Journal Squared

Journal Squared
Journal Squared
General information
Type	Residential highrises
Location	615 Pavonia Avenue; Journal Square; Jersey City, New Jersey
Coordinates	40°43′56″N 74°03′47″W / 40.732141°N 74.063114°W
Construction started	21 October 2014
Completed	July 2024
Height
Roof	229.8 m (754 ft) 193 m (633 ft) 175 m (574 ft)
Technical details
Floor count	54, 68, and 60
Design and construction
Architects	Handel Architects; Hollwich Kushner
Developer	Kushner Real Estate Group
Website
	www.journalsquared.com

Journal Squared, or J2, is a three-tower retail and residential complex at Journal Square in Jersey City, New Jersey.

Site

The site of the project is adjacent to the Journal Square Transportation Center on Summit Avenue across from the Hudson County Administration Building, the county seat of Hudson County and the Newkirk House, the oldest extant building in the county.

Funding and abatements

Journal Squared was developed by Kushner Real Estate Group. It was first approved by the city council in December 2012 and was later granted a 30-year tax abatement and $10 million in bonds.

Design

The project was designed by Handel Architects and Hollwich Kushner. The project consists of three towers, in which 2,000 new office, residential, and retail units would be built, with the residential spaces making up the majority of the complex. It also includes a large plaza that occupies a portion of the lot, which can be used for public gatherings and functions as an open space in the complex.

Construction

The project broke ground in October 2014 with the first building topping out in December 2015 at 54 stories and 574 ft (175 m). Construction began on the second and tallest of the three towers in 2018. Elicc Americas Corp. was the facade manufacturer and installer The second tower topped out in December 2019. The third tower, consisting of 600 units and rising 60 stories, broke ground in October 2021. The buildout of all three phases were completed in July 2024. With this, the towers joined among the tallest buildings in the city. In November 2024, there was a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the third tower.

The first tower of the complex after completion
Construction progress in February 2023
The complex: Tower Three (left), Tower Two (middle), Tower One (right)

References

1 2 Maruta, Maria (July 31, 2025). "JV Lands $255M Refi for Jersey City Luxury Tower". Multi-Housing News. Archived from the original on May 28, 2026. Retrieved May 28, 2026.
↑ Villanova, Patrick (August 27, 2015). "Going up! Journal Squared construction in Jersey City (PHOTOS)". The Jersey Journal. Retrieved July 5, 2016.
↑ McDonald, Terrence T. (November 14, 2013). "Jersey City council awards 30-year tax break for Journal Square towers". Retrieved July 5, 2016.
1 2 Hunger, Matt (August 7, 2012). "New Development Planned for Journal Square Would Include the City's Tallest Tower, Fundamentally Change the Neighborhood". The Jersey City Independent. Archived from the original on February 7, 2014. Retrieved December 31, 2013.
1 2 McDonald, Terrence T. (August 15, 2012). "Three residential towers to change the landscape of Journal Square, officials say". NJ.com. Retrieved December 31, 2013.
1 2 Hunger, Matt (November 29, 2012). "City Settles Lawsuit with Robinhood Plaza, Permits 42-Story Zoning for Property Along Summit Ave". The Jersey City Independent. Archived from the original on November 29, 2012. Retrieved December 31, 2013.
↑ Wright, E. Assata (November 17, 2013). "Abatement deal approved for 1 850 unit Journal Squared complex Many residents concerned about length terms of deal with developers". Hudson Reporter. Archived from the original on November 24, 2016. Retrieved April 14, 2017.
↑ "Journal Squared". Handel Architects. Archived from the original on September 2, 2017. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
↑ "Journal Squared". Hollwich Kushner November 2016.
↑ Volner, Ian (August 3, 2016). "High Density Housing Rises in a Historic Part of Jersey City". The Wall Street Journal. The Wall Street Journal August 2016.
↑ Barbanel, Josh (January 25, 2017). "Jersey City's Journal Square Is Making a Comeback, With Residential Towers". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved April 14, 2017.
↑ "71-story high-rise under construction in Jersey City". Civil + Structural Engineer. December 11, 2018.
↑ Young, Michael (December 8, 2019). "Journal Squared's Second and Tallest Tower Tops Out in Jersey City". New York YIMBY. Retrieved March 9, 2020.
↑ "KRE Group breaks ground on Journal Squared's third tower, shows off second tower views (PHOTOS)". The Jersey Journal. October 6, 2021.
↑ Fry, Chris (October 6, 2021). "600-Unit Third Phase of Journal Squared Breaks Ground in Jersey City". Jersey Digs. Retrieved October 6, 2021.
↑ Eberhardt, Ellen (April 16, 2025). "Three connected white-clad skyscrapers completed in New Jersey". Dezeen. Archived from the original on April 27, 2025. Retrieved May 28, 2026.
↑ Fry, Chris (November 7, 2024). "Ribbon Cutting For Third Journal Squared Tower Completes Jersey City Development". Jersey Digs. Retrieved November 14, 2024.

