A significant transformation is underway on Jersey City’s West Side Avenue, as the Planning Board has approved a modern mixed-use development designed to revitalize a key corner of the neighborhood. This project, situated at the intersection of West Side Avenue and Duncan Avenue, is notable not only for its contemporary design but also for ensuring the future of a cherished local institution: Duncan Hardware.
Serving the community since 1949, Duncan Hardware is central to the new development. The long-running business will be relocated into an expanded space within the new complex, ensuring its legacy continues in a modernized setting. This thoughtful integration preserves the area’s history while embracing future growth.
The approved plan for the 772-788 West Side Avenue site features a five-story structure designed by Weckenmann Architecture. The project aims to serve as a bridge between the rising high-rises near Journal Square and the lower-rise neighborhood, offering a development that fits the community’s scale while providing modern amenities.
The development includes a residential component of 135 units, comprising a mix of studios, one-bedrooms, and two-bedrooms. Future residents will benefit from various amenities, including a lounge, fitness center, co-working space, and a rooftop deck. The project also incorporates essential infrastructure improvements, such as streetscape upgrades and a new stormwater management system.
One of the development’s most impactful features is a 2,000-square-foot retail space that will be leased to Jersey City for use as a community recreation center. This commitment to public space, along with an interior underground garage offering 45 public parking spaces, underscores the project’s focus on community benefits.
Current Duncan Hardware owner David Gottesfeld, who is partnering with Jersey City-based GK Property Holdings on the development, emphasized the goal of creating a true community center and activating the commercial corridor. The new development is expected to take approximately 18 months to complete after construction begins.
For those interested in the latest developments shaping neighborhoods and the evolving landscape of New Jersey communities, including this significant project on West Side Avenue, visit Explore New Jersey Real Estate.
As construction preparation begins, Duncan Hardware plans to temporarily relocate within the next six months, paving the way for the next chapter of this historic corner of Jersey City.
