LeFrak has completed New Jersey’s largest solar panel installation on a high-rise multifamily building. The Beach, a 336-unit rental tower in Jersey City’s Newport neighborhood, now features a 180kW rooftop system with 450 solar panels. This system offsets 13% of the building’s carbon emissions, equal to the carbon absorbed by 179 acres of U.S. forests annually or removing 37 gasoline-powered cars from the road each year. Over the past decade, LeFrak has invested over $100 million in energy conservation and decarbonization efforts across its properties, including nearly $1 million for this solar installation at The Beach.
Charles Burton, Head of Community Relations for LeFrak, stated “LeFrak is committed to community development and promoting environmental sustainability. We’re proud to offer New Jersey’s largest solar installation at a high-rise residential community. This initiative exemplifies our continued dedication to creating a well-rounded lifestyle for our Newport residents while doing our part to protect the environment. By integrating sustainable practices like this, we’re helping shape a greener future, not just for our buildings, but for the communities around us.”
Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop, mentioned, “Newport’s commitment to reducing its carbon footprint is a prime example of the smart, sustainable development we strive to achieve citywide. A solar panel installation of this size in Jersey City sets the standard for future projects across the state and country. Our thanks to Newport for leading by example as a forward-thinking community within our city.”
Doug O’Malley, Director of Environment New Jersey, commented “This is exactly what we should be seeing in Jersey City with the expansion of new high-rise residential development and the push for more sustainable development. Solar makes sense on multi-family buildings, and especially because Jersey City is vulnerable to the impacts of climate change, projects like this should become the bar for new development. Going solar saves consumers money, reduces air pollution and creates a more resilient energy grid — solar is a double green amenity.”
The Beach now features a rooftop solar system that offsets energy used for its common areas, including powering elevators, lighting, and cooling and ventilation in the lobby and shared amenities. The roof’s innovative design and the building’s orientation maximize solar energy production. Installed by Brooklyn-based Sunkeeper Solar, this system reflects The Beach’s commitment to sustainable energy solutions.
In the heart of Jersey City’s waterfront Newport neighborhood, The Beach stands as a premier residential destination. Developed by LeFrak and Simon in the 1980s, Newport is one of the country’s most successful mixed-use communities, offering high-quality housing, retail, and outdoor amenities along the Hudson River. The Beach features 336 rental homes, ranging from studios to four-bedroom units, spread across two towers. Amenities include a coworking lounge, a modern fitness center, and an outdoor pool. When it opened in 2021, The Beach quickly reached 75% occupancy within 10 weeks, attracting renters seeking a vibrant waterfront lifestyle.
LeFrak is committed to sustainability across its developments. In Newport, the company partnered with Envoy in 2023 to provide residents with access to electric vehicles through an exclusive car-sharing program, marking Envoy’s debut in New Jersey. LeFrak’s green initiatives extend to Queens, New York, where they collaborated with Blueprint Power to improve energy efficiency at LeFrak City, a 20-building residential complex.
Supported by a $3 million NYSERDA grant, the project introduced solar panels and over 150 EV charging stations, transforming LeFrak City into a clean energy hub. Additionally, through New York State’s Empire Building Challenge, LeFrak decarbonized a 20-story commercial building at 59-17 Junction Boulevard. With a $19.7 million investment, they reduced site energy usage by over 33% and set a goal to eliminate on-site fossil fuels by 2035. This project integrates low-carbon solutions while improving building resilience to future climate challenges.
