State-of-the-art mixed-use building will anchor newly announced Mulberry Commons Park, attract business to increasingly dynamic downtown
Edison Properties, a privately owned real estate holding and development company, today hosted Mayor Ras J. Baraka at a ceremony to celebrate the start of construction at Ironside Newark, a transformative 21st century workplace at the heart of Newark’s revitalized downtown.
Located at the corner of Edison Place and McCarter Highway (Route 21), Ironside Newark will transform a historic downtown warehouse into a state-of-the art commercial and retail destination that provides unparalleled access to the region’s foremost mass transit hub, an incomparable dark fiber network, arts, entertainment and the outdoors, all amid a thriving urban landscape.
Designed by the renowned New York City-based design and architecture firm Perkins Eastman, the building will include 456,000 square feet of modern loft-style and penthouse offices across six upper floors, with access to a rooftop featuring green space and views of both Newark and Manhattan.
In addition, two floors of retail and restaurant space will front directly on the newly announced Mulberry Commons Park, providing a direct link between Ironside Newark and Newark Penn Station, Prudential Center arena, the historic Ironbound neighborhood and the rest of an increasingly vibrant downtown.
The Newmark Grubb Knight Frank team of Timothy Greiner, Frank Recine, Jamie Ragucci, Harrison Russell and Andrew Sachs is serving as the exclusive leasing agent for Ironside Newark’s office space. Marta Person Villa of JLL has been named the exclusive leasing agent for the building’s retail space. Hollister Construction Services will serve as the sole construction manager on the project.
“Mulberry Commons will serve as a catalyst for Newark’s continued transformation into a dynamic, walkable community, and Ironside Newark is an important component of activating this critical section of our downtown,” said Baraka. “The redevelopment of this building from a vacant warehouse into a cutting-edge commercial and retail destination, equipped with high-speed internet via our network of dark fiber optic cable, is a testament to the progress occurring throughout downtown and beyond. By attracting 21st century jobs and businesses to the area, Ironside Newark and Edison Properties are helping push Newark forward on its path to becoming a 24/7 city.”
Ironside Newark’s prime location - just 20 minutes from Manhattan by train – lies in the center of the Northeast’s largest transit hub, providing workers with easy access to a host of transportation options, including PATH, NJ Transit and Amtrak trains, buses, a light rail and Newark Liberty International Airport.
Businesses at Ironside Newark will be able to access affordable high-speed internet service via an unrivaled network of fiber optic cable that runs beneath Newark’s streets – a unique opportunity that makes the building an ideal setting for creative and technology-driven companies. The building is pursuing a Wired Certified Platinum designation from WiredScore, reflecting the property's superior connectivity and infrastructure.
“Ironside Newark represents a truly unique opportunity in today’s market – a state-of-the-art office and retail destination with built-in access to some of the country’s fastest internet, set in a vibrant downtown just steps from the region’s leading transportation network,” said Michael Sommer, executive vice president of development at Edison Properties. “Since Edison’s beginnings in Newark more than 60 years ago, the company has remained deeply committed to the city and its success. We could not be happier to announce this groundbreaking project.“
Construction on the building is expected to last approximately 18 months, with opening tentatively scheduled for the fall of 2018. Prospective tenants and others can learn more by visiting IronsideNewark.com.
Based in Newark, Edison Properties has a significant track record developing underutilized properties around the New York City metro area. Examples include the Hippodrome office building in Midtown Manhattan, Workspace Offices in Upper and Lower Manhattan, and The Ludlow apartment building in the city’s Lower East Side.
About Edison Properties
Edison Properties has been a real estate leader for more than 60 years. Starting in 1956 with one parking lot in Newark, N.J., the company is best known for operating businesses in specialized segments of real estate, including parking, mini storage and flexible workspaces. In addition, Edison Properties owns and operates a 625,000-square foot, Class A office building, which includes a 640-space Edison ParkFast parking garage. Edison also constructed and manages The Ludlow, a 243-unit, 23-story apartment building in Manhattan. Edison has grown steadily and conservatively since its founding and now owns over 3 million square feet of property in Manhattan and several million square feet of land elsewhere in New York, New Jersey and Maryland. In all of its activities, Edison employs approximately 600 people. For more information on Edison Properties, visit www.edisonproperties.com .
