Hilltop luxury apartments open

A new rental community rises in Verona.

The Highlands at Hilltop was inaugurated last month, with Verona Mayor Teena Schwartz and township officials cutting the ceremonial ribbons.

"The Highlands is a major milestone for Verona," said Verona Township Manager Joseph A. Martin.

The new rental community is situated on a five-acre elevated site at 200 White Rock Road, within the Hilltop section of the township.

Martin said the Highlands project is a partnership between the developers, the township and the county. Roseland Property Company of Short Hills and JMP Holdings of Clifton were the joint-venture partners behind the project, which features two buildings with 95 luxury rental residences and a 4,700 square-foot clubhouse and outdoor pool.

The Highlands at Hilltop is part of the Hilltop Redevelopment Project, which also covers Cedar Grove, Caldwell and North Caldwell. The Highlands is the first project completed under the plan.

"I'm glad that we are the first to complete a project under the Hilltop Redevelopment Plan," Martin said.

He also told the Verona-Cedar Grove Times that the township was able to convert an undeveloped part of the town into something profitable.

The tract of land now occupied by the rental apartments was described by the Hilltop Development Plan as "undeveloped." With Highlands, the township stands to earn half a million dollars a year from payments in lieu of taxes from the developers.

"We made lemonade out of lemons," said Martin.

The township manager said the project was environment-friendly. "We increased the amount of open space and the building's foot prints had minimal impact on the surroundings," he said.

Gerard Shimonaski, Verona Environmental Commission chairman, said building the Highlands was consistent with the conservation plan for the Hilltop. "The new rental apartments were approved by the Verona Planning Board. There were no buildings torn down but trees were removed where it was necessary for the foot print of the buildings. The chips from the trees were used to cover paths in the park behind the apartments."

The VEC attended all the sessions and were asked for input during the planning of the Highlands project, said Shimonaski.

The second phase of the project will be completed a year-and-a-half from now. "We're moving along very well," said Martin.

Carl Goldberg, a Roseland Property company partner, said the company believed that there is a market for rental units in Verona.

"There is a pent-up demand for a new rental community here, particularly from residents currently living in Verona, Essex Fells and other Essex County towns who were looking to downsize from large single-family homes but didn't want to leave the area. The fact that we've already leased 25 percent of the apartments in just the first few months validates that contention," Goldberg said.

Twenty different one- and two-bedroom units ranging from 698 to 1,465 square feet of living space are available at The Highlands at Hilltop in two four-story buildings which include an enclosed parking level.

Units are priced from $1,865 to $3,015 a month.

The Highlands sits on an elevated area with views of the surrounding landscape, as well as the adjacent county park, which offers miles of walking and hiking trails.

Promoters note the complex is located 21 miles from midtown Manhattan, and is not far from the New Jersey Turnpike, Garden State Parkway, and Routes 80, 280 and 23.

The Highlands features a clubroom with billiards table and lounge area with bar, theater room, full fitness room, an outdoor swimming pool with hot tub, and tennis and basketball courts. Wi-Fi service is provided in all common areas, officials said.

screw them