There will be stormwater recycling … solar energy collection and storage … composting integrated into trash removal … electric vehicle charging stations …. smart HVAC controls and 3D printing in all units — and, of course, Wi-Fi everywhere.
What else would you expect at Scholars Village, the housing component for the SciTech Scity — the 30-acre City of Tomorrow that the Liberty Science Center is creating in Jersey City.
On Tuesday, LSC officials said Alpine Residential, a New York-based developer of residential housing nationwide, will create Scholars Village, incorporating all of the cool concepts above and more.
Scholars Village is anticipated to consist of two state-of-the-art, sustainable, 200,000-square-foot, 200-unit market-rate apartment buildings, as well as ground floor retail space and parking, for entrepreneurs, teachers, students, families and individuals who want to be part of a community that is harnessing the power of science to create a better world.
Construction of Scholars Village is slated to begin in early 2022, LSC officials said. Completion and a grand opening are set for mid-2024. SciTech Scity is scheduled to open in late 2023.
Liberty Science Center CEO Paul Hoffman said SciTech Scity will bring together entrepreneurs, scientists, academics, students and other thinkers and doers who share renowned computer scientist Alan Kay’s prescription that “the best way to predict the future is to invent it.”
Scholars Village will be a big part of that, Hoffman said.
“The Scholars Village residential housing is essential to making SciTech Scity a 24/7 community, and we engaged a first-rate developer,” he said. “Alpine Residential shares our vision of invention and social impact and has deep knowledge of Jersey City. We are excited to be working with them and look forward to getting started.”
Alpine Residential, which has significant experience in the Jersey City market, including 500 units in the Morris Canal Redevelopment Area adjacent to LSC, will incorporate innovative systems and sustainable technologies into Scholars Village.
The apartment units themselves will feature modern finishes and offer smart devices and conveniences to residents, which may include smart keyless entry locks, smart thermostats, doorbell cameras, voice and app-controlled lighting, speakers and window treatments, wireless charging built into countertops and more.
The residents at Scholars Village will be given the opportunity to test new products and services developed by the tech startups at SciTech Scity and other corporate partners.
The announcement of the Scholars Village developer is the second significant milestone related to SciTech Scity in the past two months.
In April, LSC received Jersey City and Hudson County approval for Liberty Science Center High School, a countywide public magnet STEM academy that will be part of and operated by the Hudson County Schools of Technology.
LSC also announced private funding for special programs for middle-school students in Jersey City and Hudson County who want to attend the new world-class high school but could use extra help getting their prerequisite skills (for example, math skills) up to the level needed for admission.
