Montclair's Groundbreaking MC Hotel Era Begins

Montclair, NJ – The era of Montclair’s MC Hotel has begun.

On Tuesday morning, a joint team of developers and public officials broke ground on Montclair’s first full-service hotel in almost 80 years.

Located at the intersection of Bloomfield Avenue and Orange Road, the 120,000-square-foot hotel will have 151 rooms and suites. Developers stated that the “luxury boutique hotel” will include a rooftop bar, farm-to-table restaurant, a 12,000 square foot conference and event space, as well as a public art atrium and plaza.

The hotel is expected to be complete by early 2018.

According to a news release, the MC Hotel will become part of Marriott International’s Autograph Collection, a portfolio of independent hotels.

The joint venture was a cooperative effort between The Pinnacle Companies, The Hampshire Companies and investment partner Circle Squared Alternative Investments.

Developers stated that the MC hotel development team plans to work with the community to develop a “wide range of cultural activities” for the rooftop bar area, such as morning yoga, programs with Jazz House Kids and the Montclair Film Festival. In addition, the hotel plans to feature art exhibitions in the two-story art atrium.

The MC hotel will also collaborate on numerous hospitality opportunities and events with Montclair State University, according to the news release.

"We're delighted to break ground on this one-of-a-kind hotel that will create a new gateway to downtown Montclair," said Brian M. Stolar, President and CEO, The Pinnacle Companies. "The MC is the result of planning and coordination with township leaders for over five years to create a new hospitality amenity for the public that will dramatically increase the economic vitality of the Township."

"Montclair's rich history and culture is what drew us to this project and The MC hotel will be a destination that attracts visitors but will also emerge as a favorite place for locals to gather," said Norman A. Feinstein, Vice Chairman of The Hampshire Companies. "This iconic project would not have been possible without the tremendous support of Mayor Robert Jackson, members of Montclair's council, Circle Squared Alternative Investments, our investors and our partner, The Pinnacle Companies.”

• See related article: MC Hotel In Montclair Gets $26.5M Loan, Report Says
• See related article: Montclair Considering PILOT Agreement For MC Hotel

PINNACLE IN MONTCLAIR

If you’re a Montclair resident, it’s likely that you’ve heard the name Pinnacle before.

According to a company news release, the Pinnacle Companies worked with the Township of Montclair to create the Montclair Center Gateway Redevelopment Plan, known as CentroVerde, which includes The MC Hotel and the mixed-use Valley & Bloom project.

• See related article: CentroVerde Groundbreaking Marks Start of Gateway Transformation
• See related article: First Phase of Montclair's New Mixed-Use Development, Valley & Bloom, Tops Out

A privately held regional real estate development firm, Pinnacle is based in Montclair, where the firm also developed The Siena mixed-use condominium building on the site of the former Hahne & Co. department store.

• See related article: In Montclair: The Siena Leases Last Retail Space

Other notable Pinnacle projects in New Jersey include Maxwell Place, a 1,000,000 square foot mixed-use project on the site of the former Maxwell House coffee factory in Hoboken, developed as a joint venture with Toll Brothers.

Pinnacle has also joined with Brookfield Property Partners to purchase The Wellmont Theater in Montclair, a live performance venue built in 1922.

• See related article: Montclair's Wellmont Theater Purchased By Pinnacle Companies

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Photo: Artist’s rendering of the completed MC Hotel