10 Newest Places to Live

10 Newest Places to Live

Nov 17, 2018 | Economic Development, Fall 2018

Here is our ranking and tips from the newest to the oldest constructions

1 – One Theater Square | Opened August 2018

2 Center Street | (973) 832-0282 | onetheatersquare.com

The newest and possibly most unique development yet in Newark is developed by Philadelphia, PA-based Dranoff Properties. In addition to this property’s unique view of NJPAC, it also has 12,000 square feet of ground floor retail space. There are more than 200 rentals in this property; 24 of them made available for families with low-to-moderate incomes.


Make friends here now if you want to hear and even view the NJPAC Sounds of the City free concerts (or the Military Park movie nights) from a sought-after balcony next summer!

The Lofts at Lincoln Park

2 – Lofts At Lincoln Park | Opened in July 2018

90 Clinton Ave | (973) 755-1753 | loftsatlincolnpark.com  

This is truly a homegrown project that everyone in Newark can be proud of. Developed by Newark-born Hassan Keith and his partners at Mid-Atlantic Alliance, these luxury lofts are located slightly outside of the central downtown area. There are only 24 condos in this property and they are for sale at market-rate. Most are already sold.

Make friends here if you need a restroom break during the Lincoln Park Music Festival next year!

The Willows at Symphony Hall

3 – The Willows at Symphony Hall | Opened June 2017

395 Halsey Street | (973) 844-6220 | livewillows.com

This community caters to artists with designated art spaces and is just 1 out of 100+ communities developed by Ingermand Developers. All 60 of the apartments at this location are priced for low-to-moderate incomes.

Read more about this development in the Lifestyle section to get the entire scoop on artist housing in Newark.

Riverside Arms Apartments

4 – Riverside Arms Apartments | Opened April 2017

Located near Route 21/McCarter Highway

(973) 878-1600 | riversidearmsliving.com

Located near Route 21/McCarter Highway, Riverside Arms Apartments has one-, two- and three-bedroom options available. All 128 apartments are priced for all income levels.

Make friends here so you can check out the gaming room.

Halston Flats

5 – Halston Flats | Opened February 2017

127-131 Halsey Street | (201) 858-8182 | halstonflats.com

Halston Flats is a new development of a historic building constructed in the early 20th century upon the banks of the former Morris Canal. The building is located in the heart of the Business District of Newark, on the corner of Halsey Street and Raymond Boulevard.

Check out the all-you-can-eat buffet at Pages Restaurant, which is within walking distance.

Residences at Hahne & Co

6 – Residences at Hahne & Co | Opened January 2017

50 Halsey Street | (973) 988-4138 | livehahne.com  

The Hahne building is an especially unique place to live. Not only are there state-of-the-art apartments but retail shops and even a Whole Foods Market downstairs so you don’t have to leave the building to go grocery shopping. There are 100 rentals at this location and 60 of them were made available for low-to-moderate income families.

Take advantage of the parking garage at this residential/retail space. If you spend $10 at Whole Foods, parking is free.

999 Broad

7-999 Broad | Opened October 24, 2016

999 Broad Street | (973) 744-5410 | 999broad.com

Developed by RPM Development Group, 999 Broad was built with the intent to transform its surroundings and to enhance the quality of life for its residents. Embracing the diverse cultures and interests of the city, 999 Broad features amenities like a yoga studio, energy-efficient green living, wheelchair access, and a very interesting rooftop.

 

Try the street food on Broad Street. The food cart in front of the Game Stop has the best chicken and lamb over rice.

Residences @ 24 Jones

8 – Residences @ 24 Jones | Opened in October 2015

24 Jones Street | (973) 937-7075 | 24jones.com  

Adjacent to ShopRite and in the heart of the college community, the modernly styled Residences @ 24 Jones are positioned in the heart of University Heights. With studio, one- and two-bedroom options, Residences @ 24 Jones comes with furnishings, stainless steel appliances, and a Whirlpool washer and dryer in every home.

Make friends here if you are a college student and need a place to crash in between classes.

1 Rector Street

9 – (Honorable Mention) 1 Rector Street | Opening in 2019

(732) 846-3636 | boraie.com/development

This property is worth mentioning although it hasn’t actually opened yet. Developed by Shaquille O’Neal & Boraie Development LLC, this construction is being deemed the first high-rise building of its size since 1960. The property will contain 169 market-rate rental units. Applications are being accepted now.


Make friends here if you need to take the Light Rail at the NJPAC stop. You’ll be close enough to see the train, but high enough that you shouldn’t hear it.

Montgomery II

10 – (Honorable Mention) Montgomery II | Opening in 2019

685 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard | (973) 718-9926

pennrose.com/apartments/new-jersey/montgomery-heights

Located in Newark’s historic High Street District, the Montgomery Heights Apartments is in the “up and coming” area of town. The first phase was built in 2010 on the old Brick Towers site.

