Latest Endeavor Expands Revitalization Efforts to the Monmouth County City’s Downtown
Kushner officially broke ground Wednesday (March 27th, 2024) on a transformative $130 million mixed-use residential and retail development in Long Branch, NJ. The project is poised to infuse new vitality into the city’s Lower Broadway corridor, delivering 299 designer rental residences and upscale amenities, along with a highly anticipated SuperFresh grocery market and neighborhood café.
The long-awaited venture is set to be a lynchpin in connecting Lower Broadway to the city’s active beachfront, integrating with Kushner’s vibrant Pier Village oceanfront community including the Wave Resort & Spa.
Principals of Kushner hosted Long Branch Mayor John Pallone, Senator Vin Gopal (D-Monmouth), fellow council members, and other local dignitaries to mark the commencement of the multifaceted project.
Laurent Morali, CEO of Kushner, emphasized, “Long Branch has always represented a long-term investment for us. This new project reinforces our overarching vision of establishing a thriving year-round destination by introducing premium residential, retail, and neighborhood services that support the community throughout every season.”
Located at 118-119 Broadway and expertly designed by Minno + Wasko Architects and Planners, the development will comprise two four-story buildings with a mix of studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom homes. A rich array of upscale lifestyle amenities and social spaces spanning both properties will complement the residences. These include a 1,400-square-foot coworking lounge, fitness center, dedicated yoga room, golf simulator, rooftop terraces with ocean views, social lounges, pet spa, kids’ room, grilling stations, fire pits, and an outdoor pool.
Nicole Kushner Meyer, President of Kushner, remarked “This development represents a significant stride in breathing new life into the downtown while underscoring Kushner’s unwavering commitment to the Long Branch community. Our focus extends beyond residential development, aiming to transform this underutilized land into new uses that will serve as an extension of Pier Village, including a supermarket catering to the year-round community.”
Although efforts to revitalize Lower Broadway have been in the works for years as part of the City’s Redevelopment Plan, Kushner’s involvement began in September 2022, diligently working with municipal agencies to advance the project.
Michael Sommer, Chief Development Officer of Kushner, expressed excitement, stating, “We’re thrilled to expand our investment in the City of Long Branch and proud to have successfully propelled this critical project forward. The active involvement and guidance from Mayor John Pallone, the City Council, the Planning Board, the City Attorney, and the City Business Administrator were all instrumental, and we look forward to delivering another valuable asset to the community.”
State Sen. Vin Gopal praised the Kushner team for stepping up to revitalize a neighborhood that hasn’t shared in the investments made along the oceanfront.
“This has been a long time coming,” said Sen. Gopal. “This property, as it gets going, is going to play an incredible role in the rest of Long Branch. We’ve seen other communities over the last 20 years — Asbury Park, Red Bank — really progress and this has been the piece to really unite Long Branch and make sure we can do that. The properties all across here, their values are going to go up because of this.”
Kushner’s latest endeavor in Long Branch reflects the company’s ongoing investment in the city’s positive growth. Since acquiring Pier Village in 2014, Kushner has continually expanded its offerings, which now encompasses 500 luxury apartments, 133,000 square feet of retail and two hotels.
This groundbreaking marks what promises to be an active year for Kushner in Monmouth County. The developer is actively redeveloping the Monmouth Mall in Eatontown into what is now known as Monmouth Square, reimagining it as a modern town center with 1,000 residential units, 900,000 square feet of retail, an active public green and pedestrian pathways.
Later this year, Kushner will break ground on a new residential development in Colts Neck, featuring 15 three-story buildings with 360 residences and upscale amenities.
In Northern New Jersey, Kushner will launch leasing this spring at two new luxury rental communities developed on former vacant office building sites, including a community of 307 residences for those 55+ and better in Fair Lawn and a community of 265 residences in East Hanover.
Additionally, Kushner recently topped out its transformative One Journal Square project in Jersey City, adjacent to the PATH Station. The nearly $1 billion mixed-use development, one of the largest in the region, will create over 2 million square feet of residential, retail, amenities, parking, and open space in the heart of the historic and well-connected Journal Square neighborhood.
About Kushner
Kushner is a multi-generational real estate development and management firm headquartered in New York City. The company’s diverse portfolio encompasses residential, commercial, retail and hospitality with approximately 10,000 apartments under development and over 25,000 apartments under ownership across 14 states. Kushner’s integrated team touches upon every step of the development and management process at its properties, creating an unparalleled and seamless experience for its tenants, team members, and partners.
