The Kislak Building has stood across from the First Baptist Peddie Memorial Church at 579 Broad Street, at the southwest corner of Central Avenue, in Downtown Newark since 1960, according to the National Park Service. The five-story building, known for the ‘Kislak’ signs posted on both sides of the building, is named for The Kislak Company, a regional real estate organization. It previously contained offices, but has recently been used for art exhibitions as part of events like Open Doors Newark.

Now, the building, which is currently owned by Eminent Investment Group, is slated for rehabilitation. Redmellon 579 Holdings, LLC is planning to convert the Kislak Building, which is within the Military Park Commons Historic District, into 48 residential rental units with 5,591 square feet of retail space on the ground floor. The developer, Redmellon Restoration and Development is based in New Orleans, Louisiana, and this is the company’s first project in Newark.

“I believe in the future of Downtown Newark”, company founder Neal Morris said in an interview with Jersey Digs, adding that he is excited about the nearby Hahne and Company redevelopment project, and that he is waiting to close on the Kislak Building. The project went before the Newark Landmarks and Historic Preservation Commission on November 2nd, and Morris expects it to go before the Newark Central Planning Board by the end of the year.

Although some buildings in the surrounding neighborhood, such as the Hahne’s Building and the New Jersey Bell Headquarters Building, are also being rehabilitated, some neighboring buildings still remain vacant. The 14-story Griffith Building, a few doors down the block, once was the headquarters of a piano company, but has been unused for decades. 595 and 601 Broad Street also are vacant, and no development plans have been announced.

[gmap height=”250px”]579 Broad St, Newark, NJ 07102[/gmap]

579 Broad St, Newark, NJ 07102