Will Wonders Never Cease
Some finishing touches were still being contemplated during my visit last February. A plaza with fountain was being readied for spring installation. The commercial strip was just starting to be advertised for rental. Prism was in discussions with the museum to get a rotating display of Edison artifacts for the lobby.
Prism Capital Partners is already at work developing the remaining 20 or so acres across the way from Edison Lofts for 294 townhomes, 44 of which will be reserved as affordable units. That will bring the total budget for Edison Village to $230 million. The developer has also formed a partnership with Angelo, Gordon & Co. and Parkwood Development Corp. on the $120 million conversion of an 1909 Wonder Bread bakery in Hoboken that will yield 83 loft condominiums and six rentals.
PROJECT TEAMTHE RESIDENCES AT EDISON LOFTS, West Orange, New JerseyOWNER/DEVELOPER Prism Capital Partners, in partnership with Dune Real Estate Partners and Greenfield Partners PROPERTY MANAGER Prism Property Services ARCHITECT Minno & Wasko Architects and Planners CONSTRUCTION MANAGER/GC Prism Construction Management
West Orange New Jersey
Prism Capital Partners
As Edison Lofts is a modern-day Adaptable Reuse of a century old Battery Factory of Thomas Edison in the heart of West Orange, NJ. Along with Prism Capital Partners, Minno & Wasko repurposed this uniquely designed 400,000 square-foot historic battery factory, known as The Residences at Edison Lofts, into a vibrant community of 300 luxury residential units.
The architecture of Edison Lofts has preserved the industrial appearance of the famous factory while creating an exemplary living and retail experience to residents and visitors. Offering 21 penthouse units, plus 279 luxury studios and one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments ranging from 590 to 1,500 square feet, the spacious light-filled interiors boast 10-and-a-half foot exposed ceilings and large windows. In addition, the newly constructed The Mews at Edison Lofts, provides 34 one- and two-bedroom apartments ranging from 746 to 1,336 square feet, 18,400 sf of retail, and a three-story, 630-space garage.
The redevelopment of this industrial area was re-launched in 2016 and now boasts the Edison Lofts residential collection on a 21-acre campus. Design features gracefully reference the buildings history through original exposed concrete columns and the extensive and carefully thought out renovations to preserve the historical character. Overall, Edison Lofts presents style to a new generation, while preserving the past within the bustling city.
Thomas Edison Muckers: Your Blog For Everything Edison Everyday
Built in 1913, the Edison battery manufacturing facility dominated the Thomas A. Edison industrial landscape at his legendary West Orange site. His batteries were used all over the world in a myriad of applicationsprobably Edisons most successful and maybe his most profitable product. Constructed from the same Edison Portland Cement formulation he used to build all his West Orange buildings , the landmark building is now being lovingly converted to apartments to be named Edison Village.
Old battery building shown at right of main gate and invention factory
Prism Capital Partners in 2016 launched construction for Edison Village, encompassing 21 acres on Main Street, in the heart of West Orange Townships Downtown Redevelopment Area. The first phase of the project is highlighted by the adaptive reuse of the Historic Thomas Edison Battery Building and will contain approximately 334 residential units, 18,400 square feet of retail and a 630-space parking structure.
Prism artist rendering of renovated portion of battery building and commercial store fronts-
Prism is now in discussions with the Edison Innovation Foundation to incorporate an Edison motif into the building which can include the licensing of artifacts, photos and other Edison materials, and can also involve potentially new Edison invoking objects. Use of available space in the renovated building for special Edison presentations and gatherings is also being discussed.
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Upscale Style Convenient Location
The reconstructed battery plant, known as The Residences at Edison Lofts, offers 21 penthouse units, plus 279 luxury studios and one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments , renting from $1,750 to $4,500. The 34 units in The Mews are fully occupied, and leasing has been moving along as planned for the residences in the reconstructed battery factory, said Cohen. Rents are averaging $2.60/sf, a step up from most of the apartment stock in the area, said Hoff.
The complex is less than a 20-minute drive to Essex County College, Seton Hall University, New Jersey Institute of Technology, and the Newark campus and dental school of Rutgers University. Its a 35- to 40-minute trip on NJ Transit to Penn Station in New York.
The product offering in the units themselves is unique for this area, very upscale, said Minno, who compared the interior style of the lofts, with their stratospheric ceiling heights and fully loaded amenities, to what might be found in a neighborhood like New Yorks Tribeca.
