Nicholas Hollenbeck, the director of sales and marketing for Sterling Properties, freely admits it: Central & Oak, a luxury residential community in East Rutherford that started leasing earlier this month, wasn’t designed with a post-pandemic world in mind.
But Hollenback feels the fact that the community has so many of the things people are looking for now — larger layouts, more green space, multiple number of buildings and units with work-from-home space included, not to mention easy access to New York City — is helping Central & Oak get off to a great start.
The 208-unit community, which began leasing June 8, already has 25 signed contracts.
“Our plans for Central & Oak date back to 2015, so pandemic-related social distancing guidelines were not a factor for the development,” he said. “But, we have found the development’s unique layout, location and amenities are resonating with renters from across New York, New Jersey and the rest of the Northeast.
“As remote work becomes increasingly prevalent and the average person spends more of their life at home, we expect to see continued demand from people seeking larger layouts and access to green space, without sacrificing many of the benefits urban life can provide.”
Hollenback said Sterling Properties, in partnership with New York-based Willton Investment Group, designed Central & Oak as an intimate neighborhood setting by dividing the project into seven private buildings featuring one- and two-bedroom residences with individual garage parking, extra storage space and elevator access.
The community’s location, at 80 Oak St. in East Rutherford, puts residents one mile from the Rutherford Train Station, which offers a 25-minute commute to Midtown Manhattan, and is less than three miles from MetLife Stadium and American Dream.
“We’re already experiencing strong interest from the increased number of renters who are seeking brand new, spacious apartments in an airy, green-friendly environment that doesn’t force them to sacrifice accessibility and convenience to entertainment, dining, shopping and recreation,” Hollenbeck said.
The units range in size from 724 to 1,308 square feet and feature walk-in closets, washer-dryer, dedicated storage space, private garage parking, luxury flooring and large windows that flood the living spaces with natural light. They also feature gourmet kitchens, with European-style cabinetry, Quartz countertops and stainless steel appliances.
In addition to featuring private balconies in each residence, Central & Oak is complemented by an abundance of dedicated green space, including a lawn for outdoor movie showings, fire pit, grills and a community dog park deemed “Central Bark.”
Chris Luo, managing director of Willton, said the other amenities include a community clubhouse with outdoor terrace; a conference room with work-from-home capabilities; a game room complete with billiards, shuffleboard and televisions; a state-of-the-art fitness center; a yoga room; and a community shuttle service that will run to and from the nearby New Jersey Transit station in Rutherford.
“This will ease residents’ commute to New York City and other major metros in New Jersey,” he said.
