NJPAC Is Building A $150M 'Arts Neighborhood' In Newark

NEWARK, NJ — The New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) has announced plans to build a new “arts neighborhood” in Newark – including housing.

On Monday, the NJPAC unveiled what it called a “transformative redevelopment masterplan” for a real estate project on a portion of the 7.3 acres of developable land on the nonprofit’s riverfront campus.

“NJPAC has been a leader in the revitalization and redevelopment of downtown Newark,” said Gov. Phil Murphy said, praising the plan. “I am thrilled to see this next phase of development around one of New Jersey’s cultural linchpins, which will continue the tremendous progress being made in Newark while embracing its storied past.”

According to a news release, the $150 million project will include low-rise and high-rise multi-family buildings, retail establishments, restaurants and cultural spaces, plus about 15 new townhomes and condos.

Overall, the project will include about 350 rental residences, of which 80 percent will be set at the market rate, and 20 percent will be affordable housing, in addition to the townhomes and condos, which will be offered for sale.

The development will include a pedestrian-friendly extension of Mulberry Street, across what is now NJPAC’s Lot A parking area, connecting to Rector Street to the north. Meanwhile, a redesign of the nonprofit’s eastern facade will create an additional entryway to NJPAC.

The buildings on Mulberry Street will be limited to six stories to “achieve a more human scale,” according to Tim Lizura, an executive with NJPAC.

World-renowned restaurateur Marcus Samuelsson, whose Newark restaurant, Marcus B&P, has become a highlight of the city’s downtown dining scene, is also one of the partners. Fittingly, one of the centerpieces of the new neighborhood will be a food hall called Mulberry Market curated by Samuelsson, which will be similar to Boston’s Faneuil Hall or Philadelphia’s Reading Terminal Market – albeit on a smaller scale.

Developers expect to break ground on the project in 2022, with a completion date of 2024.

• See related article: Newark's $10M Mulberry Commons Will Empower City, Mayor Says

NJPAC has partnered with developers Center Street Owners, led by L+M Development Partners, to complete the project. Prudential Impact & Responsible Investments is also a partner in the project. Architectural firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill has been tapped for design work.

“NJPAC is not financing any of the vertical development; rather, it is providing the guiding vision for the new district, as well as a ground lease for the project,” spokespeople said. “NJPAC and Center Street Owners will be seeking financial support from the City of Newark and the New Jersey Economic Development Authority.

According to NJPAC, the project has been in the works for years:

“With early conceptual inspiration and financial support from Prudential Impact & Responsible Investments, the Arts Center undertook master-planning this redevelopment in 2019, working with RePlace Urban Studio, a multi-disciplinary agency devoted to rethinking the principles of urban design. The plan created by RePlace and the Arts Center ultimately coalesced into a single vision for NJPAC’s campus: an open, welcoming ‘public realm’ where the arts are activated and experienced both indoors and out. As in Newark’s past, multiple streets and alleys will crisscross the downtown area, connecting busy thoroughfares and letting in light and air.”

In tandem with this new development, NJPAC said it will also break ground in 2022 on its new Cooperman Family Arts Education and Community Center on Center and Mulberry Streets – further adding to the new arts neighborhood.

“Contributing to the ongoing revitalization of Newark’s downtown has always been central to the arts center’s mission as the city’s anchor cultural institution,” NJPAC president and CEO John Schreiber said.

“This is a purpose-designed community that reintroduces a neighborhood fabric lost to mega-block development during the 1950s and 1960s,” Schreiber added. “We are adding streets back to the city where people can live, walk, shop and dine.”

Other support for the project came from:

U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez – “This exciting venture will help further transform downtown Newark into a livable, walkable community where people can work, live and play. It leverages the neighborhood’s prime location, center for arts, culture and education, and access to mass transit. The new shops, restaurants, mixed housing, including about 70 affordable units, all anchored by a grand market, will make the area an attractive destination for residents and visitors alike.”

New Jersey Assemblywoman Eliana Pintor Marin – “With projects like Walker House and the Hahne & Co. Building, we’ve seen what a difference the influx of new residents and new businesses can make for Newark’s neighborhoods. This expansion of the arts center’s campus will contribute to the reactivation of the city’s streets, and offer Newarkers an affordable and welcoming new place to call home.”

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka – “The redevelopment of NJPAC’s campus will be a game-changing step forward for the evolution of Newark’s downtown, creating an ideal live-work-play environment in the city’s heart — and making more affordable housing available for families of all kinds.”

Ron Moelis, CEO and co-founder of L+M Development Partners – “We are proud to unveil the transformative plan for the arts center in collaboration with NJPAC, which will not only help to lift up the arts community in Newark, but also deliver much-needed mixed-income housing and opportunities for local businesses, retailers, and beloved New Jersey restaurants. This project is part of our longstanding investment in the revitalization of Newark and together with our public and private partners, we aim to continue addressing the critical needs of the city.”

Lata Reddy, senior vice president at Prudential Inclusive Solutions – “This thoughtful expansion of NJPAC’s arts and education district will further enliven the streets of Newark, with an array of offerings to engage residents and visitors alike. The arts and NJPAC are already a critical driver of growth, and these exciting additions will further our shared goal of making Newark a destination city.”

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