Maxwell Place on the Hudson – Adaptive Reuse Property
McLaren Engineering Group helped transform the former Maxwell House Coffee processing plant in Hoboken, New Jersey into a luxury residential development extending from 11th to 12th Streets along the Hudson River and Sinatra Drive in Hoboken. The adaptive reuse property Maxwell Place on the Hudson renewed four waterfront blocks, seamlessly linking Hoboken’s historic brownstone row-house district and the Hudson River with low-rise brownstone buildings and high-rise towers.
Maxwell Place Park is the central focus of New Jersey’s Gold Coast waterfront development and features a beach, playground, kayak pavilion, pier shed and waterfront walkway. The park also includes Elysian Fields, regarded as the birthplace of modern baseball.
The McLaren Difference: Applied Ingenuity
McLaren assisted with the conversion design of the former Maxwell House industrial site into a mixed-use urban village along 1,000 feet of the Hudson River, featuring 800 residential units, world-class amenities, and 200,000 square feet of high-end retail and restaurant space. Providing site/civil, infrastructure and marine engineering services, McLaren’s multiple divisions worked seamlessly together to transform this waterfront community, while preserving breathtaking views of Midtown Manhattan and maximizing open space in accordance with NJDEP’s Hudson River Waterfront Walkway (HRWW) guidelines.
The McLaren team reviewed the infrastructure systems of the prior manufacturing facility – which was once the world’s largest coffee plant – and worked within its existing features to remodel the site for this adaptive reuse property. This included the preparation of construction documents for demolition and reconstruction of the existing pier and platforms. Two piers were incorporated into New Jersey’s Waterfront Walkway. McLaren provided marine design and bulkhead rehabilitation design for the conversion of one industrial pier and full replacement for the other pier now used as a pedestrian park. The addition of a connecting two-level underground parking area to Elysian Park on Sinatra Drive created 1,398 below-grade parking spaces without compromising the view.
McLaren prepared a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP), complying with current New Jersey State Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) regulations, and designed the roadways that connect to the local street network in compliance with American with Disabilities Act (ADA) codes and specifications. McLaren also helped engineer new upgraded utilities.
Working with the project landscape architect, McLaren developed plans and sections for the promenade. Since the development connects to many rail, bus and ferry services, McLaren coordinated with the City of Hoboken to secure funding and approvals from the NJDOT. The park and promenade included the construction of on-grade walkways, pedestrian piers over the Hudson River, an emergency boat ramp, lighting, landscaping and various park and playground amenities.