This was not a project for the faint of heart. The beautiful Art Deco office tower had been vacant for decades and was rotting from the inside out. No one in Newark believed that anyone would live in an upscale apartment building downtown. To say it was hard to finance would be an understatement.

Nevertheless, we got it done. I led the entire design and construction team. We completely gutted the building, repaired decades of neglect and deterioration, and built a new apartment building like nothing anyone in Newark had ever seen. Residents are rewarded with unique apartment layouts, ten foot ceilings, a National Register quality lobby, and first class finishes. And because we pioneered today’s amenity-rich rental buildings, there’s a gorgeous resident lounge, spa-quality health club, a 4-lane bowling alley, and so much more.

Eleven80 leased up strongly as soon as it opened, quieting all those who doubted the market. Eleven80 went on to win ULI National and New Jersey Project of the Year, the New Jersey Smart Growth Award, and many more. Eleven80 led the redevelopment of downtown Newark. Everyone else followed.

Watch the incredible 2-year transformation in two minutes.