NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal was in downtown Newark to visit the tower he’s financially backing on Rector Street. WBGO’s Ang Santos reports.

Shaquille O’Neal already has a high-rise apartment building working in downtown Newark. The 7-foot 1 retired basketball star calls it ‘Shaq Tower.’

“In 1992, me and my mother were visiting some relatives and my mother said to me, ‘I remember when this city used to be beautiful. Somebody needs to come by and invest in this city and make it beautiful again.’ She gave me an elbow to the chest like I’m that somebody.”

O’Neal announced he’ll financially back another apartment project at 777 McCarter Highway near 2 Gateway Center.

“Three-hundred and fifty units, thirty-five stories. We’re going to be investing another $150 million in the city,” O’Neal said. “This will be known as the ‘House That Shaq Built’.

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy congratulates the retired basketball stars efforts to attract people to the city and says investment in Newark is good for the entire state.

“Yet another piece of evidence that this city is on the rise,” Murphy said. “Just look around at close by foot the things you can get to right now in Newark. Whether it’s NJPAC, Whole Foods, Seton Hall Law, Rutgers Newark, or NJIT. Whatever it might be, you can get out and walk from this very place.”

Shaq’s first high rise investment near the New Jersey Performing Arts Center is still in development.