3.2K 
After returning to his beloved hometown of Newark, New Jersey, for the ground breaking ceremony back in 2013, former NBA All Star and acting legend Shaquille O'Neill made local headlines upon the announcement of a large redevelopment project that was to be the first of its kind since 1962.
Touted at the time as a sign of new life for the long-beleaguered Newark city centre, the proposed 23-storey, 162-unit apartment tower, set to rise above the restored Art Deco facade of a defunct malting plant, was planned to open sometime last year, but the site remained dormant.
That is, until earlier this year, when crews once again returned to the site and began interior demolition work within the old structure in preparation for the planned facadectomy which will see the modern tower rise from the centre of the partially retained historic structure.
Today known as One Riverview (formerly 40 Rector Street), the project has returned to life, a sign of Newark's slow ascension to a liveable urban centre and NYC bedroom community.
The following images, captured over the last few weeks and months, highlight the extent to which the Art Deco-era malting plant is still standing, as interior demolition work continues ahead of any heavier demo work and new construction.
Viewed above, the fine masonry and Art Deco detail work will all be saved as part of the redevelopment process, which will retain the bulk of the original exterior walls. Below, a streetscape view from the other end of the building highlights the portion of the facade which will be incorporated into the base of One Riverview.
It is estimated that rental units will be leased at market rate, with studios beginning at $1,400 per month. The tower will provide residents with views of the adjacent Passaic River, and the building is conveniently located along the NJPAC light rail line, just a few blocks from Newark Penn Station with connections to Manhattan.
Once complete, One Riverview will be a beacon of hope amid a struggling urban context which in recent years has begun upon the slow process of renewal and revitalization. Around the corner from a recently opened Whole Foods, One Riverview will soon become another stepping stone on the path to Newark's eventual rebirth as a viable option for aspiring New Yorkers who have been pushed out of NYC proper's ever-escalating rental market.
SkyriseCities will be sure to return to this project as progress continues. For more information, check out the associated Database file and Forum thread, and as always, feel free to join the conversation in the comments section below.
