
Donald M. Pepe
Partner
732-568-8370 dpepe@sh-law.comFirm Insights
Author: Donald M. Pepe
Date: January 29, 2016

Partner
732-568-8370 dpepe@sh-law.comJersey City real estate tax credits are helping New Jersey challenge Manhattan in the commercial real estate market. According to a recent NJ.com report, the New Jersey state legislature recently introduced several bills designed to induce corporations to locate or stay in New Jersey by providing relief from the state’s high corporate and personal income tax burden. The over $5 billion in corporate tax breaks handed out by the Christie administration to date have unquestionably helped boost economic development throughout the state. Jersey City, in particular, is poised to take on the outer boroughs of New York City and to some extent Manhattan proper as a premier location for office space.

Jersey City Becoming Manhattan’s Chief Rival for Office Buildings
Jersey City is one of the biggest recipients of state sponsored financial incentives. Jersey City’s proximity to Midtown Manhattan makes it a prime competitor for commercial development. As noted by Gregg Popkin, president of RFR Realty at a recent B’nai B’rith Real Estate luncheon cited by the Real Deal, tax incentives and PATH train access are helping Jersey City become a major challenger for commercial leasing over Brooklyn and Queens.
“They’ve had a lot of momentum,” Popkin explained. “I’d love to change that because we have a lot of space in Brooklyn.”
Popkin went on to comment on recent surveys that reported vacancy rates as high as 14 percent for commercial space in Midtown by 2019, a trend partly due to a lack of new commercial development and aging Class A office stock in Midtown.
In November 2015 alone, the state legislature awarded over $166 million in tax incentives for three major northern New Jersey commercial development projects. According to NorthJersey.com, the most notable of these is a $400 million high-rise tower in Jersey City that is expected to bring in over 1,530 new jobs.
The 56-story One Journal Square project was approved by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority for $93 million in New Jersey tax credits, with an additional $34 million in tax credits through 2035. NJ.com reported that the project has the potential to be a game-changer in the commercial leasing market for Jersey City because it will be located on a formerly vacant lot directly across from the PATH train station, a location that can provide companies with a much desired transportation-friendly locale in an urban metro area with close proximity to Midtown Manhattan.
With completion expected in the spring of 2018, One Journal Square will feature two floors with 78,000 square feet of retail space in addition to 100,000 square feet over seven floors of office space. Expectations for a successful project are high and negotiations are underway for a second tower at the same location.
Jersey City’s Journal Square is quickly becoming one of the hottest commercial real estate markets not only in New Jersey, but in the tri-state area overall. According to an NJ.com interview with Carl Gaines, spokesperson for the KABR Group, developers and companies are clamoring to get into Journal Square.
“Full details of the project are yet to be released, but when they are, we’re confident you will see why it’s a very compelling investment for New Jersey that will have a disproportionate impact and really change the area,” Gaines stated.
After One Journal Square is completed, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority projects the One Journal Square development to produce over $1.4 million in sales and corporate business taxes in the first year after completion.
No Aspect of the advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court. Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances.

When facing public allegations of wrongdoing, companies should not let the speed of the public conversation dictate the speed of an investigation. An investigation designed to confirm a preferred narrative rather than establish the facts can create serious problems later, particularly if litigation, regulatory scrutiny, or employment claims follow. Key Takeaways When public allegations surface […]
Author: Sean M. Pena

For battery energy storage system (BESS) developers, securing equipment and site control is only part of the development equation. A project must also connect to the electric grid, and increasingly, BESS interconnection is one of the biggest sources of schedule, cost, and contractual risk. Key Takeaways This article is Part 3 of our Battery Storage […]
Author: Nicholas Wall

Director and officer liability increases sharply when a company is in financial distress. Decisions that would draw little attention in a healthy business can later be challenged by creditors, shareholders, bankruptcy trustees, and regulators as breaches of fiduciary duty, fraudulent transfers, or oversight failures. Understanding where that exposure comes from, and how to manage it, […]
Author: Michael Mietlicki

For developers pursuing battery energy storage system (BESS) projects, finding the right property is only the beginning. BESS site selection is as much a legal and transactional exercise as a real estate decision, with risk analysis central to the project’s ultimate success. Key Takeaways The core questions for BESS site selection in New York and […]
Author: Nicholas Wall

What should you expect when meeting a litigation attorney about a business dispute? You should expect to describe the dispute in your own words, hand over the most important documents, flag any deadlines or immediate threats, and leave with a clearer picture of the problem, what information is still needed, and the likely next steps. […]
Author: Michael Mietlicki

Arbitration resolves disputes privately before an arbitrator whose decision is usually final, while litigation resolves them in court with full rights of appeal. Whether a business ends up in arbitration or litigation is often decided when it signs the contract, long before any dispute arises. Key Takeaways When facing a contract dispute, carefully consider your […]
Author: Graham Staton
No Aspect of the advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court. Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances.
Consider subscribing to our Firm Insights mailing list by clicking the button below so you can keep up to date with the firm`s latest articles covering various legal topics.
Stay informed and inspired with the latest updates, insights, and events from Scarinci Hollenbeck. Our resource library provides valuable content across a range of categories to keep you connected and ahead of the curve.
Let`s get in touch!
Sign up to get the latest from the Scarinci Hollenbeck, LLC attorneys!