Park Will Be Built For Use By Residents And Community

 

JERSEY CITY, N.J.  – CANCOlofts, an industrial-to-residential condominium loft building in Jersey City, celebrated the groundbreaking on Sept. 10 for CANCOpark, a public park that is being constructed across the street from CANCOlofts, at 50 Dey Street.

 CANCOpark, which will offer 15,000 square feet of green space, landscaping, seating and a walking path, is expected to be complete by the end of October. The park will be open for the enjoyment of CANCOlofts residents as well as residents of the neighborhood, contributing to the already appealing lifestyle of the unique property, formerly the American Can Co.

 

 “CANCOpark is a wonderful gift to Jersey City and a much-anticipated amenity for our residents,” said Jodi Stasse, director of marketing and sales at CANCOlofts. “It will be especially loved by those homeowners who don’t have their own private terraces. What can be more perfect than having a restful open green space right across the street from your home?”

About 50 were in attendance for the morning event, including Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy; Economic Development Corp. Director Dan Frohwirth; Department of Housing Economic Development and Commerce Director Carl S. Czaplicki; Stewart Osborne and Edward Baquero, representatives of the developer; in addition to sales associates, construction team members, residents and neighborhood business representatives.

Addressing these guests, Mayor Healy spoke about the vital role that CANCOlofts has played in revitalizing the former industrial neighborhood on the city’s west side and congratulated the CANCOlofts’ team on their achievement. Then he joined the ceremony’s participants in plunging their shovels into the ground and pitching out a small amount of dirt, symbolizing the official commencement of the park’s construction.

“CANCOpark will not only serve as an amenity to the residents of CANCOlofts – its green spaces will be open to all residents of Jersey City,” said Mayor Healy, who has been a strong supporter of the project since its inception.

Among those in attendance were a number of residents, who were delighted to see the park coming to fruition.

“This beautiful park will not only enhance the streetscape, but it will bring the Jersey City community to CANCOlofts, helping to foster social connections among the residents of the neighborhood, as well as serving as a peaceful neighborhood sanctuary,” said Michael Hirsch and Debbie Bennett, residents at CANCOlofts since early 2009, “We look forward to spending a lot of time at the park, as do all the residents here. It will also be a pleasure to share the space with our neighbors.”

 

CANCOlofts has announced that there is a limited opportunity to purchase the remaining homes in the CANCOparkview collection, which will overlook the park. The CANCOparkview collection includes two-bedroom, two-bathroom lofts, as well as one-, two- and three-bedroom penthouses ranging in size from 1,200 to 1,646 square feet.

 

In addition to the CANCOparkview collection, CANCOlofts offers one-bedroom homes starting in the low $300,000s, as well as “one bedroom plus” homes, the most popular design, which includes an area that many buyers use as an office, starting in the low $400,000s. A limited number of two-bedrooms are available starting in the mid-$400,000s.

 

All of the lofts feature oversized windows ranging in height from 11 to 14 feet that let in an abundance of light, and all have at least one column structure, some in the mushroom capped style on view in the building’s public spaces. Also included in all CANCOlofts’ homes are wide-plank white oak flooring, glass tile accents in the kitchens and bathrooms, engineered stone countertops and gleaming white-lacquered custom cabinetry.

 

CANCOlofts offers more than 10,000 square feet of luxury amenities, including CANCOchill, a resident’s lounge with billiard tables, card table, large-screen TVs, seating areas and a large service bar; and CANCOparty, a rentable space for private parties. Health and fitness facilities include CANCOsweat, a fitness center; CANCOpow, a boxing area; CANCOstretch, a floor exercise and yoga area; and CANCOhoops, a half basketball court.

 

Additional areas for work and amusement are CANCObiz, a business center; CANCOkids, a children’s play area; CANCOfun, a table game area; CANCOflicks, a movie theater equipped with surround sound, a 10-foot projection screen, reclining seats and an extensive collection of movies; CANCOpooch, an outdoor dog run adjoining an indoor pet spa; as well as outdoor picnic and sundeck areas CANCOgreen, CANCOgrill and CANCOrays.

 

Residents also have the convenience of other on-site amenities including a 24/7 concierge service and Zeytinia Gourmet Market, a unique combination of fresh country market, gourmet shop, informal eatery, coffee bar and food-bar take-out that allows CANCOlofts residents to shop within the building. Zeytinia, which also serves the surrounding neighborhood, features an internal building entrance for residents only.

 

Convenience is another factor that makes this property a top choice for prospective purchasers. For those seeking an easy commute to Manhattan, CANCOlofts offers immediate access to public transportation via a morning and evening shuttle service to and from the nearby Journal Square PATH station. In addition, the building is close to Interstate highways.

 

 

CANCOlofts’ Wells Fargo mortgage specialists are available on site every Saturday and Sunday to provide financial guidance on current mortgage rates and financing programs. The building has been approved by the FHA (Federal Housing Administration) and Fannie Mae, which means that qualified buyers can obtain mortgages with lower down payments and lower interest rates than are available through conventional mortgages. As well, CANCOlofts has been awarded a 30-year tax abatement, which translates to lower property taxes for residents.

 

For more information, visit the website at www.cancolofts.com, call the sales center at 201-876-8686 or e-mail info@cancolofts.com. The on-site sales center, located at 50 Dey St. in Jersey City, is open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Morning and evening hours are available by appointment.

