Friday, June 30, 2017

Photos of the Day 6/30/17


These photos show The Robert F. Ballantine Gateway to Newark's Branch Brook Park.



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Thursday, June 29, 2017

New Coffee Shop Coming to South Orange


South Orange, New Jersey:
A new coffee business will open its doors in South Orange.

The Elitist Coffee is coming to 132 South Orange Avenue in Downtown South Orange, near the corner of Prospect Street. It will be the second new independent coffee shop to open in the village this year, following the South Orange Coffee Shop and Deli on Valley Street. The website for The Elitist Coffee states that this 'specialty coffee house' will be open daily, and that in addition to eight flavors of coffee blends, a variety of pastries such as quinoa banana bread and croissants will be served. The space was previously occupied by M&A Convenience Store.

Plus, minutes from the South Orange Village Center Alliance's May meeting show that the owner of Upper Montclair's Jackie's Grillette is negotiating for a corner space in the building, which is owned by the Bay Parkway Partnership, and that a Seton Hall University student is seeking to open a location of Insomnia Cookies in the building as well.

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Photo of the Day 6/29/17


This photo shows a view of Market Street buildings and the Prudential Center in Downtown Newark.

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Wednesday, June 28, 2017

Photo of the Day 6/28/17


This photo shows a westward view of University Heights, East Orange, West Orange, and South Orange from Eleven80 in Newark.

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Tuesday, June 27, 2017

Photo of the Day 6/27/17


This photo shows the view of Washington Park from Rutgers-Newark's 15 Washington Street building.

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Monday, June 26, 2017

Photo of the Day 6/26/17


This photo shows the former barber shop at the New Jersey Bell Headquarters Building in Downtown Newark, which is being converted into apartments and retail space.

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Sunday, June 25, 2017

Photo of the Day 6/25/17


This photo shows Saint Benedict's Preparatory School in Newark.

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Saturday, June 24, 2017

Photo of the Day 6/24/17


This photo shows the former RKO Proctor's Theater on Market Street in Newark.

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Friday, June 23, 2017

Photo of the Day 6/23/17


This photo shows the historic original Saint Michael's Hospital building in University Heights, Newark.

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Thursday, June 22, 2017

Commercial Spaces Planned for East Orange Train Station


East Orange, New Jersey: You could soon be able to shop before or after riding a train at a local station.

East Orange Mayor Lester E. Taylor III has signed a resolution that authorizes "the City of East Orange to negotiate a lease agreement with NJ TRANSIT to construct, maintain, and operate commercial spaces inside the East Orange Train Station," located at 65 City Hall Plaza. According to the resolution, in September 2016, the City first sought to enter a lease agreement with the transportation agency, which has "indicated that it is prepared to enter into discussions with regard to the issuance of a license agreement to the City."

The long vacant station building, which is situated across from the site of the upcoming Hue Lofts development, dates to when the train tracks were elevated between 1921 and 1923, according to the Urban Essex Coalition for Smart Growth, which has called for an adaptive reuse of the structure.

The East Orange Train Station is one of two stops on the Morris & Lines Lines in the city, with the other being the Brick Church Station further west.

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Photo of the Day 6/22/17


This photo shows the Sydenham House on Old Road to Bloomfield, the oldest house in Newark.

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Wednesday, June 21, 2017

Photo of the Day 6/21/17


This photo shows Newark's James Street Commons Historic District.

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Tuesday, June 20, 2017

Photo of the Day 6/20/17


This photo shows a view of Newark Liberty International Airport, the Goethals Bridge, the Ironbound, and Northern State Prison from Eleven80.

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Monday, June 19, 2017

New After-School Program Planned for Newark's Central Ward


Newark, New Jersey: There could soon be a new place for Newark children to go after the bell rings at the end of the school day.

