial Center

(BUSINESS WIRE) Mack-Cali Realty Corporation today announced that E*Trade Financial Corporation has signed a new lease for 106,573 square feet at Harborside Financial Center in Jersey City, New Jersey. The lease carries a term of 15 years and seven months.

E*Trade Financial Corporation, a financial services provider, leased the space at Harborside Plaza 2, a 761,200 square-foot class A office building that is 100% leased. The tenant had been subleasing 37,970 square feet at the building.

Mitchell E. Hersh, president and chief executive officer of Mack-Cali, commented, “We are delighted that E*Trade has signed on and expanded its presence as a long-term tenant at Harborside. This transaction demonstrates Mack-Cali’s ability to service its tenants and build long-term relationships with leading businesses.” He added, “In addition, this lease significantly enhances the long-term value of this premier waterfront complex.”

Additional information on Mack-Cali Realty Corporation is available on the Company’s Web site at www.mack-cali.com
LINK

[tbal]

SWEET!

[JCMAN320]

$20 million disaster response center
Groundbreaking occurs for new police, fire communications hub

Ricardo Kaulessar
Reporter staff writer 11/10/2006

It's a project to cost over $20 million and be built in an area of Jersey City overrun with prostitutes and old industrial buildings.

But according to Mayor Jerramiah Healy and other city officials, the new, state-of-the-art Jersey City Public Safety Communications Center, located at the intersection of Cornelison and Bishop avenues, will be worth the cost and welcome in a downtrodden area.

"As we go forward, this city will be in a much better position to have all our police, fire, and first responders be able to communicate together," said Healy said at a groundbreaking ceremony for the center on Monday.

The two-floor, earthquake-proof communications center will house all police, fire, and Emergency Medical Services communications under one roof, which will enable dispatches to be processed faster to ensure a quicker response. It will also serve as a training facility for all the city's Public Safety departments.

City architect Glenn Wrigley said construction on the center is expected to start in January and will take place over an 18- to 24-month period. Thus, the center will not open for at least two years.

The funding for the communications equipment was provided by a federal $12 million grant to the city following Sept. 11, 2001, and approximately $10 million will come of the city's capital budget.

City Councilwoman Viola Richardson said the presence of the new center will "put the good prostitutes out of business" but, more importantly, will bring a heavy police presence into an area she represents.

"We are the last ones to get service but if the services are here, then we will score a quicker response," said Richardson.


Bringing public safety together

Representatives from the police and fire departments and other officials at the ceremony emphasized the importance of the center.

U.S. Congressman Steve Rothman (D-9th Dist.) said working with U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez and former U.S. Sen. and current N.J. Gov. Jon Corzine to get the federal funds was the "least we can do as elected officials."

Police Chief Thomas Comey said Healy asked him to work with the Fire Department and the city on designing the center "for the future and to design for today."

"This building will someday save lives," said Comey. "We have integrated technology where now police, fire, and hopefully EMS will sit in the same command center in supervisory levels where we will be able to give the fire department real time video feed before they ever get to the scene of a fire."

He also said they will also be videos provided to police before they go to the scene of a crime.

Fire Department Director Armando Roman said the project was several years in the making.

"As is the case with so many worthwhile projects, it takes the combination of the right time, the right motivation, and the right leader to get things moving forward," said Roman.

Roman said the communication problems that occurred on 9/11 between the New York City fire and police departments brought about a communications center such as the one in Jersey City.

Ricardo Kaulessar can be reached at rkaulessar@hudsonreporter.com

[JerseyBrett]

Hey everyone. I found a development planned in JC by GreenbergFarrow called Heritage Plaza. It doesn't specify its exact location. Does anyone know where this is located and the current status of the project? Thanks.

[TimmyG]

DOWNTOWN SUCCESS STORY
18 years after $30M investment, a $78M sale
Saturday, November 18, 2006 By JARRETT RENSHAW
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

Jersey City's Downtown looked much different in 1988, before the cranes and construction workers dotted nearly every corner.
In hopes of sparking investment in the then-beleaguered area, the Jersey City Redevelopment Agency issued $30 million in bonds to aid the Morris Company in the renovation of the historic Dixon Mills into an apartment complex with 467 rental units.
Now, 18 years later, the Morris Company paid back the city for the bonds and just inked a deal to sell the complex for $78.5 million - or $168,094 per unit - to a partnership between GoldenTree InSite Partners and Robert Martin LLC.
"It really just shows you how far the city has come in the last 25 years," said Bob Antonicello, acting executive director of the JCRA.
The new partnership group plans to convert the units into condominiums, first offering them to current tenants, according to city sources.
Originally built as the Joseph Dixon Crucible Company's plant and headquarters, the distinctive property is listed on the National Register of Historic Landmarks and was famous for producing Ticonderoga brand pencils.
Roughly 65 of the units were reserved for moderate-income residents, a protection that was set to expire within four years, said Antonicello. However, the Redevelopment Agency helped broker a deal that extends the protection for an additional year, said Antonicello.
The remaining units are not under the city's rent control ordinance, said Antonicello.
The deal was brokered by CB Richard Ellis' New York Tri-State Investment Team.