 

You can easily get to Vonda’s Kitchen from here and to the Rutgers University campus.

The “G” Word: Is Gentrification Happening, or Not?

The “G” Word: Is Gentrification Happening, or Not?

Oct 23, 2018 | Economic Development, Fall 2018

“Although the prospect of gentrification has lately inspired a lot of concern (and some fear) in Newark, gentrification—at least in its typical forms—does not seem to be driving displacement in the city yet,” reads a report released in November 2017 by David D. Troutt of the Rutgers Center on Law, Inequality & Metropolitan Equity.

Below is an excerpt from the report titled “Displacement Risk and Gentrification.” It concludes with 5 overarching goals that should be pursued “by cities like Newark as they confront the challenges of growing equitably.”

 

A City’s Responsibility for Equitable Growth*

Goal #1: Preserve as much of the inventory of regulated, income-restricted housing as possible.

Goal #2: Take a holistic, fair housing approach to housing stability.

Goal #3: Reinvent good government.

Goal #4: Seek market restitution and regional equity for destructive and discriminatory practices.

Goal #5: Gentrify from within. To “gentrify from within,” a poetic phrase attributed to Mayor Baraka, is a fitting goal on which to conclude this report because it elegantly symbolizes what equitable growth means. Gentrification scares populations at risk for displacement because it suggests that desired growth (the revitalization of areas long in need of infusions of capital and resources) will occur without them.

But what if the very people whose new skills, education, financial capacity and political voice are typically wooed from elsewhere were, instead, grown on Newark’s fertile earth?

What if—with stronger schools and the commitment of local colleges and universities, skills training facilities, and more stable housing arrangements and opportunities for democratic expression—Newarkers become as much of the change they’ve been waiting for as anyone else?

These questions are being actively addressed by community-based organizations, advocacy groups, neighborhood alliances, and a broad consortium of institutions called Newark 2020.

*Source: Rutgers Center on Law, Inequality & Metropolitan Equity: “Displacement Risk and Gentrification: The CLiME Displacement Risk Indicators Matrix (DRIM) Methodology,” November 2017

5 of the Most Recent Companies to Open in Newark

5 of the Most Recent Companies to Open in Newark

Sep 25, 2018 | Economic Development, Fall 2018

1 – COMPANY NAME: Broadridge Financial Solutions Global, Technology & Operations Division
LOCATION: 2 Gateway Center
IN NEWARK SINCE: November 2017

Broadridge Financial Solutions relocated to Newark in November of 2017. The company, which provides advanced communications, technology, data and analytics solutions for the financial services industry and businesses, moved its global technology and operations division to Newark, contributing to the city’s identity as a growing tech hub.

According to Glassdoor.com, more than 60% of those ­currently employed at the company have a positive outlook about it.

dN: Welcome to town. How’s it going so far?

Joan: “I have to say that I’ve been enjoying the commute to Newark and taking advantage of all the great restaurants.” Joan says Broadridge embraces diversity and is deeply respectful of all employees and their opinions: “It sounds cheesy but employees truly matter, and this mirrors my own beliefs. I like the people I work with and want to help them succeed.”  

Joan, Managing Director,
started working in Newark
at Broadridge one year ago.

 

Robert: “The commute [to Newark] is an easy drive for me, coming from Bergen County. And I also have the option of taking the train. Typically, I’ll do that, actually. It’s a pretty quick ride for me, so that -certainly makes it attractive.”

Robert says he was attracted to Broadridge because the company is “well-positioned in the industry to support what clients are looking for today, which basically is partners that can help them from both a technology perspective as well as from a -business perspective.”

Robert, Vice President,
started working at Broadridge
in Newark one year ago.

2 – COMPANY NAME: HelloFresh
LOCATION: 60 Lister Ave.
IN NEWARK SINCE: 2016

HelloFresh is an international, publicly traded meal-kit company based in Berlin, Germany. It’s the largest meal-kit delivery provider in the U.S. The company moved to Newark in 2016, bringing its 350,000-sq.-ft. distribution center to the East Ferry neighborhood. The company’s close proximity to the Passaic River and the New Jersey Turnpike offers better access to the tri-state area market. The distribution center employs approximately 240 people, with 25 percent of them being Newark residents.

dN: Welcome to town. How’s it going so far?

Valdon: I enjoy the opportunity to work in a diverse community with talented young leaders who are eager to learn and grow. Newark is a place of unlimited potential. Valdon says HelloFresh “provides me with the opportunity to use my 20-plus years in the military to develop future leaders and civic minded workers. Community extends beyond the walls of HelloFresh.”

