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The basics:

• The Crossings at Brick Church Station lands nearly 75K SF in new retail leases
• Tenants include Burlington, Five Below, Rainbow, Verizon, Newark Community Health Center
• $500M transit-oriented development will deliver 200K SF retail, 1K mixed-income residences
• Project includes workforce training initiative to prioritize hiring East Orange residents

The Crossings at Brick Church Station continues to gain steam following nearly 75,000 square feet in retail leasing activity at the transformative East Orange transit-oriented development.

Co-developers Triangle Equities and Incline Capital, along with commercial leasing partner RIPCO Real Estate, announced the slate of upcoming tenants for the mixed-use project April 17.

The commercial demand highlights key components of The Crossings, to activate the area, stimulate the local economy and encourage as well as establish a live-work-play atmosphere. In addition to capturing customers, the incoming slate of tenants also brings jobs to fill. And to ensure East Orange and its residents benefit, a public-private collaboration will boost local job skill training in connection with The Crossing at Brick Church Station.

“From the beginning, Triangle’s vision for The Crossings at Brick Church was rooted in placemaking — creating a true neighborhood center that gives East Orange residents a reason to live, shop, and invest in their own community rather than driving to the next town,” said Josh Weingarten, executive vice president at Triangle Equities.

Burlington, Five Below join ShopRite

The Crossings at Brick Church Station will introduce more than 200,000 square feet of retail space and approximately 1,000 mixed-income residences.

The first phase includes 400-apartment residential building Embark at The Crossings, as well as a grocery-anchored, 85,000-square-foot retail component. The ShopRite-centered space will also include a mix of community-serving tenants.

The Crossings includes a nine-story building, a five-story building and a seven-story parking garage. It sits along Main Street and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard between South Harrison and Halsted Streets. The project replaces the former Brick Church Plaza.

According to the partners, the recent leases span retail, health care and dining, including:

• Off-price retailer Burlington – 48,000 square feet
• Specialty discount store Five Below – 9,500 square feet
• Women’s clothing store Rainbow – 6,400 square feet
• Telecommunications giant Verizon – 1,424 square feet
• Health care provider Newark Community Health Center – 4,500 square feet
• Angel Nails salon – 3,400 square feet

RIPCO Real Estate Vice President Jake Frantzman brokered all deals. Previously announced tenants also include Dunkin’ Donuts, Ashley Stewart and Rita’s Italian Ice.

“The Crossings at Brick Church Station sits at the intersection of great highway and transit access, population density, and pent-up retail demand — exactly the fundamentals strong tenants look for,” said Frantzman. “We’re thrilled with the lineup we’ve assembled and the momentum this project is carrying into its next phase.”

Now hiring: East Orange residents

Triangle Equities said it will partner with the office of East Orange Mayor Ted Green to work with all incoming retailers to prioritize local hiring.

The most-recent analysis by the City of Orange’s Office of Policy, Planning & Development found the Essex County municipality loses more than $1.4 billion in local consumer spending to surrounding regions. It cites lack of retail options as culprit.

The firm and the East Orange mayor’s office will also collaborate to develop the East Orange Career accelerator. The EOCA is designed to assist local residents in getting job opportunities. It utilizes a three-pronged approach, including soft skill development, interview prep and resume review.

Green described it and similar programs as critical for the economic development of the city. “[A]s we catalyze these opportunities for local residents, we must also ensure that those jobs are prioritized for our constituents,” he said. “We are proud to partner with Triangle Equities and look forward to utilizing this program to ensure our workforce is properly trained to compete in the modern job market.

[A]s we catalyze these opportunities for local residents, we must also ensure that those jobs are prioritized for our constituents.
— East Orange Mayor Ted Green

“We hope to use our partnership with Triangle Equities as a framework to expand on this program going forward.”

Weingarten also sees the venture as a learning experience. “We believe this project can serve as a blueprint for transit-oriented placemaking in cities across the country,” he said.

A $500M transformation

The retail leasing activity follows other recent developments for The Crossing at Brick Church Station.