[tbal]

First, some unexpected news:

The lowrise building between the Metropolis Towers was undergoing demolition today. The building had several tenants, including a video rental outlet, a law office, and a convenience store. As some of us know, their was an 'infill' proposal by the owners of the Metropolis Towers to redevelop the parking and other underutilized areas into a new set of towers and additional retail. Being that the tenants in the buildings demolished today were active, and considering that the land is prime real estate (hence the reason for Grove Pointe and Columbus Plaza shooting up across the street) it seems logical that they are in fact beginning site preparation for construction of these two additional towers:



(For the record - three of the four corners at the intersection of Marin Blvd. and Columbus Drive are now undergoing extensive revitalization simultaneously - the activity taking place in this area this morning was a sight to see, between this demo work, Grove Pointe construction, the PATH/Newark Ave reconstruction, and Columbus Plaza construction).

Pics of the demolition:

[tbal]

In the Grove area, brickwork is a now a little more than 50% complete on the Tower:



The view from Columbus Drive at Grove Street:



Installation of windows continues at Columbus Tower I:



The parking garage/retail section is progressing, but at a seemingly slow pace:



Another shot of the completed exterior work on the lower floors:



The Athena Tower continues to grow skyward:



The first glass has been attached to the building:



Fifteen floors and climbing:

[tbal]

Rebar is going up for the second floor of the Westin Jersey City Hotel:



A view from the 4th level of the Newport Mall Parking Deck:



Another look:



The building really hugs close to the road - it will really tower over 6th Street when completed:



Two new sections are being added to the crane at Trump Plaza today:



The tower continues to rise above Washington Blvd (the Athena Tower and Marbella are to the left):



Overview of the entire building:



77 Hudson is moving along:



Prep work for the West Tower:



And finally, here's a quick look at the progress at Gull's Cove I:

[z22]

First, some unexpected news:

The lowrise building between the Metropolis Towers was undergoing demolition today. The building had several tenants, including a video rental outlet, a law office, and a convenience store. As some of us know, their was an 'infill' proposal by the owners of the Metropolis Towers to redevelop the parking and other underutilized areas into a new set of towers and additional retail. Being that the tenants in the buildings demolished today were active, and considering that the land is prime real estate (hence the reason for Grove Pointe and Columbus Plaza shooting up across the street) it seems logical that they are in fact beginning site preparation for construction of these two additional towers:



(For the record - three of the four corners at the intersection of Marin Blvd. and Columbus Drive are now undergoing extensive revitalization simultaneously - the activity taking place in this area this morning was a sight to see, between this demo work, Grove Pointe construction, the PATH/Newark Ave reconstruction, and Columbus Plaza construction).

Are the new towers face directly to the Christopher Columbus Dr (lie across in east-west orientation)?

What are the names of the new towers, any more detail you have?

[tbal]

The rendering is a view from where Grove Pointe now stands, looking across the intersection of Marin Boulevard and Christopher Columbus Drive. The towers will run along Columbus Drive, right across the street from the parking deck under construction at Columbus Plaza.

I don't know how long ago this was posted by the Jersey City Economic Development Corp on their website (my guess is two to three years ago) but here are some details about the project:

"Metrovest, a Queens-based residential developer and property manager, will build Metropolis Towers this fall. The two, 25-story towers totaling 575,000 square feet will be located near the Grove Street PATH Station along Marin Boulevard and Christopher Columbus Drive.

DMR Architects designed the project. Amenities will include a rooftop pool, a four level parking garage, and recreational facilities."

Link: http://www.jcedc.org/metropolistowers.shtml

For those of you who are interested, I posted a huge construction update on page 74 of this thread .

[tone99loc]

here's some misc. shots:

That's the view from my apt facing midtown from the 19th floor of the Mandalay (The Mandalay is between Newport and Exchange Place and is located at 20 Second St)

The view towards Newport, also from 19th floor

Facing Newport again, on the ground - This "field" in the foreground is where a new tower will rise starting in the Spring

Same position, more or less, facing midtown

More pics later...