By Sunayana Prabhu
RED BANK – A residential development at the northeast corner of West Front Street and Maple Avenue is finally taking shape after six years of delays. The project, formerly called Rivermark, at 96-98 W. Front St., is set to redefine the borough’s riverfront gateway, according to project architect Michael James Monroe.
“I wanted to do a cool tower element on the front,” Monroe explained. “One of my first sketches was a red pencil sketch of how I wanted that tower. It’s your first impression coming into this part of Red Bank.”
The four-story building with 10 condominiums and one commercial space on the street side is located adjacent to the Red Bank Public Library. The building will feature a design that “brings back brick” and incorporates metal detailing “to make it look like an older building.” Monroe said his goal was to create a structure “gesturing toward the historic elements in town.”
Monroe described the project as a “gateway building” with the prominent two-story tower element creating a dramatic first impression for visitors entering this part of downtown. Initially dubbed Rivermark, a new name for the project has not yet been finalized, he said.
Samuel Shamaev is developing the project which includes five two-bedroom and five three-bedroom units ranging from 1,500 to 2,800 square feet. Unique features include a “roof deck, gym, and a small pool,” Monroe said. Parking is primarily located underneath the structure, with approximately 27 spaces available.
Prices for each unit are estimated between $2 million and $3 million, reflecting the property’s prime location and amenities. There are no affordable housing units in the building. “If you have 10 units or less, you don’t have to provide affordable units,” Monroe said, adding the developers are “going to make a contribution to the local affordable housing fund.”
As part of the development agreement, the project team also donated a portion of waterfront property to the borough, potentially supporting future plans for a continuous riverfront walkway planned by the borough. The development sits 160 feet from the Navesink River.
Construction is ongoing. They “just poured the fourth floor” and designed the building to slope “so it doesn’t feel so tall,” said Monroe. The project is expected to be completed by the fall.
The article originally appeared in the March 6 – March 12, 2025 print edition of The Two River Times.