City records show that "an after school program for at-risk inner-city youth" is planned for 483 15th Avenue, between South 9th Street and South 10th Street, in Newark's Central Ward. The two-story building at the site has been vacant for over a decade, and is currently owned by the City. The proposal for the structure by the Newark Department of Economic and Housing Development calls for selling it to the Orange-based FHAK 2.0 Academy, also known as Facts Hang Around Knowledge 2.0 Academy, for $5,000. The academy, which currently operates out of The Clubhouse on Spruce Street, was founded by Fakhair Spence, and offers a variety of programs for students in elementary school. 

The proposal is on the agenda for the Newark Municipal Council's regular meeting this Wednesday, June 21st at 6:30pm at City Hall.

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Photo of the Day 6/19/17


This photo was taken at Branch Brook Park in Forest Hill, Newark.

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Sunday, June 18, 2017

Photo of the Day 6/18/17


This photo shows the Lefcourt Newark Building, now known as Eleven80.

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Saturday, June 17, 2017

Photo of the Day 6/17/17


This photo shows Newark Broad Street Station with the Empire State Building in Manhattan in the distance.

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Friday, June 16, 2017

Photo of the Day 6/16/17


This photo shows a view of the First Watchung Mountain from Downtown Newark, including the Claridge Houses in Verona and Kip's Castle. Churches in Montclair Center can also be seen in the distance.

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Thursday, June 15, 2017

Photo of the Day 6/15/17


This photo shows Branch Brook Park in Newark's North Ward.

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Wednesday, June 14, 2017

Construction Underway for Honors Living-Learning Community in Downtown Newark


Newark, New Jersey: Just a decade ago, Halsey Street in Downtown Newark was a very different place. Lined with the abandoned S. Klein on the Square department store, boarded up vacant buildings, and private parking lots surrounded by barbed wire fences, a few small stretches of businesses were the only sign of commerce on the block. The only indication that Rutgers University’s Newark campus stood nearby was a sign for its gated parking lot between Linden and New Streets along the corridor and the view of the Law School clock tower in the distance.

Today, as Downtown Newark sees the most new development and rehabilitation projects since the early 20th century, Halsey Street is at the center of attention. From the Teachers Village community and the Halston Lofts project to the new Prudential tower, the Shoppes on Broad, and the Hahne & Company Building revitalization, the block is the “frontier of the new Newark,” as described by the Newest Americans project.
While Rutgers University-Newark’s sole presence on the street used to be the eastern entrance to a faculty parking lot, a decade later, the school’s Express Newark facility in the Hahne & Company Building brings students and Newarkers together to take part in the arts. Now, Rutgers University-Newark is beginning construction at the site of that parking lot on another development that is expected to be transformative for not only Halsey Street, but for campus-community relations in the city.
The institution is partnering with the RBH Group to create the new 320,000 square foot Honors Living-Learning Community (HLLC) building, which is expected to be completed in the spring of 2018. The $70 million facility will include workspaces, classrooms, art spaces, conference rooms, an interfaith prayer space, and bedrooms for students in the HLLC.
The program is described by the university as “a transformative college access and success program that fosters the academic, social, and personal development of talented students from all walks of life with a desire to make a difference in their communities and beyond.” Although the program began with only 30 students in 2015, each class is expected to have 100 students beginning next year.
The new building will stretch south to north from Linden to New Streets and east to west from Halsey to Washington Streets, and will include a parking garage. According to the university, the development is expected to “honor and respect the historic architectural vocabulary of the James Street Commons Historic District” and “balance socialization and privacy for uniquely diverse students and cultures.”
Renderings for the project, which is being designed by Perkins Eastman, were recently released by Hudson Real Estate. The documents show that the building will be five stories tall, and will include 25,287 square feet of retail on the first floor of all four sides of the building, with 13 spaces in total. In addition, the HLLC facility is also slated to include a public piazza that will be designed by the Manhattan-based ICRAVE studio.
Just as projects like Teachers Village and the new Prudential tower spawned increasing development on Halsey Street, it is likely that the new HLLC will cause similar changes on the Washington Street corridor and other areas further west of Downtown Newark.

