At a ceremony held earlier this month, National Realty Investment Advisors broke ground on The Grand - the initial component of a two-phase housing development in West New York.
The twin 14-story buildings, to be located on neighboring sites at 508 51st Street and 511-513 52nd Street, will feature 156 rental units each, in addition to amenities such as a gym, a lounge, and a rooftop green deck with a patio, walking area, and barbeque pit.
In addition to housing, the two towers will flank a 495-car parking garage - the first in the history of West New York. Per an agreement between the developers and the town, 60 percent of the stalls will be made accessible to the surrounding neighborhood.
In prepared remarks, West New York Mayor Gabriel Rodriguez lauded the inclusion of a large parking garage.
"On the campaign trail two years ago, the number one issue was lack of parking in this municipality," said Rodriguez at the ceremony. "We are the most densely populated place in the nation, which translates into lack of parking. We are delighted with what is happening here. This is a perfect example of a public-private partnership working for the betterment of the people who live here."
In contrast, a statement released by Senator Bob Menendez praised the project's location in proximity to a stop on the Hudson-Bergen light rail line.
"This apartment complex is exactly what I mean when I talk about transit-oriented development," said Menendez.
Following the groundbreaking ceremony, work is underway for The Grand, the first phase of the project at 51st Street. The second tower, called The Metro, is to begin construction at a later date. Completion of both buildings is expected in 2023.
