Newark's Skyline Evolution Continues

The Newark skyline continues its dramatic transformation as the 25-story mixed-use development at 930 McCarter Highway officially reaches its full structural height of 289 feet. This architectural milestone, achieved in February 2025, represents more than just another tall building—it symbolizes the continued renaissance of New Jersey's largest city and its evolution into a premier destination for urban living.

Recent coverage of the project's progress highlights how the development stands as a testament to Newark's ambitious revitalization strategy, which leverages transit-oriented development, mixed-income housing, and waterfront activation to create vibrant, inclusive urban neighborhoods.

The L-shaped glass tower, developed by Boraie Development in partnership with the Elizabeth Development Company, transforms what was once a vacant, city-owned lot into a striking vertical community that will soon house hundreds of residents. With 333 apartments—including 68 affordable units—and approximately 3,750 square feet of ground-floor retail space, 930 McCarter Highway represents a significant addition to Newark's housing inventory and commercial landscape.

Reimagining Newark's Relationship with the Passaic

For much of its history, Newark's waterfront served primarily industrial purposes, with factories, warehouses, and shipping facilities lining the Passaic River. As manufacturing declined in the mid-20th century, many of these sites fell vacant or underutilized, creating both challenges and opportunities for the city.

The property at 930 McCarter Highway lies within Newark's River Public Access & Redevelopment Plan area—a special zoning district created to transform the Passaic riverfront into a vibrant mixed-use corridor with enhanced public accessibility. This strategic framework has guided the project's design from inception, ensuring that private development coexists harmoniously with public space improvements.

Significantly, a portion of the 1.1-acre site has been reserved for the expansion of Riverfront Park, creating additional green space and recreational opportunities along the Passaic. Early project details released by Jersey Digs outlined this dual approach: while the western portion would accommodate the residential tower, the eastern section would extend the existing riverfront walkway, enhancing public access to the waterfront.

This balanced approach reflects Newark's commitment to leveraging development as a tool for creating public amenities—not just housing units and commercial space, but also parks, walkways, and gathering places that benefit the entire community. As the city continues to reclaim its waterfront, projects like 930 McCarter Highway demonstrate how thoughtful urban planning can reconnect residents with natural assets that were previously inaccessible.

Architectural Design and Building Features

The tower's contemporary design by MHS Architects creates a distinctive presence on Newark's evolving skyline. The glass façade provides expansive views of the Passaic River and Manhattan skyline, while the building's L-shaped configuration maximizes these vistas while creating visual interest from multiple vantage points.

Rising to 289 feet, the building incorporates setbacks and terraces that break up its mass while providing outdoor spaces for residents. These architectural elements create a dynamic interplay of light and shadow that changes throughout the day, ensuring the building reads differently depending on time, weather, and viewing angle.

Recent construction photos shared on social media reveal the tower's elegant proportions and clean lines as it approaches completion. The concrete structural frame has been fully realized, with crews now focused on installing the glass curtain wall and completing interior buildouts ahead of the anticipated 2026 opening.

When completed, the high-rise will feature:

• 333 residential units ranging from studios to two-bedroom apartments
• A diverse mix of apartment sizes and layouts to accommodate various household types
• Approximately 3,750 square feet of street-level retail space
• A four-level parking structure with 240 spaces for residents and visitors
• Amenity spaces including fitness facilities, co-working areas, and resident lounges
• Outdoor terraces providing panoramic views of the Manhattan skyline and Passaic River
• Direct access to the expanded Riverfront Park and public waterfront walkway

Interior spaces have been designed with a focus on natural light, open floor plans, and flexible arrangements that respond to contemporary lifestyle preferences. The common areas emphasize community connection, incorporating spaces where residents can work, socialize, and relax without leaving the building—an increasingly important consideration in residential design.

Mixed-Income Housing and Community Benefits

A distinguishing feature of 930 McCarter Highway is its mixed-income approach to housing. While 265 units will be offered at market rates, 68 apartments (approximately 20% of the total) will be designated as affordable housing, ensuring the development serves households across various income levels.

This inclusive approach aligns with Newark's commitment to equitable development—creating neighborhoods where residents of different backgrounds and economic circumstances can live side by side. The affordable component helps address Newark's housing needs while maintaining the economic diversity that has long characterized the city.

Reporting by Real Estate New Jersey detailed how the project secured important financial backing that enabled this mixed-income approach. The development represents a significant investment in Newark's future, demonstrating confidence in the city's continued growth trajectory.

Beyond housing, the project delivers additional community benefits through its public space components and economic impacts. The extension of Riverfront Park creates new recreational opportunities for all Newark residents, while the ground-floor retail spaces will provide services and amenities that benefit the broader neighborhood.

During construction, the project has generated hundreds of jobs, with many positions filled by local residents. Once completed, 930 McCarter will create permanent employment opportunities in property management, maintenance, security, and retail operations, contributing to Newark's economic revitalization.

Transit-Oriented Living in a Connected City

Perhaps 930 McCarter Highway's most compelling attribute is its exceptional transit connectivity. The site sits just steps from the NJPAC/Center Street light rail station and within a short walk of Newark Penn Station—a major transportation hub offering direct service to Manhattan via PATH trains, regional access via NJ Transit commuter rail, and intercity connections through Amtrak.

