The Digest | New Jersey Magazine
Issue link: https://magazines.vuenj.com/i/800610
When someone tells you there's yet another brownstone being built or renovated in Hoboken, it is not exactly groundbreaking news. With an abundance of brick-faced facades lining almost every block, it can be hard to envision anything other than the traditional side-by-side, multi-level, historic-look- ing home with a narrow floorplan. Robert Jenny, however, of Robert Jenny Design and Builders, wants you to rethink this idea. With his latest project, 707 Park Ave, Jenny has left his client-based business behind and set out to show why he's raising the bar for brownstone living. DESIGNER: ROBERT JENNY DESIGN LOCATION: HOBOKEN, NJ BY ABBY MONTANEZ elevated 7 0 7 P A R K A V E : BROWNSTONE LIVING "T his project came with an attitude behind it," Jenny explained, reminiscing about how client-based work can leave designers feeling constrained or compromised in their design style. While Jenny has worked numerous properties throughout the Hudson and Bergen County areas, this was the first time that he was able to take on a project and fully invest his time, money and aesthetic, resulting in one of the most beautiful and luxurious addresses known to Hoboken. "When it comes to client-based work, budget always factors in first. This time, the priority really was the design and everything else came after." Jenny was first introduced to 707 Park Ave following Hurricane Sandy when he helped the previous residents recover from the storm. It was at that time when Jenny saw the potential of the home and let the owners know that if they were ever looking to sell, he'd be interested. Five years later, Jenny finally got that call. "It was kind of a weird blessing. I was getting tired of doing client-based work and I needed a break and then this sort of fell into my lap. I wasn't going to waste this opportunity to do something pedestrian or generic, I was going to do something that showed the people where this town needs to go. This is the aesthetic, architecture and level of quality we need to be at." It took six months of negotiating for Jenny's team to finally close on the property and another 13 months for demolition, plan approval and construction. V U E N J . C O M 84 VUE ON DESIGN & REAL ESTATE