Valdon, Director of Operations,
started working at the HelloFresh
distribution center in Newark last year.

3 – COMPANY NAME: Fabuwood
LOCATION: 69 Blanchard Street
IN NEWARK SINCE: August 2018

New to Newark’s continually-expanding employment landscape, Fabuwood Cabinetry Corp. recently moved its headquarters from Jersey City to Newark. The company’s green-certified, state-of-the-art facility is equipped with cutting-edge manufacturing technology and comfortable, spacious offices for its employees. According to the company’s Chief Operating Officer Joel Epstein, “Our new building encompasses all of Fabuwood’s core values: quality, service, innovation and community… Expansion means more employees and we can’t wait to be a part of the local Newark community.”

dN: Welcome to town. How’s it going so far?

Valdon: I enjoy the opportunity to work in a diverse community with talented young leaders who are eager to learn and grow. Newark is a place of unlimited potential. Valdon says HelloFresh “provides me with the opportunity to use my 20-plus years in the military to develop future leaders and civic minded workers. Community extends beyond the walls of HelloFresh.”

Valdon, Director of Operations,
started working at the HelloFresh
distribution center in Newark last year.

4 – Company Name: Petco
LOCATION: 609 Broad Street
IN NEWARK SINCE: August 2018

Petco is a leading specialty pet retailer. With more than 1,500 locations across the country, the company set up shop in Newark this summer. The Newark location offers products for a wide variety of pets, including dogs, cats, reptiles, fish and birds; premium pet services like full service and self-service dog grooming and training classes; and pet vaccinations. The location also has special adoption events for those looking for their next special friend.

According to Indeed.com, the company is touted as a fun, team-oriented workplace with supportive management. Last year, the company earned its sixth consecutive Ethisphere Institute recognition as one of the world’s most ethical companies.

 

dN: Welcome to town. How’s it going so far?

Valdon: I enjoy the opportunity to work in a diverse community with talented young leaders who are eager to learn and grow. Newark is a place of unlimited potential. Valdon says HelloFresh “provides me with the opportunity to use my 20-plus years in the military to develop future leaders and civic minded workers. Community extends beyond the walls of HelloFresh.”

Valdon, Director of Operations,
started working at the HelloFresh
distribution center in Newark last year.

5 – Company Name: TRYP by Wyndham Newark Downtown
LOCATION: 24 East Park Street
IN NEWARK SINCE:  April 2018

TRYP by Wyndham Newark Downtown sits in the heart of the city’s bustling business district, minutes from New York City and Newark Liberty International Airport, one of the nation’s busiest airports. The hotel occupies a historic building erected in the 1920s and its art-deco inspired design harkens back to that era. The Newark location is the sixth U.S. location for the TRYP by Wyndham brand.

The employee benefits package is reportedly one of the things that makes Wyndham a great company to work for. Other reasons include advancement potential and a team-oriented culture. 2018 is the ninth consecutive year that Wyndham companies have been recognized by the Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality Index as one of the Best Places to Work for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Equality employees.

dN: Welcome to town. How’s it going so far?

Valdon: I enjoy the opportunity to work in a diverse community with talented young leaders who are eager to learn and grow. Newark is a place of unlimited potential. Valdon says HelloFresh “provides me with the opportunity to use my 20-plus years in the military to develop future leaders and civic minded workers. Community extends beyond the walls of HelloFresh.”

Valdon, Director of Operations,
started working at the HelloFresh
distribution center in Newark last year.

Newark’s Residential Rebirth

Newark’s Residential Rebirth

Sep 25, 2018 | Economic Development, Fall 2018

People are Moving in… and Staying

More than 1,000 new places to live have sprung up  in the last year. Who lives there and is it affordable?

On July 16, 2018, Chris Keys moved into a one-bedroom apartment in downtown Newark that overlooks NJPAC. “I work long hours, sometimes 13 hours a day at the restaurant, so I want to get home fast and be in a space that I enjoy and can relax in,” says Keys, who is the general manager of Marcus B&P on Halsey Street.

Keys didn’t move from New York. He moved to the new luxury apartments at One Theater Square from the other end of Broad Street where he had lived for the last eight years.

“Newark has this amazing vibe and culture. There is a really strong sense of community here that is unlike anywhere else. We all watch out for each other, we root for the new startups, and we support each other’s dreams,” says Keys, explaining why he stays in Newark. “There’s something bigger than just us happening here. It is a transformation for everyone.”

Since 2017, almost 1,000 new apartments have been completed, and more than 300 of those have been deemed affordable housing units, according to the 2018 City of Newark State of the City report.

