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One of the country’s biggest hubs for shipping, rail and air, Newark also stands out as the most populous city in the state of New Jersey – and the second-largest city in the whole New York metro area, second only to the Big Apple itself. That means Newark offers a wide variety of venues for work, entertainment and culture.
The city is divided into five geographical “wards,” each with its own distinct personality – from the action-packed hustle of Downtown to the tree-lined suburban streets of Forest Hill to the vibrant cultural melting pot of the West Ward. In fact, the West Ward lies right at the heart of the city’s oldest center – right along the Hudson River, where the Connecticut Puritans landed back in 1666. Since then, the city has seen an explosion of industrial and population growth, attracting settlers from across the country, as well as thousands of immigrants from Europe, Central and South America, and other parts of the world. This diversity has given Newark a unique culture, which blends old European art and architecture with languages, art forms, foods and ways of life from all across the globe.
And as Newark’s real estate economy continues to grow and attract investors, the city’s skyline has also filled out with new structures – many of which blend Newark’s classical style of architecture with the latest urban design trends. With the help of Google Street View, we invite you on a tour through the past decade of Newark’s history, to see just how much the city has changed over the last ten years.
To switch between the old and new images, simply drag the arrow back-and-forth.
#1. 1 Washington Park at Rugers University – Newark, 494 Broad Street – Downtown Arts District
Year built: 2009, 2015
One of the tallest buildings in all Newark, this tower provides a home both for Rutgers University’s Business School, and for Amazon’s company Audible.com. Though it was originally built in 1983, this 17-floor building was bought by Fidelco Group in 2004 and completely renovated into Class A office space in 2005. In 2006, Rutgers University purchased the first 11 floors of the building for $31.5M and invested approx. $51.5M to expand and renovate the facility. The new business school – now including state-of-the-art classrooms and meeting spaces as well as a full-service, 130 seat cafe (1 Park Bistro) – opened its doors in 2009.
Right across the street sits the newly-renovated and expanded 494 Broad Street. This mixed-use development is part of a broader revitalization project that aims to bring new life to the North Broad Street area of Newark. The project involved the renovation of a long-vacant 6-story structure built in the 1960s and the addition of a 10-story parking garage; and more than 7,000 square feet of space housing a Cablevision call center.
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#2. 24 Jones, ShopRite Supermaket – Downtown
Year built: 2014, 2015
Located right in the heart of University Heights – just minutes’ walk away from local universities, the NJ Turnpike, and NJ Transit – 24 Jones offers studio-, one-, and two-bedroom residences designed with elegance in mind. The new ShopRite, meanwhile, officially opened in September 2015, with 67,000 square feet of food, drinks, and other treats – filling another spot within the much-anticipated Springfield Avenue Marketplace development.
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#3. Two Riverfront Center – Downtown
Year built: 2013
This 340,000-square-foot Class A office tower welcomed tech giant Panasonic in 2013 – and the corporation now occupies 10 floors of the 12-story building. A gleaming LEED Platinum-certified contemporary structure with views of Manhattan, Two Riverfront Center stands just one block from the Newark Penn Station transportation hub – and city officials hope it’ll act as a catalyst for new development and employment growth in this area of Downtown. Designed by architectural firm Gensler and developed by a joint venture of Matrix Development Group and SJP Properties, the new tower is part of the Riverfront Center complex which includes the 18-story One Riverfront – a.k.a. The Legal Center – and a remaining five acres for additional development.
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#4. Prudential Tower – Dowtown
Year built: 2015
The headquarters complex of Prudential Financial, this 650,000 square foot tower boasts 44 stories of Class A office space. Prudential announced the construction on the $444 million building in 2011, began construction in 2013, and the financial giant officially opened the tower’s doors for business in July 2015. The sleek modern building stands within easy walking distance of Downtown’s transit hub.
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#5. Teachers Village – 42 William – Downtown
Year built: 2015
One of Newark’s newest and most dynamic mixed-use community spaces, Teachers Village sits in the heart of Downtown, and features six new buildings – offering apartments, charter schools, day care centers, gyms, and plenty of shopping, dining and entertainment options. 42 William Street – also known as “Building 7” of Teachers Village – provides spacious three-bedroom apartments designed expressly for the teachers who work at the nearby schools and centers.
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#6. Teachers Village – 224 Maiden Lane, 35 Maiden Lane and 2303 Halsey Street – Downtown
Year built: 2013
Home to the Great Oaks Charter School and Chen Daycare, 24 Maiden Lane – also known as “Building 5” of Teachers Village – hosts 76 staff members and 340 students. 35 Maiden Lane – known as “Building 1” – offers 21 rental apartments, as well as a branch of Provident Bank, and lower-floor retail spaces. And 230 Halsey Street – known as “Building 2” – contains the Team and Discovery Charter Schools, as well as retail spaces.
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#7. Courtyard Newark Downtown – Downtown
Year built: 2012
Downtown Newark’s first new hotel in more than 40 years, the Courtyard Marriott on Broad Street opened its doors to the public in September 2012. The $35 million project includes 150 luxurious hotel rooms, as well as street-level storefronts offering 14,000 square feet of retail space. And with its location, just behind the Prudential Center on Broad Street, this hotel is ideally positioned to play host to Newark’s steady flow of business travelers.
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#8. 60 Nevada, Lincoln Park – Newark Central Business District – Check available units at 60 Nevada and Lincoln Park
Year built: 2015
The 75-unit affordable living complex at 60 Nevada opened in 2015, providing a new home for Newark residents who earn no more than 60 percent of the area median income. This LEED Platinum-certified building includes high-efficiency heating, Energy Star appliances, and many other green features. The nearby Lincoln Park apartments offer affordable one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments with controlled site access and off-street parking.
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#9. Route 21 Plaza – MT Pleasant/ Lower Broadway
Year built: 2014
A new commercial and retail hub in the heart of Lower Broadway, this busy plaza sits just minutes’ walk from businesses like Jersey BBQ Pit, 7-Eleven, El Meren Restaurant, Flex Chriopractic, and Less Chi Less Chiropractic. And its location just a few blocks from the Passaic Riverbank, near the McCarter Highway and Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, makes the plaza a frequent and convenient stop for anyone passing through the Mt. Pleasant area.
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#10. Newark Schools Stadium – Ampere
Year built: 2011
Home to some of Newark’s most famous sporting events since 1925 – including the 1928 National Women’s Olympic track and trials – this historic concrete structure was aging poorly in the early 2000s, so Newark Public Schools hired EI Associates, Architects & Engineers to renovate the 364,031 square foot stadium at a cost of $21 million. The project was completed in 2011, and today the stadium provides seating for 5,600 spectators, along with a host of modern facilities for players and fans.
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Newark may be one of the nation’s oldest cities – but it’s also one of the most diverse and adaptable cities you’ll find anywhere on the East Coast, as you can see from these new architectural landmarks. If we missed your favorite new building, jump into the comments section and let us know! And remember to send us photos via email and you might just see them on our next installment.
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Amalia Otet is an online content developer and creative writer for RENTCafé. She loves all things real estate and strives to live beautifully, one green step at a time.
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