Over the past decade, Bergen-Lafayette has become one of Jersey City’s most intriguing stories of transformation. Once a largely industrial district dotted with vacant lots and aging warehouses, this community is now a growing hub of residential and commercial development. As new projects rise and long-stalled visions slowly inch forward, Bergen-Lafayette is balancing its historic charm with a new wave of urban renewal.
Along the stretch of Johnston Avenue near the Liberty State Park Light Rail Station, progress is easy to see. Construction cranes and scaffolding mark the skyline, a visual reminder of Jersey City’s ongoing push to expand its residential footprint while integrating affordable housing options.
At 342 Johnston Avenue, a contemporary eight-story building designed by GRO Architects is nearing completion. The project will bring 55 new apartments to the area, nine of which will be designated as affordable housing. Amenities include 14 on-site parking spaces, a secure storage room for 55 bicycles, and a ground-floor commercial space designed for neighborhood-friendly retail.
Just across the way, The Haven at 337 Johnston Avenue is wrapping up construction under the guidance of Myneni Builders. This six-story mixed-use property will feature 33 modern residences — ranging from studios to three-bedroom layouts — with three of those units reserved as affordable homes. The Haven also adds nearly 2,200 square feet of commercial space, split between a retail storefront and a small café designed to enliven the street-level experience.
Farther east on Johnston Avenue, AM Development is finalizing its project at 306 Johnston, a five-story brick building that complements the area’s historic architecture. The property includes eight residences, 930 square feet of retail space, and a rooftop amenity area for residents. While only one unit will be affordable, the developer is contributing $10,000 to Jersey City’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund — another step toward keeping Bergen-Lafayette’s growth accessible to all.
Meanwhile, nearby construction at 17A–19 Ash Street marks another leap forward for the neighborhood. Originally proposed in 2018, the six-story building will soon deliver 21 new residential units to a site that sat empty for years.
A few blocks away, foundation work is now underway at 401 Whiton Street. Spearheaded by Vreeland Projects, this red-brick, 49-unit development will include a mix of studios, one-, and two-bedroom apartments, eight of which are designated as moderate-income housing. A unique addition to this project is a 400-square-foot emergency storage area designed for public use — a smart community investment intended to support local flood resilience and emergency response.
On a much larger scale, the ambitious Scholars Village near Liberty Science Center is nearing completion. This major development, led by Alpine Residential as part of the broader SciTech Scity initiative, is bringing 500 new housing units to a once-vacant 16-acre site. The project includes 110 studios, 223 one-bedrooms, 131 two-bedrooms, and 36 three-bedroom apartments, alongside new ground-floor retail. Scholars Village stands as one of Bergen-Lafayette’s most substantial housing additions to date — an anchor for the city’s long-term vision of a thriving, science-focused neighborhood.
Still, not every plan has moved forward as smoothly. The long-promised Edge Works research and innovation hub, part of the SciTech Scity campus, has yet to break ground despite a highly publicized 2021 groundbreaking ceremony. Construction of the adjacent Liberty Science High School has also been delayed, though Hudson County recently approved $73 million in funding to help the project progress.
A few blocks north, the Steel Tech redevelopment site at 417 Communipaw Avenue remains a question mark. Originally envisioned as a 17-story mixed-use tower with 420 apartments, a public recreation center, and adaptive reuse of the historic Steel Tech building, little visible work has occurred since approvals were granted over two years ago. However, recent demolition activity on Woodward Street may hint that the long-awaited transformation is still on the horizon.
Other sites in Bergen-Lafayette are facing their own slowdowns. At 125 Monitor Street, cleanup and remediation are finally underway following years of environmental and code issues. The site’s owners previously proposed turning the historic property into a mix of housing, retail, and community space, but so far, progress has been limited to environmental cleanup.
The expansive Canal Crossing property along Garfield Avenue — once a chromium production site in the mid-20th century — also remains dormant. Owned by Boraie Development, the parcel was slated for 1,256 apartments spread across seven new buildings, but the land has remained untouched since plans were submitted in 2020.
Despite these pauses, Bergen-Lafayette continues to evolve in remarkable ways. The community’s mix of completed and forthcoming developments illustrates both the challenges and potential of large-scale urban revitalization. From affordable housing initiatives to mixed-use designs that bring vibrancy to historic streets, the neighborhood represents a living example of Jersey City’s broader growth story.
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