While many major streets in Newark like Broad Street and Springfield Avenue have seen plenty of residential development proposals recently, far fewer projects have been proposed along South Orange Avenue in the Central and West Wards of the city. However, a Hoboken-based company is looking to begin construction in the near future on an apartment building on this busy thoroughfare that connects Downtown Newark with Vailsburg and the suburbs.

The upcoming building at 168-170 South Orange Avenue is expected to bring 24 units to the corner of Newton Street. There will be a mixture of one-bedroom and two-bedroom rental units in this five-story building, with parking being provided on the ground floor of the structure. No retail space will be included in this development though there could possibly be a rooftop deck.

The site, which is located across the street from the state-owned University Hospital campus, currently contains a three-story building that was once occupied by Little Joe’s Lounge. The premises are also not far from the ShopRite at the Springfield Avenue Marketplace complex, the New Community Corporation buildings, and the upcoming LA Fitness in the old Bergen Street Pathmark space.

Since the property is situated so close to the hospital as well as the Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Edwin LeBron of Schmitt Capital told Jersey Digs that the development is expected to target hospital employees along with graduate students.

Schmitt Capital is currently preparing to begin the demolition process, according to LeBron, who added that construction is expected to begin on the new building in around four months and last 12 to 14 months.

The plans for this project were heard and approved by the Newark Central Planning Board back in the spring of 2018.

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