Great piece in this weekends New York Times about the Hoboken market weathering the real estate storm, with specific references to our neck of the woods, new developments like the west side's first high rise building (9th and Monroe) and 800 Madison, and of course our new movie theater. A must read. Click here.
Shockingly no mention of Metrostop. Again.
Here are the complete renderings of the newly announced 900 Monroe development. East facing facade above. North facing facade below:
The architect who designed this is Minno & Wasko Architects & Planners, based in Lambertsville, NJ. Click here to visit the 900 Monroe page on their website. Apprently this design is considered to be 'sustainable design' with the hopes of an eventual LEED certification for green building. Two more renderings below - the view west along 9th Street, 900 Monroe in the distance:
West facing facade, which is closest to the light rail platform:
This company was also involved in an Englewood, NJ Extreme Makeover Home Edition episode. Click here to learn more about their good deed!
Before I went to sleep last night I put under my pillow, a brick stolen from 800 Madison - the latest Upper Grand development, some concrete shavings from Metrostop, a dash of rain water from our last flooding debacle (chased with whiskey, of course), lit a yartzeit candle purchased from Shoprite, and prayed hard for a bountiful gift from the ether. When I awoke this morning, alas! my! prayers! were! answered!! The almighty construction fairy came to visit us last night and pounded into the ground a giant 20 foot sign announcing the pending arrival of some brand spanking new luxury residences. Ladies and gentleman, I give to you Upper Grand's latest arrival, coming soon to the corner of 9th and Monroe Streets:
The west facing facade (the rendering on the right) is mostly townhouses with the large 13 story tower on the right. The left hand rendering is of the south facade, which will be a full 13 story tower along the entire block of 9th Street between Jackson and Monroe Streets. The low level townhouses styles portions will run along Monroe Street, just behind Shoprite, and along the back portion next to the light rail tracks, which will become part of the new Western Edge Greenway.
The height of the tower is two floors higher than what currently stands at Metrostop. While some might frown at the height of this new project (especially those above the heights whose views of Manhattan will be blocked), HH welcomes the new development. Yet another project breathing new life into Northwestern Hoboken! And more people means greater chance of meaningful new retail for our neighborhood.
Not sure if this is going to be rental or condo (plans may be up in the air considering the state of the market), but from what I wrote about last April it is all but confirmed there will be nearly 8000 square feet of new retail space, as well as new cafe! BOW TO OUR GLORIOUS HIGH AND MIGHTY DEVELOPER OVERLORDS! They are bestowing upon us a gift from the heavens.
* I guess my original wish for a giant chocolate roller coaster and/or new parkland isn't really coming to fruition, but I'm still not giving up hope...
Our most recent local paper has just debuted their 2007 year in review, out today, and has a section devoted to the continued redevelopment of our famous gold coast. The story, written by Michael D. Mullins, quickly points out that major projects continue to move ahead in our area despite the national real estate downturn. This is because of our proximity to Manhattan, which insulates us to a very large degree from the larger ups and downs of the market.
HH is very disappointed, however, with Mr. Mullins' coverage of the 'action' in Hoboken. Most of his story centers around Toll Brother's waterfront projects and the new W Hotel that is being built. While those are obviously important projects in our square mile, he only mentions two very small projects in the northwest area of Hoboken: the Emsee, which he unfortunately misspells and Ariel Square, both of which are very small scale developments when compared to other projects in our area. He also writes about Velocity, and how it has gone rental after failing to sell out after a disastrous 2 year construction delay which crippled the original projects momentum. I ask Mr. Mullins - these are the highlights you choose to mention?!
For some odd reason he completely ignores such major projects as Metrostop (the first ever 10 story luxury residential building in our neighborhood) and the most recent Upper Grand buildings (1000 Jefferson and 800 Madison) both of which will have added more than 400 rental units to our burgeoning neighborhood. Not to mention the Monroe Center and their plans for 5 new mixed use buildings, including a parking garage and spaces for 30 retail locations, and a 13 story mixed use building that is about to break ground at 900 Monroe. Why would he choose to ignore such major residential progress in a former industrial area that is arguably the largest residential evolution Hoboken has ever gone through, behind the waterfront transformation? We are completely shocked by his lack of coverage of our neighborhood.
