Posted Aug 2, 2015, 6:16 AM
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Greetings from New Jersey
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Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: North Jersey
Posts: 3,278
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Recent Downtown Newark update from Brandon Nagle
Quote:
NJIT has installed a huge new sign on Weston Hall, the architecture building I spend WAY to much time in. Now if only they could put a nice canopy over that door...
The adjacent backside of the Central King Building will be renovated into a multipurpose glass space for meetings and performances. It will be a very welcome change from the current fortress state, which replaced a beautiful and elaborate ornate stairway.
The New Street Pedestrian corridor will go through the middle of this building, and a portion will be demolished for a nice gateway into the Rutgers Campus Center.
238 MLK Boulevard
15 Washington Street
Cablevision Office and Garage
This may be the most attractive parking garage I have seen in a while, although I am patiently awaiting the retail tenants of the ground floor. It brings a nice streetscape about 300 feet closer to Broad Street Station. Only about 1000+ to go...
BURG's Memorial Day opening has come and gone. They are so close, but they will likely miss the entire summer. Military Park was otherwise still in use with about 20 people there despite the 95 degree heat and no formal events.
Prudential Tower
At 20 floors and about 313 feet tall, it is by far the biggest recent redevelopment in Newark. It is not only big, but the detailing is exquisite and luxurious. The opening date has not occured yet, as work is continuing inside. Some of the retail is leased, but three spaces are not. Hopefully this huge complex will become the catalyst for activity that is so desperately needed downtown.
While still somewhat seperated, wide staircases invite pedestrians up into the front plaza. This completely breaks the previous trend of only having a narrow entry controlled by a metal gate and fence. Just look at the Panasonic Building that was just completed last year!
Supposedly a cafe' on the 5th floor (the double height one at the garage roof level) will be open to the public, also allowing them to visit the huge green rooftop park on top of the garage. Only time will tell if that actually happens, but the original plans clearly stated that it would be open to the general public from 8 am to 5 pm.
Supposedly a large shoe store (Reebok?) will occupy this entire space. A large anchor tenant is needed to draw people to the area to also enjoy the other smaller stores. If the current state of the space is any indication, it will likely be locked up tight, which is banned. Any security gates must be 90% transparent in order to allow the police to see in and the security lighting to flow out and illuminate the sidewalk.
Ron Tomson is a luxury men's business suits store, a great addition, but they had better diversify their models to have any luck in Newark!
Hahne's Building
Excavation is nearly complete for the 6-8 story addition to the Halsey Street side of the Hahne's Building
PSE&G Plaza Updates
I really wish this element would go! There is practically nothing more car oriented in a pedestrian environment than a chicane, a loop of pavement to drive your car right to the door. A constant stream of vehicles move in and out of them with little regard for pedestrians on the sidewalk and when they are full, the cars park ON the sidewalk.
Jimmy John's will open any day now in the recently extended building.
Rutger's Life Sciences Building is getting a 6 story twin and the greenhouses that once occupied the site are now finally gone.
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