An expanded redesign been revealed for Imperial Tower, a 56-story mixed-use skyscraper at 2966 John F. Kennedy Boulevard in the Journal Square district of Jersey City, New Jersey. Designed by MVMK Architecture and developed by Kuldeep “Sunny” Kumar, the 637-foot-tall structure has been significantly expanded from its original scope of 35 stories, and will yield a larger residential component consisting of 542 units, of which 54 will be designated for affordable housing. The remainder of the development’s programming appears largely untouched, including its planned 154-room hotel. The project will also include retail space, a banquet hall and three restaurants, and an enclosed parking garage with a capacity of 202 vehicles and 295 bicycles. The property spans half an acre at the corner of John F. Kennedy Boulevard and Cottage Street.
The two exterior renderings above show a slender monolithic massing with rounded corners. The lower half is depicted clad primarily in bright metallic paneling with an irregular grid of floor-to-ceiling windows. This fenestration gradually gives way to a full glass curtain wall around the midpoint of the tower. A semicircular curve of pocketed terraces protrudes from the bottom half of the main western elevation along John F. Kennedy Boulevard, as seen in the image on the left. The rendering on the right shows the southern face with stepped setbacks on the upper levels and a column of balconies cut into the southeastern corner.
The following street-level renderings focus on the main entrance and its rounded glass corner and metal canopy, as well as the new tree-lined sidewalks surrounding the property. The base of the semicircular curve is prominent in the second image, previewing the look of its pocketed terraces.
2966 John F. Kennedy Boulevard. Designed by MVMK Architecture.
2966 John F. Kennedy Boulevard. Designed by MVMK Architecture.
A roof deck will cap the skyscraper and offer residents views of the New York skyline.
The rooftop at 2966 John F. Kennedy Boulevard. Designed by MVMK Architecture.
The below image shows the original 35-story design for Imperial Tower.
2966 John F. Kennedy Boulevard. Designed by MVMK Architecture.
The parking facility will occupy the cellar with 25 parking spots, level three with 47 parking spots, levels four through five with 45 parking spots, and level six with 40 parking spots.
The ground floor will include a 4,857-square foot hotel lobby and cafe on John F. Kennedy Boulevard, 4,094 square feet for the separate residential lobby, and 1,704 square feet of additional retail space along Cottage Street.
Level two will be home to residential amenities that include a a cafe and lounge, bowling alley, fitness center, and a children’s playroom. Also present will be the leasing office & workspace, and the hotel gym.
Level seven will house commercial amenities that include an 8,788-square foot fitness center, a 625-square foot outdoor space, a 3,963-square foot dog daycare with a 2,708-square foot indoor & 597-square foot outdoor dog run, and an 1,831-square foot management office. A rock climbing wall for residents will also be located on this floor.
Hotel rooms will occupy floors eight through 13. Levels 14 through 31 and levels 33 to 50 will solely be for the residential units with 15 apartments per level. Level 32 will be occupied by 12,116 square feet of residential amenities, while level 51 will have the same floor usage measuring 11,064 square feet. Some of the known amenities on these two floors include a rooftop terrace with an infinity pool and a jacuzzi. Imperial Tower’s residential component will include 108 studios, 324 one-bedrooms, 97 two-bedrooms, 11 three-bedrooms, and two four-bedroom penthouses.
Levels 52 through 53 will exclusively be dedicated two two penthouse units. Level 54 will be home to an 11,524-square foot banquet hall with 1,347 square feet being an outdoor terrace space. Lastly, the 55th floor will house two separate restaurants, one spanning 6,077 square feet, and the second measuring 8,216 square feet split between 4,677 square feet on the lower level and 3,539 square feet on level 56. Also part of the upper floors will be a 1,5880-square foot lounge, an outdoor swimming pool and sundeck for residents only.
Construction broke ground on the project in late 2023 but has since stalled, with the reinforced concrete superstructure standing only a handful of floors above street level, as seen in the below Google Street View image from November 2024. The property was formerly occupied by a one-story automotive service center.
2966 John F. Kennedy Boulevard. Image: Google
The site is a short walk from the Journal Square PATH train, providing access to get to Newark, the Jersey City waterfront, Lower Manhattan, and Midtown, Manhattan.
A revised construction timeline for Imperial Tower at 2966 John F. Kennedy Boulevard has yet to be announced.
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I love this, and love how they incorporated the original design
Exciting to see this project double in size while keeping some of the original design (agree with Montman). Also love the pocketed terraces and the way the building’s base curves with the street at the base.
I gotta say I prefer the original design before a glass box was plopped on top.
It seems unlikely this redesign could happen after construction has started.
The original is great. The re-do is awful.
It seems like some sort of mildew or fungus growing up the building.
Yet another Jersey City high-rise completely out of character with the immediate neighborhood. I’d like to learn how this project complies with zoning regulations and if the city offered the developer a sweetheart deal. I am not surprised that such lack of contextualism passes for urban renewal in this town, not only for this behemoth, but for the entire Journal Square neighborhood.
Looks great. Now bring back the Tube Bar