Jersey City's master-planned Newport community was created after the LeFrak Organization began redeveloping the lands of the former Erie Railroad's Pavonia Terminal in 1986. The 600-acre neighbourhood abutting the Hudson River contains over 4,000 residential units, six million square feet of office space, two million square feet of retail, and a wide selection of entertainment facilities. A piece of derelict land jutting out into the water will soon act as another appendage of this thriving community, as construction begins on the 43-storey apartment tower Ellipse.

Ellipse, image via Arquitectonica

Though the ground has now been broken, preparing the site for development proved to be a difficult task. Due to flood regulations passed after Superstorm Sandy devastated the region, the first floor of the building had to be raised to roughly 13 feet. The undertaking required 50,000 tons of dirt and added two percent to project costs.

Now that the site is reasonably protected from floodwaters, residents can look forward to living within the Arquitectonica-designed building, which will rise 135 metres or 444.5 feet. Containing studios, one-, two-, and three-bedroom units, as well as penthouse suites, the range of housing sizes offered is complemented by a 24,000-square-foot amenities package. An outdoor swimming pool, rooftop deck, fire pit, and fitness centre are all planned for the 376-unit building.

Ellipse, image via Arquitectonica

The strategic placement of the tower combined with its oval shape and floor-to-ceiling glass windows lends views of the Hudson River in three directions. On the ground, commercial space will be provided, though the specifications of those retail units have not yet been revealed. LeFrak is hoping the building will begin occupancy in 2017.

Aerial overview of the site, image retrieved from Google Maps

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