New 153-Unit Apartment Building Coming To Carteret's Washington Ave.

CARTERET, NJ — Much has been made about all the development happening in Woodbridge in recent years, but Carteret is attempting to undergo its own building boom, too, particularly on its waterfront and around its new performing arts center.

Carteret just announced Tuesday that ground was broken on a 153-unit apartment building at 21 Washington Avenue. This is what Carteret is calling its "Cultural Arts District," as it is located in the area of the new Carteret Performing Arts Center, which just opened in late 2021 and is located at 46 Washington Avenue.

Once completed, the new apartment building — called 21 Washington — will have 153 apartments, a two-story parking garage and 4,800 square feet of street-level retail, with no tenants yet named. The will have studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom units to rent.

21 Washington is not expected to be completed until early 2025.

The developer is Kalian Companies, co-developer with Epstein Family Investments. Kalian Companies is the same developer that owns 29 Washington, a luxury apartment building of 64 units and 12,500 square feet of retail directly across Washington Ave. from the arts center. 29 Washington has been open since 2021 and is fully occupied.

The two bottom commercial units at 29 Washington aren’t open for business yet, but they are leased, and will open soon, said a spokesman for Carteret Township.

These two apartment buildings are part of several apartment complexes planned to come to downtown Carteret and the Carteret waterfront in coming years, as Carteret borough approved a $300-million redevelopment plan, comprising of mixed-use retail/residential and more than 30,000 square feet of commercial space.

"New residential and commercial opportunities, combined with Carteret’s upcoming ferry service, the Performing Arts and Events Center, upgraded parks, stable tax rates, and tremendous diversity solidify Carteret as a great place to live, work, and raise a family," said Carteret Mayor Dan Reiman."

Earlier this January, Carteret released the first rendering of how its proposed ferry terminal, with daily service to New York City, would look. However, no construction has started on the ferry terminal, however.

Under Reiman's administration, Carteret also opened a boat marina and seeks to turn its formerly industrial waterfront into a public park with bike paths.

More on Carteret's development boom: Carteret Reveals First Look At Its Proposed Ferry Terminal (Jan. 2023)

Carteret Performing Arts Center Opens This Saturday (Nov. 2021)

Carteret Asked To Approve 242-Unit Apt. Complex in Arts District (Oct. 2019