Since breaking ground in 2022, the largest real estate development in city history has secured funding. And is working toward welcoming its first residents.

The $500 million TOD presents a game-changing opportunity for the city.

A state-designated transit village, the project takes advantage of East Orange’s proximity to major roadways, as well as the local public transit, which offers service to Manhattan. In 2024, the historic site secured an $83.3 million grant to revitalize the depot, first opened in 1921.

In February, Triangle Equities and Incline Capital closed on a $133.5 million recapitalization of construction financing for the project.

A $115 million senior secured bridge loan from funds managed by affiliates of Fortress Investment Group led the funding, along with 16.5 million in Low Income Housing Tax Credit equity provided by Affordable Equity Partners. Additionally, $2 million in proceeds came from the partial redemption of Redevelopment Area Bonds.

A JLL Debt Advisory Capital Markets team led by Senior Managing Director Geoff Goldstein and Senior Director Gerard Quinn represented the borrower.

Commenting on liquidity in the debt markets as a panelist during an industry event that month, Weingarten said they received dozens of bids. Noting, “There’s a real thawing in that space and I think that will lead to more success in starting real estate development deals this year.”

He said renters – and employers as a result – are coming to New Jersey to bridge the affordability gap from Manhattan. “Combined with how much incentive the state of New Jersey is offering developers to come in and invest to private capital … between the Aspire program, HMFA programs for supporting affordable housing — you really have all the tools necessary to develop ground up in New Jersey,” Weingarten said.

The latest financing builds on an existing capital stack for the retail and residential portions of the project.

A ‘compelling’ investment

In 2022, it finalized $317 million in Phase 1 funding.

Investment partners included The Urban Investment Group at Goldman Sachs Alternatives and Basis Investment Group. Financing has also come from co-developers Triangle Equities and Incline Capital, NJ Infrastructure Bank, New Jersey Housing & Mortgage Finance Agency, the City of East Orange as well as other public and private sources.

“This financing is a great example of our focus on working with established and skilled developers to support the development of high-quality, high-demand commercial real estate across the country,” Spencer Garfield, global co-head of real estate debt at Fortress Investment Group, said at the time of the announcement. “We believe this property represents a compelling investment opportunity for our investors.”

“We’re proud to invest in The Crossings at Brick Church Station to support the delivery of affordable housing in a community where the need is significant,” added Walker Smith, president of Affordable Equity Partners.

Ready to Embark

The recap built on a late 2025 launch to residential leasing at Embark at The Crossings.

The project will feature a design to meet EnergyStar, Enterprise Green Communities and Fitwel One Star certifications. It will offer renters apartment layouts ranging from studio to three-bedroom.

Embark residents will have access to resort-style amenities. Comforts include two landscaped courtyards with firepits, outdoor screening areas and grilling stations. Indoor options include fitness center, coworking lounge, resident clubroom, private theater, children’s playroom and pet spa.

Convenient on-site garage parking is available for both residents, as well as the public.

“The Crossings at Brick Church demonstrates what’s possible when mixed-use design and affordable housing work hand in hand,” said Tammy Jones, CEO and founder of Basis Investment Group.

The New Jersey Department of Transportation designated “Transit Village” is structured around a central “spine,” according to Bohler. The multi-use main promenade, designed by the firm’s landscape architecture studio, connects main Street to Brick Church Station.

“Overall, the Crossings at Brick Church Station aims to instill a sense of community pride and ownership, attract visitors, and support local businesses,” Bohler said of the award-winning project.

Based in New York, Triangle Equities is a full-service real estate development firm. It specializes in mixed-use, transit-oriented and community-driven projects that seek to revitalize urban areas. Incline Capital is a diversified real estate development and investment organization.

Speaking during that February event, Triangle’s Weingarten said his company has three transit-oriented developments in North Jersey representing $900 million in development value. Along with The Crossing at Brick Station in East Orange, 90 Bayard St. in New Brunswick also leads as a flagship.