New 6-Story Apartment Building Approved on Pavonia Avenue in Journal Square

For the last few years, the man who owns the two-story house at 826 Pavonia Avenue has watched the neighborhood change. One by one, small homes have given way to construction fences. He’s been wondering when his block would get its turn.

Now he knows. On July 14, the Jersey City Planning Board gave the green light for Casa 824, a six-story, 35-unit apartment building set to rise on three lots between 822 and 826 Pavonia Avenue. The project means two vacant lots will finally be filled, and that two-story house—still standing for now—will be replaced by a six-story mid-rise.

“It’s not another gleaming tower,” says one longtime resident who lives two blocks away. “But it’s still a huge change for this street.”

< h3>The Details of Casa 824

The developer, 824 Pavonia LLC, registered out of a Manhattan apartment, plans to build 65 feet tall. That’s just one foot more than the 64 feet allowed by current zoning. The Planning Board granted a height variance for that extra foot, plus a second variance for the building’s rear yard setback. Those aren’t huge deviations, but they signal that the city is willing to bend its rules a little to get more housing built.

Inside, most of the apartments are one-bedrooms—29 of them. The remaining six are two-bedrooms. Every rear-facing unit will have a balcony. A 1,750-square-foot common roof deck will be open for all residents. No car parking is planned, but there will be 18 bike parking spots on the ground floor. The basement will hold storage and amenity space. The building’s exterior will mix brown brick and metal panels.

The architect is Emara Chobrial Architects, a firm that’s done work on similar mid-rise projects around the city.

< h3>How We Got Here

This stretch of Pavonia Avenue is mostly two- and three-story homes. But that’s changing, slowly. A few blocks away on Tonnelle Avenue, bigger buildings are already going up. Over the past five years, Journal Square has seen a wave of development focused on high-rises near the PATH station. Casa 824 is part of a second wave: mid-rise buildings filling in the side streets.

The approval wasn’t automatic. The developer needed those variances, and neighbors had a chance to speak. Planners had to weigh the benefits of new housing against the character of the existing block. In the end, they decided the project fit the neighborhood’s future.

< h3>What It Means for Hudson County Residents

For people who live in Journal Square, or who commute through it, this building is another sign that the area is becoming more urban. More people means more foot traffic for local businesses. It also means more competition for street parking—a sore spot for many residents. Without a single car parking space, every new resident who owns a car will need to find a spot on the street or pay for a garage.

Then there’s the affordability question. The developer isn’t required to set aside any units as affordable under city inclusionary zoning rules, because the project has fewer than 30 units that would trigger that requirement. So all 35 apartments will rent at market rate. For a one-bedroom in Journal Square, that could easily top $2,000 a month.

< p>But the bike parking is a small victory for people who’d rather pedal than drive. The roof deck is a nice amenity. And the project adds housing in a city that desperately needs it.

< h3>What People Are Saying

“We are pleased to see another mid-rise project moving forward in Journal Square,” said a spokesperson for the Jersey City Planning Board in a brief statement. “It adds to the diversity of housing options available.”

Some neighbors have mixed feelings. “I’m not against development, but I wish they’d include parking,” said a local homeowner who asked not to be named. “Every new building without parking makes it harder for those of us who’ve been here.”

< h3>What Comes Next

A groundbreaking date hasn’t been announced. The developer still needs to get building permits and finalize financing. But with planning approval secured, the project can move forward. Residents should expect to see site preparation and demolition of the existing house within the next year.

The two-story house at 826 Pavonia Avenue might be a familiar sight for now. But not for much longer.