Two stories of growth and longevity are making headlines in New Jersey—one rooted in Jersey City’s Journal Square, where skyscrapers and cultural landmarks are reshaping the skyline, and another along the Jersey Shore, where VRI Homes celebrates 45 years of serving generations of families looking to make the coast their home.
In Jersey City, Journal Square is in the midst of a transformation not seen in decades, with billions of dollars being invested in residential, retail, education, and cultural projects. Anchoring this surge is Kushner’s One Journal Square, a $1 billion development now welcoming residents and preparing to open retail space, including a new Target store. With 1,723 residential units and a public plaza partially open along Kennedy Boulevard, the project is redefining the area’s connection to the PATH station and reshaping the flow of the neighborhood.
Across the street, the historic Loew’s Jersey Theatre is undergoing a $72 million renovation, set to reopen under the direction of Devils Arena Entertainment. When the restoration is complete, the nearly century-old venue will reclaim its role as a cultural hub for performances, film, and live entertainment.
Nearby, 505 Summit Avenue is nearing completion. The 54-story tower by Panepinto Properties will bring 605 residences and ground-floor retail alongside a public plaza and parking garage. Scheduled to open in 2026, it is one of several high-rise projects redefining Journal Square’s skyline. Not far behind is Hudson County Community College’s Center for Student Success at 4 Enos Place. With a $96 million investment, the upcoming 11-story facility will house classrooms, student services, a black box theater, a regulation NCAA gym, and a healthcare lab, all set to open by the 2026–2027 school year.
Other major developments include Imperial Tower on Kennedy Boulevard, now redesigned as a 55-story mixed-use project with 542 residential units, 154 hotel rooms, and retail and restaurant space. Meanwhile, 96–110 Tonnelle Avenue has topped out with 196 residences and mixed retail, complete with office space and a rooftop pool deck. Singh Tower, a striking 27-story residential property with retail frontage, is nearing completion and aims to eventually connect to the future Bergen Arches greenway.
The Cottage, a 622-unit development by Nasser Freres, is close to opening, bringing new storefronts to Homestead Place. Across the street, Long Island-based Namdar Group is completing 35 Cottage Street, which will include 329 residences, a synagogue, preschool, and a dedicated party hall. Namdar has also begun work on 612 Pavonia Avenue, a high-rise financed with $358 million that will add 432 residences, retail, and office space to the corridor.
Together, these projects highlight Journal Square’s emergence as one of the most active development zones in the state, where housing, retail, and transit converge to create a modern urban center. With each crane and construction milestone, Jersey City’s heart beats louder, blending historic preservation with futuristic growth.
Meanwhile, down the shore, VRI Homes is celebrating 45 years of serving the Jersey Shore community. Founded as a family brokerage, VRI Homes has grown alongside the region’s evolving real estate market, helping generations of families find vacation properties, investment opportunities, and permanent homes along the coast. With decades of experience and local expertise, the brokerage has become a trusted name in coastal living, continuing to guide clients through one of the most competitive real estate markets in the state.
The juxtaposition of these stories—the rapid rise of new towers in Jersey City and the steady endurance of a family business at the Jersey Shore—captures the unique character of New Jersey’s economic landscape. It is a state where new development reshapes skylines, historic treasures are restored for future generations, and local businesses stand the test of time.
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