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Photo of the Day 6/14/17


This mural, located across from the Newark Broad Street Station and the former Westinghouse lot, greets visitors to the city.

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Tuesday, June 13, 2017

The Goddard School Could Come to Millburn


Millburn, New Jersey: A new child care center could be constructed in Millburn.

According to a legal notice, Millburn Kids, LLC is planning to open the center at 161 Millburn Avenue, between Locust Avenue and Ridgewood Road, across from Congregation B'nai Israel. The developer is seeking Preliminary and Final Site Plan Approval with variances for yard width, fence height, and wall height for the facility, which would be a location of The Goddard School that would include an outside playground. The Goddard School is a nationwide chain that currently has another Essex County location in Fairfield. The Millburn site currently contains a one story building previously home to Summit Medical Group.

The Millburn Planning Board will hear the proposal during its meeting on Wednesday, June 21st at 7:30pm at Millburn Town Hall, located at 375 Millburn Avenue.

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Photo of the Day 6/13/17


Two memorials are situated in the lobby of the New Jersey Bell Headquarters Building in Downtown Newark, which is being converted into a mixed-use community.

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Monday, June 12, 2017

Photo of the Day 6/12/17


The Unity Beef Sausage Company was once located in this University Avenue building in Newark.

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Sunday, June 11, 2017

Photo of the Day 6/11/17


This photo shows a 'ghost sign' for a shoe store on Halsey Street in Downtown Newark.

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Saturday, June 10, 2017

Photo of the Day 6/10/17


As Essex County Place first reported in October, the Newark Museum is in the process of once again making the front entrance on Washington Street the main entrance to the building.

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Friday, June 9, 2017

Another 7-Eleven Coming to Downtown Newark


Newark, New Jersey: Another convenience store could be opening in Downtown Newark.

A 7-Eleven location is planned for 109-135 Market Street, between Washington and Halsey Streets, in the Central Ward. According to records from the Newark Landmarks and Historic Preservation Commission, building owner Market Halsey Urban Renewal, LLC applied for City approval to install a sign and awnings for the new store, which would be located within the former Bamberger's Department Store/Macy's building. Although it is not clear yet which space 7-Eleven will occupy, the spaces previously occupied by Blue Jeans II, Urban Terrain, and Rite Aid are currently vacant. Plus, the Commission records show that the Family Dollar in the building is slated to be converted into a Dollar Express store.

7-Eleven opened its first Downtown Newark location in 2015 at the Kinney Building on Broad Street.

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-File Photo-

Photo of the Day 6/9/17


This former fire house is located on University Avenue in Newark.

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Thursday, June 8, 2017

Photo of the Day 6/8/17


This photo shows the 1784 Lyons Farm Schoolhouse on the grounds of the Newark Museum.

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Wednesday, June 7, 2017

Photo of the Day 6/7/17


This photo shows a view of two of Prudential's office buildings and the Gibraltar Building from Eleven80 in Downtown Newark.

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Tuesday, June 6, 2017

Photo of the Day 6/6/17


North 5th Street, which serves as the bus station at the Branch Brook Park Newark Light Rail stop, remains a cobblestone street.

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Monday, June 5, 2017

Photo of the Day 6/5/17


The former Roche complex in Belleville is slated to be converted into the Park 11 complex, which will include a 125-room hotel.

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Sunday, June 4, 2017

Photo of the Day 6/4/17


This photo shows Newark Penn Station.

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Saturday, June 3, 2017

Photo of the Day 6/3/17


This mural is located at the Bloomfield Avenue Station on the Newark Light Rail.

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Friday, June 2, 2017

Photo of the Day 6/2/17


This photo was taken outside of the Sydenham House on Old Road to Bloomfield in Newark's North Ward, the oldest building in the city.

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Thursday, June 1, 2017

Photo of the Day 6/1/17


Construction is beginning on the new Rutgers Honors Living-Learning Community along Halsey and Washington Streets in Downtown Newark.

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