While the monstrous Manhattan skyline doesn't have much competition in the immediate area, Jersey City's growing verticality is proving that its strong development scene is worth watching. The business, residential, and transport hub known as Journal Square is becoming home to some of the tallest buildings in the region. The Kushner Companies is at the forefront of the action in this transitioning neighbourhood, and YIMBY has revealed that two of their biggest developments recently underwent some big changes.

30 Journal Square, image by Morris Adjmi Architects via YIMBY

Originally slated to hold 40 to 50 storeys, the new plan for 30 Journal Square calls for a 72-storey tower and the preservation of the old Jersey Journal Building. The iconic red-lettered sign mounted to the roof would stay, and a retail-lined pedestrian passageway would cut through the site and lead to a rear 1,400-square-foot public plaza. The towering structure would contain 741 residential units, 96,602 square feet of office space, 15,030 square feet of retail, and 741 parking spaces. As noted in our sister community UrbanToronto.ca, the Morris Adjmi Architects-designed building shares a striking resemblance to Tableau Condominiums, as both feature similar floor plates and a grid facade. 

One Journal Square, image by Woods Bagot via YIMBY

Over at One Journal Square, a scheme for a pair of 50-storey buildings has experienced a growth spurt. Now proposed to contain 79 and 56 levels — the tallest building rising to 272 metres (892 feet) — the Woods Bagot-designed complex would hold 1,725 units. In a similar adoption of mixed-use principles, the development would also accommodate 126,937 square feet of office space, 88,754 square feet of retail, and 910 parking spaces. The project's public realm contribution includes a rebuild of Journal Square Plaza to ensure better pedestrian connectivity and urban atmosphere. The shorter tower is already under construction and should be completed by 2018, though no delivery date has yet been announced for the second phase. 

30 Hudson Street (left) and the upcoming 99 Hudson Street, image via Perkins Eastman

The two developments are seriously impressive additions to the Jersey City skyline, which has been dominated by the 238-metre Goldman Sachs Tower at 30 Hudson Street for over a decade. It will lose its foothold as New Jersey's tallest building when the upcoming score of projects soar skywards and a new tallest is crowned. After it broke ground earlier this year, the 274-metre 99 Hudson Street is expected to be the latest bearer of that coveted crown.

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