 

About CANCOlofts

 

CANCOlofts is the dynamic industrial conversion and redevelopment of the former American Can Company factory, an industrial landmark that was the birthplace of the tab-topped beer can, into 202 single-floor and duplex-penthouse lofts. Located at 50 Dey St. in Jersey City, N.J., this architectural treasure now offers a chic, contemporary lifestyle complete with 10,000 square feet of luxurious amenities and indoor parking. For more information, visit the website at www.cancolofts.com or drop by the sales office at 50 Dey St. Sales office hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. seven days a week. For an appointment, please call 201-876-8686 or e-mail info@cancolofts.com.

 

The post CANCOlofts Condominium In Jersey City Celebrates Groundbreaking For CANCOpark first appeared on River View Observer.

By Tom Dwyer

With a population of over 600,000, open space in Hudson County is essential for the well-being of its residents. Open spaces like parks, and having waterfront access, help provide a ‘quality of life†for a community; an oasis of calm in an urban environment.

Presently, the Hudson County park system is comprised of eight county parks: Stephen R. Gregg Park and Mercer Park in Bayonne, Columbus Park in Hoboken, Lincoln Park and Lincoln Park West in Jersey City, James Braddock Park in North Bergen, Washington Park in Union City and Northern Jersey City, West Hudson Park in Harrison   and Laurel Hill Park in Secaucus. The largest and oldest park is Lincoln Park in Jersey City, created in 1905 with 277 acres.   Most of these parks have been in use for decades providing open space for special events, sports, parties, and being one with nature.

Tom McCann, the Director of Parks for Hudson County, knows better than anyone the day-to-day operation in keeping the parks up and running. “If you just take Lincoln  Park where on a good day we see two thousand people, and multiply that by 365 days, youâ€re looking at a million visitors to just that park alone. So that gives you an idea how popular our parks are.”

With one hundred and twenty-five employees, McCann runs a small army of trades people, his own forestry, mechanics, and over four-hundred pieces of equipment to keep the parks operating.  Over the past few years, Hudson County has invested close to fifteen million dollars on upgrading the tennis facilities in the Hudson County park system.  “Most people donâ€t know that we have the best public tennis system around in our parks. People come from all over to use our courts. And, we donâ€t charge,” McCann said.  They have also invested in new ball fields and track facilities. “With over fifty organizations including Hudson County schools using the park facilities for their sports†events, more open space in Hudson County is a priority,” McCann stated.

Over the past few years there has been a concerted effort by the county and the municipalities in Hudson County to insure more open space to keep up with the rate of development.   Three years ago, the voters of Hudson County voted for the Hudson County Open Space Trust to be created—a fund, created through taxes, to insure more open space in Hudson County.  The referendum was put on the ballot by County Executive Tom DeGise with the support of the Board of Chosen Freeholders and leading environmentalists, including New York/ New Jersey Baykeeper and the Hackensack Riverkeeper and was overwhelmingly approved by the voters.  In 2007 it raised approximately $5.8 million of which 50 percent is spent on open space acquisition, and the rest, by law, is spent on park improvements and historic preservation. Towns and non-governmental organizations with the support of their local municipalities are eligible to apply for funding through the Trust. The Trust is funded by a one cent per hundred dollars of assessed value levy on County property owners. It averages out to approximately $25 per property owner per year.

Hudson County Executive, Tom DeGise, has always been a big believer in the importance of open space and has made it one of the cornerstones of his county administration.  “As we all know, development is all over the place in Hudson County now—and I like the development—but with new people moving into Hudson County there needs to be a balance. In a very cramp place like Hudson County, we have a need, more so than many, to make sure we are balancing what we are doing and that there is ample room for all of us to recreate,” DeGise said.

When the open space initiative was approved by the voters, the county promised the people to try to double the size of open space in the county, and DeGise has done his best to keep that promise. “What I like most is to partner with a city or a town and put in a new ball field or parks. Thatâ€s really a good way for us to work together, and is what I like my administration to be about.”

On the drawing board are a number of projects that have received money for the development of new open space: a 3.2 million dollar acquisition grant for land in Jersey City. The money will be used to help develop the 13.6 acre Berry Lane Municipal Park off of Garfield Avenue. Another project is the $3, 150 million allocation for the acquisition of waterfront property in Secaucus to be used as open space and the development of a gazebo for the Childrenâ€s Reading Garden at Secaucus Library.

There was a time in the 1990â€s DeGise remembers, when many people were moving into Hudson County as a temporary stop.   But DeGise believes that has changed.

“If you travel down Washington Boulevard in Jersey City, or take a walk in Hoboken more people are raising families here, and sending their kids to the local schools. I believe that open space is vital to creating good neighborhoods where people want to raise families.”

Every few years there are rumors of a public golf course being built in Hudson County; which is the only county in New Jersey without a public golf course. But, hold the presses, itâ€s really about to happen! “I play golf myself,” DeGise said. “And itâ€s time for us to have a course here in Hudson County. We have enough county land near Lincoln Park West, where we can build a nine-hole golf course.” DeGise is now talking with the Department of Environmental Protection concerning regulations, and in a few weeks, should be able to finalize the blueprint of the future public course. DeGise is excited about the public golf course and believes the time is right. “Itâ€s great that the two  private courses have been built in the county and that Tiger Woods will be coming here to do  a tournament in a few years—but—it doesnâ€t fulfill the need of providing residents a place to play and also there are generations of kids who have never learned how to play the game.  We can run clinics and teach kids how to play the game—a game that can be played for a lifetime.”

 For more information on open space and county parks go to www.hudsoncountynj.org

The post Hudson County Open Space first appeared on River View Observer.