There are not many opportunities to get noticed in the world of real estate, and we all know that media exposure is a crucial stepping stone in the sometimes difficult launch and slow pace of redevelopment. It's a shame we do not receive the exposure we deserve. There are many many people putting lots of time, effort, and money into making our neighborhood a viable place to live. It's a shame that a real estate reporter like Mr. Mullins, who enjoys a very large readership and who is very influential, failed to accurately report the progress of our great neighborhood.
HH can only hope that he his saving his secrets for a much larger story devoted solely to northwest Hoboken, come spring time. Here's to hopin':
Below is the excerpt on Hoboken. To read the entire piece, please click here.
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Redevelopment was the word in '07
By Michael D. Mullins
Along Hoboken's northern waterfront, Toll Brothers continues to dominate the area near the city's border with Weehawken.
At the town's formerly industrial northern end, a slew of large, boxy factories are slowly being converted to condominiums. They will soon join the already converted 525-unit "Tea Building" at 1500 Washington St., a former Lipton Tea factory. That waterfront property was converted approximately five years ago, and now is home to notables including Gov. Jon Corzine and Giants quarterback Eli Manning.
Just west of the "Tea Building," the neighboring buildings are still being developed. Toll Brothers completed the first phase of its 10-story Harborside Lofts building at 1500 Garden St. this past November, with move-ins beginning this month. Of the 116 units completed to date, over 80 percent are already sold, according to Axiom Communications representative Jillian Marano.
Once complete, the condo complex will consist of 748 residential units as well as a 1,250-car garage.
Further down the waterfront, Toll Brothers' third major development is an upscale complex in place of the sprawling former Maxwell House coffee factory. Located in the area of 11th and Sinatra Drive, the first of "Maxwell Place's" four separate buildings was completed this past September, yielding 169 condos of which 97 percent are sold.
By 2010, all four Maxwell Place buildings are expected to be completed, adding a total of 832 units to Hoboken waterfront.
On the southern waterfront, the city's three-block South Waterfront Project has already replaced a former port area. The two piers are being used for park space, and the Applied Development Company is continuing construction on the much-anticipated W Hotel, to add to their already built condo complex and office building nearby.
The 25-story W Hotel will contain 225 rooms once complete, as well as an 11,000-square-foot ballroom. The hotel is expected to open in late 2008 and will be operated by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide.
There are also many developments inland and far west, even near the public housing projects.
A four-story, 21-unit condominium known as Ariel Square was completed this month at the corner of Fifth and Jackson streets. Only a few hundred feet away is a four and five story condominium known as the Emcee, which consists of 12 units and will be completed in March of 2008.
Both buildings were constructed by the New York City-based TreeTop Development. Adam Mermelstein, a principal of TreeTop, said in a press release that nearly 50 percent of the combined 33 units between both residencies had been sold as of this past week.
One block away on a much larger scale, locally-based Remi Companies has transformed what once was the city's towing yard into a 128-unit condominium called the Velocity. Located at Sixth and Jackson, the four-story residential complex was completed last June.
Remi CEO Eric A. Kaiser said the development initially began as condominiums, but since August of this year, it changed into a rental facility after observing that "sales were sliding." Most of the units rent for between $2,800 and $3,100.
The city also saw residents and politicians arguing over proposed parameters for several redevelopment zones in formerly industrial areas. After months of debating plans for the city's southernmost border, the City Council asked the Planning Board to incorporate new features of a revised "Southwest Redevelopment Plan." The City Council has not formerly adopted the new plan. After it does, the next step is to seek out developers who will conform to the guidelines.
The city also has other redevelopment regions in the works.
With development occurring in every corner, park activists made sure that the remaining undeveloped land should stay that way.
The Maxwell Place Waterfront Park, a 5-acre community amenity from Toll Brothers, opened this past November.
The city expects two other parks to be completed by the late spring of 2008, which are 1600 Park and 1500 Park, located near the Hoboken-Weehawken border and totaling an additional 4 acres of space.
I've received numerous questions regarding what 800 Madison will look like when complete - and HH is now here to answers your prayers. These two images were captured from marketing materials in a window at one of our local Realtor offices on Washington St. The first is a rendering of 800 Madison (above) which is located on Madison between 8th and 9th streets, and takes up the entire block. It looks as though this Tarragon/Ursa project will be somewhat more modern looking than their previous efforts (1000 Jefferson and numerous other Upper Grand buildings). It will be 6 stories, with corner retail spots. Not sure if those famous 2nd story stoops will be included in this new project. Also no word on whether this is going to be a rental or a condo. Given the current state of the market, my guess is that it's going rental. We'll have to wait and see. 800 Madison is currently under construction.
