JERSEY CITY – The Planning Board has unanimously voted to recommend amending the McGinley Square East Rehabilitation Area plan to allow Saint Peter’s University to add 100 feet to its planned building across Montgomery Street from the Jersey City Armory—but there’s also a park in the plan.
The proposed building was approved at 175 feet tall and 17 stories. Now Saint Peter’s wants it to be 275 feet with 21 stories.
The residents in attendance were lopsidedly opposed to the greater height, but a few spoke in support, according to NJ.com.
The City Council will receive the board’s recommendation, and if the council agrees to the amendment, Saint Peter’s must provide a site plan to the planning board for approval.
The $220 million project includes 45,000 square feet of retail space, an organic supermarket, a bank and a fast-food restaurant, plus other stores. A 13-screen cinema is planned for the second floor. The upper floors would include apartments and a dormitory section. The 20th floor would house two penthouse restaurants facing Manhattan, and the top floor would have a rooftop swimming pool, Saint Peters officials said. The cost of building a four-story underground parking deck with over 700 parking spaces at a cost $40 million will be offset by additional apartments.
The proposed park at the intersection of Montgomery Street and Bergen Avenue would include a lawn, fountain in summer, ice skating rink in the winter.