P3 yields luxury housing complex as part of Jersey City redevelopment

Grilling stations at RIVET in Jersey City, a part of the University Place redevelopment project. Photo: courtesy of RIVET Apts/Claremont Companies

Jersey City, N.J. — Dresdner Robin, a leader in urban design and development, completed site and landscape design, permitting and construction administration services on Jersey City’s newest luxury apartment development, RIVET, a 163-unit complex that was completed in late-2018. Developed as part of a public-private partnership (P3), the project continues the transformation of the city’s West Side neighborhood.

The $50 million complex is situated along West Side Avenue at 23 University Place Blvd., and is just one component of University Place, a master redevelopment plan for an eight-building site spearheaded via public-private partnership. Cooperative efforts between New Jersey City University (NJCU), Jersey City, The Hampshire Companies, Claremont Companies and Circle Squared Alternative Investments will ultimately result in a district with over 1,000 market rate units and 100,000 square feet of retail space, a vibrant performing arts center, cafes, theaters and recreational spaces.

RIVET, in NJCU’s West Campus Redevelopment Area, is a 2018 Urban Land Institute (ULI) Northern New Jersey Excellence Award recipient for Public/Private Partnership and a 2019 Leading Infrastructure Project Award recipient from the New Jersey Alliance for Action. The complex boasts 163 luxury rental units, 10,000 square feet of retail, commercial and restaurant space and is located one-third of a mile from a Hudson-Bergen Light Rail stop. The award-winning building also includes a structured garage and two bike terminals, plus a rooftop terrace with an outdoor bar, lounge areas, dining areas, game tables, a sunning deck and a recreational lawn.

“RIVET has played an essential role in launching the transformation of Jersey City’s West Side, offering a luxury housing option at an affordable price point,” says Richard Sciaretta, director for Claremont Companies. “This artfully crafted complex will be in high demand for years, and we are happy to be a contributor to this valuable partnership.”

University Place is a direct result of collaboration between the New Jersey Legislature, local government, NJCU and the local business community. Various dignitaries – including Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop, the Jersey City Municipal Council and NJCU President Sue Henderson – have praised the collective efforts around University Place. Henderson called the partnership a “game-changer” that is “transformative for both NJCU and our local community.”

Dresdner Robin was engaged to provide land development services for RIVET, University Place’s first phase. The firm was responsible for the preparation of site plans that were transformed into construction documents – including site layout, grading, drainage and utility design and rooftop landscape architecture. The Jersey City-based land-use consultancy also obtained an assortment of permits necessary for construction, including with the municipal utilities authority, regional sewerage treatment facility, local soil conservation district and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. During its initial stages, Dresdner Robin also provided construction observation services.

“Dresdner Robin is proud of the wide-ranging services it has provided for University Place – no doubt a transformative project,” said Dresdner Robin Project Manager, Engineering, Robert Byra. “While it required extensive coordination with the university and the design team, RIVET certainly stands out among our portfolio, based on both scope and its direct, and immediate, contribution to the city’s West Side.”

As a result of the successful collaborations between Claremont Companies and Dresdner Robin, the two corporations have completed plans for a similar mixed-use development within the redevelopment area along West Side Avenue, which is expected to start construction in early 2019, and are in discussions for other projects envisioned with NJCU’s West Side Campus project.