Ballantine, Beer And Newark: 2 Development Updates To Know

NEWARK, NJ — A national historic landmark in Newark and a distribution center in the Ironbound have a common link: beer.

A pair of development-related announcements were recently made involving the P. Ballantine and Sons Brewing Company – currently owned by Pabst Brewing Company – which was founded in Newark.

Although the company has long since closed the factory in Newark, its footprint and that of the Ballantine family still remains, as seen in a pair of recent real estate updates.

PRESERVATION PROJECT

Last week, Preservation New Jersey announced that a recent rehab effort at the Ballantine House at the Newark Museum of Art earned its “Preservation Projects Award” for 2022. The recognition is part of the organization’s annual New Jersey Historic Preservation Awards.

According to Preservation New Jersey, here’s what makes the project special:

“The Ballantine House is an 1885 red brick mansion with Wyoming Grey sandstone trim constructed for Jeannette and John Holme Ballantine of the celebrated Newark beer-brewing family. The Ballantine House is a National Historic Landmark, and a contributing resource in the James Street Commons National Register Historic District and a City of Newark Landmark. The Ballantine House is a major object in the collections of the Newark Museum of Art (NMOA) and houses its period rooms and Decorative Arts galleries. The exterior was extensively renovated from 1976 to 1977. In March 2021 NMOA engaged Building Conservation Associates to perform an assessment of the exterior and it was determined that all the 1976-77 masonry repairs had failed. NMOA decided to undertake a rehabilitation campaign to address these issues.”

BALLANTINE INDUSTRIAL CENTER

In September, real estate firm NAI James E. Hanson announced that the Ballantine Industrial Center at 397-447 Ferry Street in Newark has reached full occupancy, marking a milestone for the former Ballantine Brewery complex.

According to a news release from the firm:

“Located in the Ironbound district of Newark, The Ballantine Industrial Center is a well-positioned last-mile distribution center located on the 16-acre site of the former Ballantine Brewery. Only nine miles from Manhattan, the property is highly accessible with proximity to Routes 9, 21 and 280 as well as Interstate 78 and the New Jersey Turnpike. With unrivaled access to several of the nation’s busiest multimodal logistics facilities including Port Newark/Elizabeth and Newark Liberty International Airport, the property remains highly attractive among varying types of industrial users … Acquired in 2019 in a joint venture between Turnbridge Equities and institutional investors advised by J.P. Morgan Asset Management, the Ballantine Industrial Center recently underwent a $10 million renovation aimed at creating a modern and flexible industrial property aligned with the needs of today’s industrial users. These improvements have included a roof replacement, window replacement, select demolition of abandoned structures, yard and loading area repaving, and extensive aesthetic upgrades, along with bringing on Class-A professional management. Today, the Ballantine Industrial Center boasts three stories of industrial and office space in a variety of configurations. Featuring ample drive-ins and brand-new service elevators, the building can meet the needs of a wide range of industrial and office uses.”

Recently, the property’s landlord – Turnbridge Equites – announced a lease expansion with Eli Fashion Inc. for 21,001 square feet of industrial space at the center, bringing it to full occupancy.

Eli Fashion aims to build upon its existing space at the location to expand its business’ reach in the Tri-State Area, NAI James E. Hanson stated.

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