Chinese company says it's planning 200-unit condo complex on Weehawken waterfront

Chinese company says it's planning 200-unit condo complex on Weehawken waterfront
The Jersey Journal, 26-Aug-14
By Ron Zeitlinger

A Chinese home builder has plans to develop a mid-rise, 200-unit luxury condominium complex on the Weehawken waterfront, company officials said in a news release.

The Landsea Group said the Weehawken project is part of a $1 billion investment in the three of the countries largest housing markets -- New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Landsea founder and Chairman Tian Ming was scheduled to visit the Weehawken site, which was not identified, on Monday, company officials said in the news release. He said the development there will overlook the New York skyline.

"This visit marks the advent of Landsea as an American homebuilder," Ming said in a statement. "We have already established our presence in Asia and Europe, but there is no better housing market than the United States, where home ownership will always be a part of the american dream and a cornerstone of economic prosperity."

Weehawken Mayor Richard Turner said today he is unaware of the company's plans to build on the waterfront. Last month Lennar officially opened the Avenue on the Weehawken waterfront, a seven-story, 74-unit condo building at 1000 Avenue at Port Imperial.

The Landsea developments in the U.S. will be overseen by the Landsea Holdings Corp., a subsidiary created to manage the U.S. projects, officials said.

Officials said the homes will be built by local companies using domestic materials, and will "cater to American tastes, comfort and satisfaction."

Tian said Landsea also plans projects for Boston and Washington, D.C.

Landsea founded in 2001 and bills itself as one of China's premiere "green" homebuilders, constructing residences with systems for rainwater retention and passive geothermal heating and cooling.

The company is also a founding member of China Green Building Council, and a member of the German Sustainable Building Council and the U.S. Green Building Council, officials said.