The Jersey City Planning Board approved a new mixed-use redevelopment in Ward F, which includes new affordable housing units. They voted unanimously (5-0) to approve the proposal down the street from 902 Brewing Co. with some conditions on Monday.
By Dan Israel/Hudson County View
Located in the area of the Canal Crossing Redevelopment Plan, developer GND Pacific Holdings, LLC plans to construct an 8-story building at 33 Pacific Avenue – currently a vacant fenced lot- with 99 residential units and 29 ground-floor parking spaces.
Of the 99 units, plans include 4 studio units, 39 1-bedroom units, 46 2-bedroom units, and 10 3-bedroom units. There will also be 5,208-square-feet of ground floor commercial space with lofts and other renovations.
In total, 15 of the units will be affordable utilizing the Affordable Housing Overlay (AHO).
This includes 2 very-low income units (1 1-bedroom and 1 3-bedroom), 6 low-income units (1 studio, 2 1-bedroom, 2 2-bedroom, and 1 3-bedroom), and 7 moderate-income units (1 studio, 2 1-bedroom, 3 2-bedroom, and 1 3-bedroom).
The project also required variances for the number of driveways and curb cut widths. The plans were first heard at meeting last October but carried to January of this year.
Meanwhile, the board did not yet get to hear plans for a mid-rise residential building to be constructed on the current site of an asphalt parking lot and a 3-story stucco building near Enos Jones Park.
The application for this proposal was carried to a meeting in March, where it may be ruled on at that time.
This increase in density in Ward E would see an 8-story residential building rise from the parking lot and neighboring building at 33 Division St.
The new development, proposed by 33-39 Division Street, LLC in the Enos Jones Park RDP – Midrise Transition Zone, is planned to contain 115 units and 86 parking spaces, according to the most recent architectural plans submitted to the Board.
The unit breakdown is as follows: 60 1-bedroom units, 37 1-bedroom units with dens, 7 2-bedroom units, and 11 2-bedroom units with dens. Of note, there are no affordable units planned for the 20,000-square-foot property.
The site is directly across 8th Street from Enos Jones Park, nearby where the street ends due to the New Jersey Turnpike overpass.
Many nearby parcels could potentially be used by the Turnpike Authority if the plan, which is highly unpopular locally, to widen the highway through Hudson County moves forward.
The application is not as-of-right, meaning it will need the approval of three variances to move forward. They specifically pertain to height, setbacks above the sixth story, and curb cuts, as well as a design waiver.
The preliminary and final major site plan was slated to be heard in October, but was carried from that meeting to the January 13th meeting of this year before being carried again.
The planning board is set to potentially hear more on this project at its meeting at the City Hall Annex Boardroom at 4 Jackson Square on March 10th at 5:30 p.m.
