Bayfront Development RFP
Jersey City, NJ
In 2019, Jersey City issued an RFP for Phase 1 of the Bayfront Redevelopment, a new neighborhood which will occupy 100 acres of brownfield site along the Hackensack River. The site was formerly occupied by a Honeywell manufacturing complex, which left the ground badly polluted and unbuildable. After an extensive remediation effort, the site has been readied for development. When completed, the neighborhood will include close to 10,000 housing units, retail and commercial space, a light rail link, and 25 acres of parkland.
The Bayfront Masterplan envisions a whole neighborhood, developed around two linear parks and a waterfront promenade along the Hackensack River. A total of 24 full-block parcels will eventually be developed, connected back to downtown Jersey City, via a light rail station at the northern end of the neighborhood. Four parcels at the southeast corner of the development were chosen as the first in neighborhood to be developed.
Each parcel in the proposed development is filled by a single building. Residential entrances are located at the corners of Grand Boulevard, with parking entrances on Kellogg and 4th Avenue.
In lieu of the donut-shaped massing, espoused by the RFP and Bayfront masterplan, we proposed to develop the RFP parcels with a double tower set atop a stepped podium. This pushes bulk towards the wider streets and improves light and air. Form and materiality differentiate the towers from the base.
Maximize floor area
Push bulk towards major streets
Step bulk away from minor streets
Differentiate base and tower
Reveal tower at corners
Articulate bulkheads at major corners
The separation of towers and shallow courtyard depths improves access to light and fresh air. The east to west orientation of the proposed towers increases energy performance and creates an optimized platform for solar arrays. The building’s bases are subdivided into 30-40 foot wide modules, expressed by a variety of details including brickwork, bay windows, balconies, and window groupings.