Top, the nickel-plating operation. Middle, the assembly room, where the “cells” were put together. Note the tall windows, which allowed a profusion of daylight to permeate the workers space. By the 1930s, the plant was producing more than a million A4s a year, and it became known as the Million Cell Plant. Bottom, schematic of the Edison A4 storage battery, which was manufactured in similar form until 1965.
Breaking Ground Where Echoes Of Edison Linger In New Jersey

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By Ronda Kaysen
WEST ORANGE, N.J. The facade of Thomas Edisons last factory in this town crumbles behind a chain-link fence on Main Street. The dilapidated building sits on several acres of fallow land, a sharp contrast to its state in 1914, when it was just one piece of the American inventors formidable manufacturing operation.
In the last few weeks, workers have begun restoring the 400,000-square-foot Edison Storage Battery factory, the first step in a $230 million redevelopment project. Called Edison Village, it is intended to transform 21 acres in this New York City suburb into a neighborhood with shops, parking and housing.
The start of construction brings a decade of setbacks to a close, despite lingering concerns from some residents that the project might not deliver on its promise of renewal.
West Orange, with 46,700 residents spread over 12.5 square miles, is about 20 miles from Manhattan. The first phase of the project will create about 330 rental apartments and bring 18,500 square feet of retail space, as well as parking and streetscape improvements to the complex. The site is opposite Edisons laboratory, which is now part of the Thomas Edison National Historic Park, where visitors can tour his home in nearby Llewellyn Park and learn about his inventions.
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Apartments Near Atlanta Ga
At Edison at the Battery, our upscale community will provide our residents with all that they need for a life of luxury and ease. In each of our one bedroom, two bedroom, and three bedroom homes and throughout our community, the amazing amenities around every corner will enhance every living experience. While our beautiful homes will make it hard to leave, residents wont be able to resist exploring the surrounding area and seeing all that it holds, including all of the dining options. See the restaurants and eateries nearby and find your new home at our apartments near Atlanta, GA!
Find the best Tex Mex in the area at Pappasitos Cantina. The bright and lively atmosphere makes the restaurant the perfect place to go for every occasion. Their menu features a wide selection of favorites like nachos, quesadillas, fajitas, and tacos, as well as several other options that will accommodate every style of diner. The restaurant also has an expansive drink menu that is filled with the best margaritas, beer, and other drinks so that you can find the best drink to complement your meal. At Pappasitos, you will feel right at home in the welcoming atmosphere.
With our ideal location, you can explore all of the exciting dining options, as well as all that there is to do near our apartments near Atlanta, GA. Come home to Edison at the Battery and contact us today for more information!
Family Of Man Killed After Pointing Gun At Smyrna Police Officers Speaks Out
Family of man killed after pointing gun at Smyrna police officers speaks out The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has confirmed that a man shot by Smyrna police officer on Saturday has died.
SMYRNA, Ga. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has confirmed that a man shot by Smyrna police officer on Saturday has died.
Smyrna police say they responded to the Edison at the Battery apartments on N. Lincoln Trace Ave. just before 3:30 p.m. on Saturday to calls of a man with a gun threatening suicide inside an apartment.
When officers arrived, they tried to deescalate the situation. There were several people inside the apartment at the time.
The GBI says that after several minutes, the man, later identified as Unsfored Lewis Thurmond III, 27, pointed the gun he was holding at officers.
Thurmond was taken to the hospital and underwent surgery, but later died from his injuries.
In a nanosecond, he changed the dynamics of the situation, pointing the weapon at us, putting our life in danger, said Lieutenant Louis Defense with the Smyrna Police Department.
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Family members of Thurmond say he wasnt suicidal. They describe the 27-year-old as a hard-working father of two.
He was our brother, he was our comedian, he was the person that kept us all laughing, said his sister, Syria Lowe.
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Come Home To Our Apartments In Smyrna Ga
Imagine living in our apartment community at The Battery Atlanta® with the best of sports, shops, restaurants, live music, and entertainment at your doorstep. Walk to work at major employers like Comcast or HD Supply, then pre-game on Fridays with friends at Terrapin Taproom. And when youre considering your weekend plans, our luxury apartments in Smyrna, GA provide you with a roster of options.
