For Those Who Want Only the Best

by Robin Holleran
Special to The Star Ledger

Jersey City, NJ, June 24, 2007 - Waterfront locations always command a premium, and when potential buyers get ready to purchase these homes, they want the best in luxury appliances and design, as well as top-notch community amenities.

Each single-family home at The Sanctuary at Beaver Dam Creek in northern Brick has a private dock and water views from each room.

"This is a real community on a short cul-de-sac that reaches into a lagoon and has easy access to Beaver Damn Creek, Metedeconk River and the ocean," says Erwin Nudelman, principal and director of construction for MG Group, builder of The Sanctuary.

The homes come in four designs with 9-foot first-floor ceilings, open floor plans, two-story great rooms, four to five bedrooms, usable third floors and wooden floors.

Community also is a major amenity at Liberty Harbor in Jersey City. This 80-acre community overlooking Liberty State Park blends the values of Old-World neighborhoods through its use of New Urbanism design and high technology.

Ten architectural firms collaborated on a mix of luxury townhouses, brownstones, condominium buildings, loft rentals and retail with roads that all lead to the waterfront and views of the Statue of Liberty.

Amenities include attended lobbies, residential lounges with catering kitchens, fitness centers, billiard and yoga rooms, and decks with hot tubs.

"Liberty Harbor flies in the face of the isolation and defensive architecture we've created over the last 50 years. We are bringing back the community and taken the concept of New Urbanism to the 10th degree by designing livable, walkable neighborhoods," says Peter Mocco, developer of the site.

Liberty Harbor also offers state-of-the-art technology, with Wi-Fi access from all public areas, security cameras with live video feed that can be viewed over the Internet, and remote access to home systems such as HVAC, security, lighting, computers and TV, as well as kitchen and bath appliances. Every home also is wired with fiber-optics, which Mocco says has enough capacity to run a major trading operation.

Residents at either of Toll Brothers' two waterfront projects in Hoboken have a number of unique amenities at their disposal. Living spaces at Maxwell Place were designed by Michael Graves, and many have dens, balconies or terraces, and media rooms. In addition, the 6 acres of on-site parkland is unique for a town that began as an industrial location.

Hudson Tea offers a similar style of living from 10- to 12-foot picture windows and European interior finishes to an incredible resident's club, fitness center and children's playroom with two-story ball pit.

"The two communities are only three blocks apart, with a New York ferry in between," says Ben Jogodnik, senior vice president of Toll Brothers.

When designing Aurora over the Hudson, Pinnacle Downtown retained the internationally acclaimed designer Philippe Stark for the modern, glass-enclosed towers being built in Cliffside Park.

"We wanted something startling different that would appeal to a sophisticated, well-traveled buyer," says Mary Boorman, senior vice-president for marketing and strategic planning at Pinnacle Cos.

In addition, Aurora offers a residents' club with spa amenities, including a lounge, a grand salon with two-way fireplace and catering kitchen, private dining and wine room, screening room, sports and fitness center, and game rooms.

In Edgewater, Tarragon Corp.'s One Hudson Park is nearly three-quarters sold. The five-story building is complemented by a landscaped roof garden as well as the ground-level park with walking paths, ponds and gathering areas. Constructed largely of glass and incorporating principles of feng shui, it also offers private indoor pool, a fitness center and a multimedia lounge.

"The homes have a very open feeling and were designed on a grand scale, some with three bedrooms and three-and-one-half bathrooms. In addition, there are two elevators at the east and west side that only open to five to seven homes on each floor for more privacy," says Christopher Winslow, director of marketing.