Seeing is believing at Chelsea condo.

Montroy Andersen DeMarco is the architect of record for eight high design duplex units at 524 West 19th Street in Chelsea that are now under construction, announces principal Richard DeMarco, the project leader. DeMarco, AIA Principal, is collaborating with the design firm Shigeru Ban Architects.

The duplexes are housed in a new 11-story, 33,000 s/f mixed-use building with lobby and an art gallery on the first floor. Completion of the project, commissioned by HEEA Development LLC, is slated for this spring.

"The unique signature of the building is nine floors of metal shutters, which result in a uniform street facade," says DeMarco. "When the shutters are retracted, enormous 20-foot-high by 15-foot-wide bi-fold windows--some of the largest active windows in the city--are revealed. They can be opened to create a continuous floor plan between the interior space and the deck.

"The retractable windows are a cutting-edge design element. As such, their execution required a degree of collaboration, which was rather unusual. We had to marry one manufacturer's industrial bi-fold system with another company's residential window product. After working with some of the best consultants in the city, we were able to produce the dynamic form that Shigeru had intended."

Execution of Shigeru's art gallery design also required special coordination with the engineering team. Dean Maltz Architects also collaborated in the project.

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of input from city officials and affected residents and business owners. Healy and the Jersey City Redevelopment Agency had commissioned A Nelessen Associates and Dean Marchetto Architects earlier this year to put together the plan.

Anton Nelessen, principal at Nelessen Associates, said the idea would include what could be the "largest urban greenway," extending from the waterfront to the square area. Also on tap would be an improved PATH system, expanded light rail and the creation of a total of 9 acres of park space.

The city plans on asking for state and federal money to make a multi-billion-dollar redevelopment a reality.

While other areas of the city have been redeveloped, the Joumal Square area has largely been ignored.

Officials said the redevelopment will hopefully snowball after ground breaks in six months on two planned towers at the former Hotel on the Square area.

As for what will happen to the buildings currently on site? The ornate Loew's theatre will stay, though other structures won't be so lucky.

"Some things are probably going to have to go," Healy said without giving specifics.

Requests For Proposals from potential developers have not gone out yet because the plan first needs approval from the Planning Board and City Council.

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