900 Monroe (below), the first 12 story high rise mixed use condo project in northwest Hoboken will feature condos as well as a restaurant. This new project is located adjacent to 800 Madison, just off the light rail on 9th and Monroe. You are looking at the view up 9th Street towards to Palisades Cliffs and trees. The Liquor Store side of Shopright and the video store is on the right. Work has been done to clear the site, but there's been no word when construction will begin. Look at all that shiny glass!
The quality of the images are obviously poor, my apologies. The renderings were very small to begin with and I had to snap them with my blackberry at night through glass. Also HH had one too many martinis before taking these photos, so please don't shoot the messenger! (Just in case we have a few Hooters girls who may be reading this morning :)
Work was finished so fast at the 900 Monroe demo site, people were even forgetting their footwear as they were leaving. Sad, lonely sneaker:
It seems as though this site has now turned into a temporary parking lot and staging area, for the ongoing work at 800 Madison, which is across the street:
Wonder how long they will use this land as a parking lot, and when they will begin construction on the planned 12 story luxury condo? Bets, anyone?
Safe to assume that in another week the demo site of 900 Monroe will be completely cleared. Part of me wishes that this site becomes a public park with lots of trees and grass, and maybe a koi pond or something, and then another part of me is happy that it's going to become a 12 story luxury condo high rise with a chic new restaurant, which is what is planned for the site (no visuals released yet). Then there's this whole other part of me that wishes it was transformed into a giant factory that makes chocolate. Or the worlds tallest roller coaster. Or a giant trampoline. I don't know - I'm indecisive today. Maybe it's the weather?
What would you wish it to be, given absolutely no real life constraints or political issues whatsoever?
Above, a picture of the ancient sidewalk along 900 Monroe Street, where the demo is ongoing. Below, you can see someone doing a bit of soldering work on the bordering wall of the warehouse next door. It seems the warehouse is still in use at the moment.
It's looking a bit like Mars, doesn't it? Minus the trees and blue sky, of course:
Is he fixing a hole?
They've also changed out the end of this machine, which now has one of those awesome round electric magnet things:
If you happen to be wearing a suit made of paper clips, don't walk past this machine. It could get ugly.
Also there's been a new arrival. Everyone, meet Steven the Super Sifter. I wish he could separate the giant pile of change I keep for absolutely no reason.
He's very efficient in making big piles of dirt using his handy conveyor belt:
The view looking south...
Well, it looks as though the printing warehouse on the corner of 9th and Monroe, also known as 900 Monroe, has officially gone to factory heaven. Below are two shots looking north and northwest, in which you can see a neighboring building that was left intact. Yesterday I walked by and the receiving doors were wide open, revealing what looked like a thriving business with shrink wrapped goods lying around. My first thought was that this entire three block stretch of warehouses would be torn down at once, but it seems it will be done in stages:
Triple digger action!
With a little coaxing, I got Eddy Excavator to pose for my lense. Normally he's shy but today, emboldened:
The guys have been hard at work separating the raw materials into piles - one for steel, one for large concrete pieces, and one for dirt. This sense of organization really excites my partner. When he walks by he can't help by feel a sense of pride that someone else shares his OCD level of organizational skills:
Me? It just makes me want to play dominos:
The beginning of the week at the 900 Monroe demo site was all about sprinkler time to cool off from the warm weather. Wasn't it in the 90's? There was also a little cherry picker action, see below:
While looking at the debris not yet carted away, I noticed a few pieces that looked like giant honeycomb cereal. Can you spot it?
A closer look reveals we're going to need more milk:
You know what they say about dudes with huge boots - less risk of tripping on gravel:
Pre - Chad:
Post - Chad:
By the end of the week the last brick had been pulled down, and now all that's left is the clearing of the rest of all this rubble:
Also, if anyone wants a free couch, or a black BMW X5, both are sitting on the corner of 9th and Monroe, waiting to go home with you. Gosh this neighborhood is full of generous people!
The job is almost finished at 900 Monroe. Just some additional clearing of debris, and the last bit of warehouse still to come down, and then the job will be complete! There is also a section of foundation (red brick, shown below) along 9th street that needs some attention. Another week or so and you'll be able to play shuffle board...