Some of those new developments include Riverview Arms, which has 128 affordable housing units, and the Hahne and Co. Building, which has 100 market-rate units and 60 affordable-housing units. One Theater Square has 244 apartments, including 24 affordable housing units. The developer of One Theater Square held a lottery in August for applicants who make less than the average median income. The lottery enabled a broader pool of Newarkers to have a chance at obtaining some of the residential units.

Keys staked a claim to his home well before any lotteries. He secured his market-rate unit two years ago and waited patiently as the construction crew laid the foundation, topped off and finally finished the 22-story glass and brick sensation.

“I absolutely love my apartment! There’s ­nothing like brand new everything or sitting on my ­balcony and seeing the New York skyline.” —Chris Keys

Newark’s Native Son Rebuilds Hometown

Newark’s Native Son Rebuilds Hometown

Sep 25, 2018 | Entrepreneur Spotlight, Fall 2018

Hassan Keith likes to brag about James Baxter Terrace, the historic Newark housing project where he grew up.

“It was really a village — there were cousins, there were elders,” he said. “Those of us who grew up there are all highly educated and employed now.”

As the head of general construction for the Mid-Atlantic ­Alliance and managing partner of Lofts at Lincoln Park, Keith is one of Baxter Terrace’s highest achieving sons. From his community ­connections, to his own entrepreneurship, to his efforts to make more ­Newark residents homeowners, Keith spends every day building a better Newark.

The Mid-Atlantic Alliance has three developments in Newark: Lofts at Lincoln Park, Black Wall Street Project, and Urban League Townhomes. The ribbon-cutting for Lofts at Lincoln Park, a $7 million, 18-unit condominium development at 90-96 Clinton Avenue, took place this summer.

When Keith graduated from Rutgers in 1994, he moved back to Baxter ­Terrace to live with his grandparents and help care for his mother who’d just been diagnosed with cancer.

“The neighborhood was no longer what it was when I grew up,” he said. “It was dangerous.”

This spurred a search for a new home. Keith eventually found a three-family house in East Orange, NJ, fit for little else but a total rehab. But he did it—and moved his whole family out of Baxter Terrace.

“I got my passion for building out of that experience,” he revealed. “Out of ripping down the walls and putting them back up. From there I bought another house and got my friends from college involved.”

Keith has been gutting homes and fixing them up ever since, putting up new apartments and duplexes, and helping more Newark ­residents become homeowners. Members of the community know his mission and call him or stop him on the street to ask how they can ­qualify to buy a home, sort out mortgages, ­navigate credit inquiries, and build up the ­financial ability to own a home.

Even as Mid-Atlantic strives to meet the growing demand for at-market and even ­luxury housing in Newark, Keith takes care of his own.

“We have to make sure that we’re not pushing out residents that have been living in Newark for 30 or 40 years,” he said. “There’s no way that I would come in and move my cousins.”

But at the same time, he’s optimistic about what is happening in Newark.

“You can see changes every day. Our neighborhoods are becoming more desirable. People are coming to Newark and seeing the value.”

Those college buddies who helped Keith rehab that first house are now his business partners: Victor Baker, whose contracting firm was merged with Keith’s to form the Mid-Atlantic Alliance, and Michael Bunton, who went to Wall Street after college and helped Keith get the down payment for his first house.

A newer but no less valuable arrival to the crew is Mike Adams, the starting safety for the Carolina Panthers, who is involved in youth programs in Paterson, NJ, and who is emotionally invested in redeveloping urban communities.

And that emotional investment, shared by all of the Mid-Atlantic Alliance, is more central to their goals than the financial investments. What sets them apart from other developers is their dedication to the city of Newark.

“You need to have a conscience,” Keith says. “This work is more than just bricks and mortar.”

Look at Morgan!

Look at Morgan!

Sep 25, 2018 | Fall 2018, Youth

Name: Morgan Takae Smith
Age:  17
Occupation:  Intern at Audible
Hometown:  Newark, NJ
School:  Science Park High School
Grade:  12th grade

If someone would have told Morgan Takae Smith as a child that she would be one of the faces of a major technology company, she wouldn’t have believed them. A girl once bullied over her acne, Smith is now an intern at Audible and is featured in their local ad campaign.

Newark-based Audible is a subsidiary of Amazon and is the largest audiobook producer in the country. Smith is one of 70 Newark high school students who participate in the company’s year-round internship program.

The internship has gotten Smith model-ready and exposed her to corporate life. Prior to beginning her internship, Smith was set on a career as a makeup artist.

“Audible exposed me to things I wasn’t exposed to before in business,” she said. “I always thought business was super boring and wasn’t anything enjoyable.” But through her internship, Smith was able to see what goes on behind the scenes with large projects and the hard work that goes into them. She has assisted with projects like Audible’s website, Audible Range, and others.

Smith grew up in the Ivy Hill section of Newark. After graduating high school in 2019, she hopes to attend Howard University and major in marketing.

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