Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop and former Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto reunited at the groundbreaking of a five-story, solar technology building at 568 Communipaw Ave., co-owned by the ex-elected official, this morning.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“We’re here today on Communipaw, we’re joined by the developers of a particularly special project here, it’s a 20-unit project in Ward F. We’ve obviously seen development come away from the waterfront and that’s happened consistently for the last couple years,” Fulop said during his remarks.
“What’s special about this is not only the 20 units and the location, but it’s a building that has a unique approach that is environmentally conscious, solar panels throughout the house on the outside using a new technology that will hopefully generate close to 30 percent of the electrical needs and energy needs of this building.”
Prieto, a 14-year veteran of the lower chamber in Trenton who served two terms as speaker between 2014 and 2018, is developing the property with business partner Nick Marrone – of Reuther Material in North Bergen.
They are also developing the former Jersey City police precinct just a stone’s throw away at 574 Communipaw Ave.
“For me, it is an honor and a privilege being here today for this groundbreaking. This project has been in the works for a little bit, I want to thank the JCRA [Jersey City Redevelopment Agency] for their partnership … to beautify and actually renovate all of this area and something that’s very needed is housing,” stated Prieto, also a former Hudson County Democratic Organization (HCDO) chair.
“As the mayor said, it’s moving away from the waterfront into different areas, we’re very happy to be part of Jersey City’s renaissance, so I thank you so much for that.”
Marrone added that construction will be performed with building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV), which solar power-generating materials that are incorporated into a building’s structure as opposed to pure wood, metal, or concrete.
When it appeared that Fulop, also now a Democratic candidate for governor, was going to pursue Drumthwacket in the 2017 primary (he ultimately sought re-election instead), Prieto was an outspoken supporter.
Also a former head of the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority (NJSEA), Prieto remains a political supporter of Fulop, donating $5,000 to the Coalition for Progress super PAC linked to his statewide run back in March, according to the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
