JERSEY CITY, N.J. — JLL has arranged $152 million in construction financing for 35 Cottage Street, a 588-unit apartment tower that will be located in the Journal Square neighborhood of Jersey City. The development will also house a synagogue, preschool and a dedicated party hall, the latter of which will be a first for this submarket, according to the project team. Thomas Didio Jr. and Michael Mataras of JLL arranged the senior loan portion of the financing package through Centennial Bank and the mezzanine portion through an undisclosed private lender. The borrower is New York-based Namdar Realty Group. Details on floor plans, amenities and a construction timelines were not disclosed.
New Jersey
FAIR LAWN, N.J. — Locally based investment firm TFE Properties has acquired the 93,000-square-foot River Road Shopping Center in the Northern New Jersey community of Fair Lawn. The 6.3-acre center comprises an 18,825-square-foot single-tenant building occupied by Walgreens, an 18,900-square-foot multi-tenant building and a 54,000-square-foot building that was formerly occupied by grocer ShopRite. The new ownership plans to implement a value-add program to the multi-tenant and former grocery buildings. Jose Cruz, Kevin O’Hearn, J.B. Bruno and Ryan Robertson of JLL represented the seller, Bon-Marc Realty Co., in the transaction and procured TFE Properties as the buyer.
CHATHAM, N.J. — New Jersey-based developer Walters is nearing completion of Cornerstone at Chatham, a 63-unit affordable housing complex in Northern New Jersey. Walters is also launching a lottery program to lease the building, which sits on a 3.2-acre site that formerly housed a now-defunct restaurant. Units come in one-, two- and three-bedroom formats, range in size from 807 to 1,343 square feet and are reserved for renters earning 60 percent or less of the area median income. Amenities include a fitness center, community room and outdoor grilling and dining stations. Construction began in August 2023. Full completion is slated for late 2024.
Public-Private Partnership to Develop 80-Acre, $200M Mixed-Use Project Near Racetrack in Oceanport, New Jersey
by John Nelson
OCEANPORT, N.J. — JEMB Realty has begun the design and development process for an 80-acre mixed-use property situated adjacent to the Monmouth Park Racetrack in Oceanport, a borough roughly 42 miles south of Newark, N.J. JEMB Realty will develop the multi-phase project in partnership with the State of New Jersey and Darby Development LLC. Construction is slated to begin in the fourth quarter of 2025. Plans for the site include a 298-unit residential building, as well as a 200-room hotel and a sports community center to support local youth athletes. The development team is also exploring a variety of entertainment options such as music venues and experiential retail components. Monmouth Park Racetrack is a racetrack for thoroughbred horse racing. According to the property website, the original Monmouth Park was constructed in 1870. Three buildings have carried the name in the past 139 years. The current structure opened its doors in 1946. The racetrack is owned by the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority and is operated by Darby Development, which recently entered into an 85-year lease agreement for the facility. The project team plans to work with the New Jersey Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association, the New Jersey Sports & Exposition Authority, the New …
MONTCLAIR, N.J. — A partnership between two New Jersey-based developers, The Hampshire Cos. and The Pinnacle Cos. has opened The Clair, a 40-unit apartment complex in the Northern New Jersey community of Montclair. The Clair offers studio, one- and two-bedroom units and amenities such as a clubhouse, business center and a rooftop terrace. Minno & Wasko Architects and Planners designed The Clair, construction of which was financed by OceanFirst Bank. Rents start at about $2,400 per month for a studio apartment.
FLEMINGTON, N.J. — Vision Wheel Inc. has signed a 32,456-square-foot industrial lease in Flemington, about 60 miles southwest of Manhattan. The supplier and distributor of custom wheels and tires is taking space at Flemington Junction Business Center, a four-building development. Jason Fisch of Greek Real Estate Partners represented Vision Wheel in the lease negotiations. Rob Marek represented the landlord, locally based investment firm Larken Associates, on an internal basis. The deal brings the property to full occupancy.
CHERRY HILL, N.J. — Three new tenants have signed leases at Cherry Hill Mall, a 1.4 million-square-foot shopping center located in the greater Philadelphia area. Lacoste and Columbia Sportswear are scheduled to open at the property later this year, with Mango anticipated to open in summer 2025. PREIT owns and manages the center. Other tenants opening soon at the property include Alo Yoga, Kendra Scott, Dry Goods, Rowan, Signature Workspace, Kooma Asian Fusion and Sushi Bar and Inspiration Co.
PARSIPPANY, N.J. — Day Pitney LLP has signed a 56,000-square-foot office lease in the Northern New Jersey community of Parsippany. The law firm is relocating from the nearby building at 1 Jefferson Road to the entire second and third floors of 8 Sylvan Way, a 176,062-square-foot building that was originally constructed in 2009 to house the operations of pharmaceutical corporation Novartis. Tim Greiner, David Stifelman and Noah Stewart of JLL represented the landlord, Orion Office REIT, in the lease negotiations. Greiner also represented the tenant along with JLL’s Mike Pietrowicz, Dan Loughlin, Kimberly Smith, Brendan McBride and Jonathan Ortiz.
LYNDHURST, N.J. — An affiliate of New Jersey-based intermediary Cronheim Mortgage has arranged a $14.6 million construction loan for a Marriott-branded hotel project in the Northern New Jersey community of Lyndhurst. The hotel will total 128 rooms and will be operated under Marriott’s TownePlace Suites brand. David Turley of Cronheim Mortgage placed the loan through an undisclosed local bank on behalf of the borrower, regional hospitality owner-operator BDG Hotels. Construction is slated for a late 2025/early 2026 completion.
NEWTOWN, PA. — Norman’s Hallmark has signed leases to open nine stores that will range in size from 5,000 to 7,000 square feet in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The New Jersey stores are located in Princeton, Somers Point, Marlton, Ocean Township, Manalapan, Turnersville and Mays Landing. The Pennsylvania stores are located in Allentown and Wyomissing. Rose Urban of Equity Retail Brokers represented the Pennsylvania-based home décor retailer in all lease negotiations.