Jersey City greenlights mixed-income residential project bringing housing, greenery, and renewed momentum to a dormant neighborhood site**
A long-idled corner in Jersey City’s Bergen-Lafayette neighborhood is officially on track for transformation, as city zoning officials have approved a new residential development at 30 Clinton Avenue, replacing a decade-old vacant parcel with modern housing and community-focused improvements. The decision marks another step in Bergen-Lafayette’s steady evolution from overlooked district to rising residential destination, reflecting the broader surge reshaping Jersey City’s urban landscape.
The approved site sits on a lot that once held the Masonic Club of Jersey City, later operated by the Jersey City Athletic Club and eventually purchased by Salem Baptist Church. After the building was vacated in the early 2010s, it was demolished, leaving behind an empty property that lingered unused for years. That dormant stretch of Clinton Avenue is now slated for revival under a plan submitted by LAM Capital Investments, a Kearny-based development firm that revised its proposal after neighborhood engagement to better align with local scale and character.
Rather than the originally proposed five-story structure, the finalized plan introduces a four-story residential building rising approximately 42 feet. Inside, 22 apartments will be created, offering a mix designed to attract a range of residents. The layout includes 14 one-bedroom units, six two-bedroom residences, and two three-bedroom apartments, providing options for singles, couples, and small families alike. Average unit sizes are generous by urban standards, with one-bedrooms spanning roughly 780 square feet and two-bedrooms averaging just over 1,000 square feet, reflecting a design approach that prioritizes livability over density alone.
Affordability has been built into the project, with 10 percent of the units designated as affordable housing. That commitment ensures that long-time neighborhood residents have the opportunity to benefit from local reinvestment, not just observe it from the sidelines. This balance between market-rate and affordable homes continues to be a central theme in Jersey City’s modern development philosophy as the city works to grow without displacing its roots.
Architectural plans call for a contemporary structure designed by Aavart Patel, featuring a ground-level garage with 12 parking spaces. Above, residents will have access to a substantial rooftop environment combining a nearly 3,000-square-foot roof deck with an additional green roof area exceeding 2,200 square feet. These outdoor amenities add valuable communal space in a neighborhood where private green areas are limited, while the green roof component supports stormwater management and urban heat reduction.
Street-level improvements are also part of the approved design. Six new street trees will be planted, sidewalks along the public right-of-way will be upgraded, and the building’s frontage is expected to strengthen pedestrian flow along Clinton Avenue. These details, while easily overlooked, play an outsized role in shaping how residents experience their daily environment and how safely and comfortably people move through the neighborhood.
Because the property sits within a Neighborhood Housing District and the Junction Small Area Vision Plan zone, the Zoning Board granted several variances related to density, setbacks, building height, rooftop structures, and stilted construction. Such variances are common in Jersey City’s adaptive development climate, where aging parcels and evolving land-use goals require flexibility to unlock underutilized sites.
Location remains one of the project’s strongest assets. The site is within walking distance of Arlington Park and a short trip from Berry Lane Park, two of the area’s most valued green spaces. The Garfield Avenue station on the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail is also nearby, connecting future residents to employment centers throughout Hudson County and beyond. This proximity to transit, recreation, and retail corridors reinforces Bergen-Lafayette’s growing appeal to renters seeking urban convenience without Manhattan pricing.
While a groundbreaking date has not yet been announced, zoning approval clears the primary regulatory hurdle, positioning the project to advance once construction scheduling and financing are finalized. When completed, the building will not only replace a long-neglected lot but also contribute to the neighborhood’s ongoing momentum as Jersey City continues to evolve into one of New Jersey’s most dynamic housing markets.
For continued coverage of development trends, housing shifts, and neighborhood transformation across the state, readers can explore Sunset Daily News’ dedicated real estate reporting, where New Jersey’s changing property landscape is tracked with depth and local focus.
In a city where every vacant lot represents potential, 30 Clinton Avenue stands as a symbol of Bergen-Lafayette’s next chapter — one that blends new housing, sustainable design, and community-minded growth into a single forward-looking investment.
