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By Tom De Poto and David Giambusso/The Star-Ledger

NEWARK — Four months after announcing it would build a new skyscraper in downtown Newark, Prudential presented a "conceptual plan" to a city commission this week showing a second, even larger tower on two lots it owns on Broad Street.

Preliminary talks with city officials and Damon Rich, the city's urban designer, concerned construction of a 650,000-square-foot office tower on Broad Street across from Military Park, The insurance giant, Newark's largest and oldest corporation, asked the state Economic Development Authority in March for $250.8 million in tax credits for a single building.

But revised plans presented Wednesday to the Newark Landmarks and Historic Preservation Commission showed two office buildings at least 20-stories tall, increasing its silhouette on the city’s skyline.

Prudential spokesman Bob DeFillipo said plans still call for just one building.

"What we presented was a conceptual plan with the possibility that we might build a second building," DeFillipo said in an interview. "There is no plan right now to build a second building. What we gave them was a concept."

Renderings obtained by The Star-Ledger show a detailed, floor-by-floor schematic of the second tower, which would essentially create a two-block campus bordered by New and Cedar streets to the north and south and Broad and Halsey streets to the east and west.

David Abramson, chairman of the preservation commission, said Prudential representatives described three construction phases during Wednesday’s meeting. Phase One, he said, involved demolition of existing structures on the two sites and construction of the first tower.

"We asked for further clarification of the second building in Phase 2," Abramson said. "Phase 3, I don’t really know what it is. The more discussion we had about Phase 2 and Phase 3, the fuzzier it got."

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DeFillipo said the confusion may have arisen over the definition of the phases. He said the second phase, as described by city planners in the preliminary talks, involves "the interim condition of the parking lot, some retail space and green space" on the second site. "Phase 3 would be the second building, if and when we determine it’s necessary."

The commission is scheduled to meet again with Prudential officials on Aug. 8.

Phase One calls for construction of a 20-story, 313-foot tower on Broad Street between New and West Park streets. The neighboring site would be transformed into a small parking lot and open space. Plans call for construction to begin in the fall, with completion expected in 2014. The estimated cost of the single tower is $444 million.

If the second office tower were to be built, it would be larger — 21 stories and 370 feet tall, according to renderings by architectural firm Kohn Pederesen Fox Associates.

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The state Economic Development Authority last month voted to give Prudential a 10-year tax credit worth up to $210.8 million, less than the $250 million it originally requested. As part of the agreement, Prudential agreed to add 400 workers by 2016.

Caren Franzini, head of the EDA, said Prudential "has always talked about a second building. It would be great for them and Newark if they expand. But our discussions and the award were based on one building."

To make room for the new office center, several buildings, including Planet Wings, Newmark Drugs and the Wiss Building, would be demolished.

Construction on the Cedar and Broad street lot will mean the end of some of Newark’s landmark buildings, including the Wm. V Snyder Dry Goods Store, which became a Valu Plus shop, S. Klein on the Square and Schraft’s.

Prudential’s historic preservation consultant, Ulana Zakalak, told commissioners on Wednesday that those buildings "have reached a point of such deterioration that in some cases, they are losing their structural integrity."

Prudential plans to move workers from the Gateway Complex into its new skyscraper. Gateway landlords have filed objections, saying the move will have a "devastating financial impact."

Prudential’s global headquarters will remain in the landmark building at 751 Broad St. The insurance company employs about 7,435 people in New Jersey, including about 4,740 in Newark.

Prudential is scheduled to meet with the Newark planning board Aug. 13, but must get approval from the Preservation and Landmarks Commission first.

Editor's note: An earlier version of this story incorrectly identified Newark's urban designer as David Rich. The city's designer is Damon Rich.

Related coverage:

• Prudential plans to build new, $444M skyscraper in downtown Newark

• Prudential changes location of proposed new office tower to Broad Street, near Military Park

• Legislators approve NJPAC land transfer, Prudential remains unsure of building offices

• Prudential considering land near NJPAC for additional office space, sources say