Head over to Truist Park to watch the Atlanta Braves play ball, or cheer on your favorite football team on the big screen at Sports & Social. See your favorite band … Read More
Imagine living in our apartment community at The Battery Atlanta® with the best of sports, shops, restaurants, live music, and entertainment at your doorstep. Walk to work at major employers like Comcast or HD Supply, then pre-game on Fridays with friends at Terrapin Taproom. And when youre considering your weekend plans, our luxury apartments in Smyrna, GA provide you with a roster of options.
Head over to Truist Park to watch the Atlanta Braves play ball, or cheer on your favorite football team on the big screen at Sports & Social. See your favorite band play live at The Coca-Cola Roxy, or put your bowling, karaoke, and vintage arcade skills to the test at Punch Bowl Social. Not in the social mood? Enjoy a night in at your home base with luxury apartment amenities that knock your living experience out of the park. And conveniently access Smyrna, Vinings, and Cumberland anytime you want.
Man Shot Killed By Officers After Suicide Threat At Cobb Apartments Cops Say
The GBI is investigating after a man was fatally shot by police at an apartment complex near Truist Park, officials said.
Unsfored Lewis Thurmond III, 27, of Smyrna, was shot after pointing a gun at Smyrna police officers who were trying to negotiate with him Saturday afternoon, according to the GBI. He died of his injuries in a hospital the following day.
The Smyrna Police Department responded to the Edison at the Battery apartments along North Lincoln Trace Avenue in regards to a person making threats of suicide, department spokesman Lt. Louis Defense told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
When officers encountered Thurman just before 3:30 p.m., the GBI said he was holding a gun and threatening to kill himself. The officers tried for several minutes to negotiate with Thurmond, but he pointed a firearm that he had been holding towards officers, the state agency said.
An officer fired at Thurmond, hitting him. Officers immediately began to administer first aid, Defense said. No officers were injured in the shooting.
Thurmonds family members described him as a hard-working father of two children, Channel 2 Action News reported.
He was very bright. If you were sad or down he would know how to lift you up, Unsfored Thurmond Jr. told the news station. That was my baby boy I named him after my daddy.
Its hard because you cant explain to a 5-year-old that shes not going to see her daddy, she said.
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No Sparing The Amenities
Prism Capital Partners Ed Cohen said the decision to switch from condo to rental meant there could be no sliding on the extras for Edison Lofts. We knew from experience with Parkway Lofts that to successfully market the property, we had to offer a high level of finishes and amenitize it to hell. Heres how they did that: 7th-floor Sky Lounge with fire pit, chamfered bar, refrigerators, ice machine, garage-door opening to the 5,000-sf deck, view of Manhattan skyline 7th-floor private dining room with kitchenette, view of NYC skyline Quartz countertops and backsplashes in all kitchens AyA cabinetry, LVT flooring throughout Bosch, Samsung appliances 5,000-sf fitness center with Peleton, spin bikes, yoga space, Life Fitness gym equipment Dog spa 21-seat soundproof media room 11-seat soundproof theater room 4½-foot-deep indoor pool and sauna All units prewired for fiber-optic service 60 storage units for tenant rental Laundry room with heavy-duty appliances Refuse room with green recycling carts Secure indoor bicycle storage
Regrouping After The Financial Crisis
Flash forward to late 2012. With the Great Recession behind them, Cohen and Diaz were able to gain final approval from the town for a phased, mixed-use development, this time for apartmentsonly to be stalled by a lengthy but ultimately unsuccessful challenge by local taxpayers who objected to the use of $6.3 million in municipal bonds to cover the projects infrastructure costs.
Finally, in early 2016, Prism, partnering with Dune Real Estate Partners and Greenfield Partners, secured a $70 million construction loan for the entire Edison Lofts project, starting with The Mews at Edison Lofts: 34 one- and two-bedroom apartments , 18,400 sf of retail, and a 630-space garageall new constructionwhich was completed in 2017.
Next came the renovation of the battery factory, three unadorned, reinforced cast-in-place concrete buildings of column and beam construction, designed by Edisons draftsmen and built from 1909 to 1914. The style of the structures, described as utilitarian in nature, was much admired by European architects of the time for its very lack of ornamentation, as well as for the large, unadorned windows, which let in plenty of light for the workers. The complex was named to the National Register of Historic Places in 1996.
Edison with a Type A4 Edison cell, the nickel-iron alkaline storage battery produced at his factory in West Orange, N.J. Left,
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