[MHN-2025-1-1] 1 2 Maruta, Maria (July 31, 2025). "JV Lands $255M Refi for Jersey City Luxury Tower". Multi-Housing News. Archived from the original on May 28, 2026. Retrieved May 28, 2026.

[2] Villanova, Patrick (August 27, 2015). "Going up! Journal Squared construction in Jersey City (PHOTOS)". The Jersey Journal. Retrieved July 5, 2016.

[3] McDonald, Terrence T. (November 14, 2013). "Jersey City council awards 30-year tax break for Journal Square towers". Retrieved July 5, 2016.

[jerseycityindependent1-4] 1 2 Hunger, Matt (August 7, 2012). "New Development Planned for Journal Square Would Include the City's Tallest Tower, Fundamentally Change the Neighborhood". The Jersey City Independent. Archived from the original on February 7, 2014. Retrieved December 31, 2013.

[autogenerated1-5] 1 2 McDonald, Terrence T. (August 15, 2012). "Three residential towers to change the landscape of Journal Square, officials say". NJ.com. Retrieved December 31, 2013.

[jerseycityindependent2-6] 1 2 Hunger, Matt (November 29, 2012). "City Settles Lawsuit with Robinhood Plaza, Permits 42-Story Zoning for Property Along Summit Ave". The Jersey City Independent. Archived from the original on November 29, 2012. Retrieved December 31, 2013.

[7] Wright, E. Assata (November 17, 2013). "Abatement deal approved for 1 850 unit Journal Squared complex Many residents concerned about length terms of deal with developers". Hudson Reporter. Archived from the original on November 24, 2016. Retrieved April 14, 2017.

[8] "Journal Squared". Handel Architects. Archived from the original on September 2, 2017. Retrieved January 10, 2014.

[9] "Journal Squared". Hollwich Kushner November 2016.

[10] Volner, Ian (August 3, 2016). "High Density Housing Rises in a Historic Part of Jersey City". The Wall Street Journal. The Wall Street Journal August 2016.

[11] Barbanel, Josh (January 25, 2017). "Jersey City's Journal Square Is Making a Comeback, With Residential Towers". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved April 14, 2017.

[12] "71-story high-rise under construction in Jersey City". Civil + Structural Engineer. December 11, 2018.

[13] Young, Michael (December 8, 2019). "Journal Squared's Second and Tallest Tower Tops Out in Jersey City". New York YIMBY. Retrieved March 9, 2020.

[14] "KRE Group breaks ground on Journal Squared's third tower, shows off second tower views (PHOTOS)". The Jersey Journal. October 6, 2021.

[15] Fry, Chris (October 6, 2021). "600-Unit Third Phase of Journal Squared Breaks Ground in Jersey City". Jersey Digs. Retrieved October 6, 2021.

[16] Eberhardt, Ellen (April 16, 2025). "Three connected white-clad skyscrapers completed in New Jersey". Dezeen. Archived from the original on April 27, 2025. Retrieved May 28, 2026.

[17] Fry, Chris (November 7, 2024). "Ribbon Cutting For Third Journal Squared Tower Completes Jersey City Development". Jersey Digs. Retrieved November 14, 2024.