This strategic location enables a car-optional lifestyle that appeals to environmentally conscious residents and those seeking to avoid the costs and complications of urban vehicle ownership. While the development includes parking facilities, its primary orientation is toward transit users, pedestrians, and cyclists—the multi-modal urbanites who increasingly drive housing demand in transit-rich locations.

The commute from 930 McCarter to Manhattan's World Trade Center takes approximately 20 minutes via PATH train, making the location competitive with many parts of Brooklyn and Queens in terms of travel time to Manhattan job centers. This accessibility, combined with Newark's relatively affordable housing costs, creates a compelling value proposition for professionals working throughout the New York metropolitan area.

As companies increasingly embrace hybrid work models, locations like 930 McCarter become even more attractive—offering urban amenities and transit accessibility for in-office days, while providing comfortable, amenity-rich living spaces for remote work. The building's co-working areas and high-speed internet infrastructure support this evolving relationship between home and workplace.

Catalyst for Neighborhood Transformation

The 930 McCarter Highway development functions as more than just a residential address—it serves as a catalyst for broader neighborhood transformation. By introducing hundreds of new residents to this section of downtown Newark, the project creates demand for retail, dining, and services that benefit the entire district.

Market indicators strongly validate this development approach. Downtown Newark's residential occupancy rates consistently exceed 95%, while retail occupancy reached 91.4% in early 2024. These figures demonstrate the strong demand for both housing and commercial space in Newark's urban core.

Local business owners anticipate increased foot traffic and consumer spending as 930 McCarter and similar developments fill with residents. The growing residential density supports a more robust retail ecosystem, creating opportunities for specialty shops, dining concepts, and service providers that require a critical mass of nearby customers.

The project's proximity to existing cultural assets—including the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, Newark Museum of Art, and Prudential Center arena—creates natural synergies between residential life and cultural engagement. These institutions benefit from having more patrons living within walking distance, while residents enjoy convenient access to world-class performances, exhibitions, and events.

This symbiotic relationship between housing, retail, and cultural amenities characterizes successful urban neighborhoods worldwide. As Newark continues adding residential density to its downtown, these relationships will strengthen, creating the vibrant street life that distinguishes thriving city districts.

Part of Newark's Broader Renaissance

The 930 McCarter Highway project exists within the context of an unprecedented wave of development reshaping downtown Newark. Nearby, the New Jersey Performing Arts Center is implementing a $336 million campus expansion that will create an arts district featuring additional residential units, cultural venues, restaurants, and public spaces.

Throughout downtown, multiple residential and mixed-use projects are underway or recently completed, collectively adding thousands of new housing units to the market. This coordinated growth is creating the critical mass needed to support a thriving urban ecosystem with diverse amenities and services.

A few blocks south, Boraie Development recently completed the 33-story "Iconiq 777" luxury tower, adding 370 apartments to the downtown market. Other developments include the Halo Tower, Shaq Tower, and numerous smaller-scale projects that are incrementally transforming Newark's built environment.

City officials describe this as a pivotal time in Newark's revitalization—a period when decades of planning, investment, and advocacy are yielding tangible results in the form of new buildings, improved public spaces, and expanded economic opportunities. Projects like 930 McCarter Highway embody this transformative moment, physically reshaping the city while symbolically representing its renewed confidence and ambition.

Living in the New Newark

For future residents of 930 McCarter Highway, daily life will blend urban convenience, cultural richness, and natural beauty in ways that were previously unavailable in Newark. Morning commutes might begin with coffee from a ground-floor cafe before a short walk to Penn Station for a quick train ride to Manhattan, Jersey City, or other regional destinations.

Evenings might include performances at NJPAC, dining in the increasingly vibrant Ironbound district, or sporting events at the Prudential Center—all accessible without requiring a car. Weekends could feature jogging along the expanded Riverfront Park, browsing the collections at the Newark Museum of Art, or simply enjoying panoramic views from the building's amenity spaces.

With average market-rate rents around $2,200 per month—substantially below comparable offerings in Manhattan, Brooklyn, or even Jersey City—930 McCarter represents an attractive value proposition for urban dwellers seeking modern amenities and transit connectivity without Manhattan-level prices.

The building's mixed-income composition ensures a diverse community of residents, reflecting Newark's character as a city that welcomes people from various backgrounds, professions, and life stages. This diversity has long been one of Newark's greatest strengths, distinguishing it from more homogeneous urban enclaves.

Looking Ahead: Completion and Beyond

As construction at 930 McCarter Highway progresses toward completion, attention now turns to finalizing the building envelope, installing interior finishes, and preparing the property for occupancy. Boraie Development anticipates beginning the leasing process in early 2026, with the first residents moving in later that year.

The building's impact will extend well beyond its physical footprint, catalyzing further investment in the surrounding neighborhood and contributing to Newark's emergence as one of the region's most dynamic urban centers. With its strategic location, thoughtful design, and mixed-income approach, 930 McCarter Highway exemplifies the type of development that is fueling Newark's remarkable transformation.

For a city that has persevered through economic challenges and negative perceptions, the rising tower at 930 McCarter represents not just physical reconstruction but psychological rejuvenation—tangible evidence that Newark's potential is finally being realized after decades of disinvestment.

As the building rises above the Passaic River, it stands as both symbol and catalyst of Newark's resurgence—a vertical community that will bring new energy, diversity, and vitality to a city reclaiming its rightful place among America's great urban centers.