Jersey City Urby today announced a major collaboration with Airbnb that will make it the first new building development in the tri-state area to take part in the home sharing marketplace’s Friendly Buildings Program.
Residents of the new rental development located at 200 Greene Street in the Harborside neighborhood will be allowed to share their apartments on Airbnb by renting out a private room or an entire residence for up to 30 days per year.
Jersey City Urby’s Airbnb guests will have access to apartments and an array of communal spaces, as well as a program schedule developed for tenants that will include classes, events and unique experiences.
Through the Friendly Buildings Program, Jersey City Urby developer Ironstate Development will collect a portion of the money residents earn by hosting on Airbnb. Jersey City Urby, which launched leasing in March, views this program as an additional amenity for tenants who can use the home sharing platform to offset rent while maintaining transparency with the building manager.
“Urby is a brand that continues to redefine the resident experience, and the partnership with Airbnb is a great example of that,” said David Barry, President of Ironstate Development. “Having the ability to use home-sharing sites has become increasingly important to renters. By aligning with Airbnb, Jersey City Urby is able to give residents this option, as well as simplify the hosting process so they can enjoy their time away from home.”
“Home sharers and landlords don’t have to be at odds,” said Jaja Jackson, Director of Multifamily Housing Partnerships for Airbnb. “We are thrilled that Jersey City Urby will be the first building in the region to participate in a revenue sharing program with Airbnb. Hopefully, this agreement will be a model for other property managers and owners to emulate in all corners of the tri-state area.”
Airbnb rolled out its Friendly Buildings Program last year as the short-term rental sector battled a series of legislative moves to clamp down on its business. Involving multi-family building owners has been viewed as a critical move to bring move landlords around to the service by giving them some control in the process.
Jersey City Urby is co-developed by Ironstate Development and Roseland Residential Trust, a subsidiary of Mack-Cali Realty Corporation, one of the biggest developers of multi-family apartments in the north east.
At 713-feet and 69-stories, Jersey City Urby is the tallest residential building in New Jersey. It features 762 apartments and is located just off the Hudson River waterfront, directly across from Manhattan.
The Urby concept is a complete rethink of the residential rental housing concept that is design driven, tailored to fit every neighborhood and developed with the needs of the contemporary urban renter in mind. Urby is conceptualized by Ironstate Development, the real estate firm behind the development of the Standard East Village, Chiltern Firehouse in London and W Hotel in Hoboken; and Concrete, the Amsterdam-based architecture and design firm responsible for the architecture and interiors of CitizenM Hotels around the world.
Communal spaces are integral to each Urby and are designed to foster natural opportunities for residents to interact. They include: a fully equipped gym offering regular classes, from cardio to strength training to yoga and barre; heated outdoor pool and deck that will host sunset events, meditation and more; a communal kitchen for cooking demonstrations, tastings and talks; and the Urby Creative Lab, a space for residents to participate in interior design workshops, flower arranging, homemade apothecary and other classes.
The Jersey City location is the second of a planned series of Urby developments set to open in other cities. The first Urby opened in 2016 in Staten Island and a new location will open later this year in Harrison, New Jersey.
In a joint press release announcing the partnership, the developer and Airbnb said, “This partnership reaffirms Jersey City as one of the most forward-looking jurisdictions in the country regarding home sharing and the tech economy. In October 2015, Jersey City became one of the first municipalities in the U.S. to pass comprehensive regulations that foster responsible home sharing. Since then, Airbnb has collected and remitted hotel occupancy taxes on behalf of its host community in Jersey City, which today numbers over 1,000.”
