EDISON, N.J., Jan. 15, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Mack-Cali Realty Corporation (NYSE: CLI) and its joint venture partner, Ironstate Development Company, broke ground Tuesday, January 14^th, on a new type of residential tower: URL^® Harborside. URL^®, which stands for Urban Ready Living^®, is a direct response to the needs and desires of those looking to live in apartments that use less energy, provide more innovative spaces, and offer public areas that foster community.

URL^® Harborside 1, a uniquely-designed, 69-story, multi-family residential tower, will bring 763 contemporary rental residences to Mack-Cali's Harborside and the Jersey City Waterfront. The $291 million development, the first phase of URL^® Harborside which will ultimately feature three towers comprising 2,358 residences overlooking the Manhattan skyline, is expected to be completed in mid-2016. The ambitious project will create hundreds of jobs in Jersey City, including construction and other full-time employment opportunities.

Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop was on hand to announce the groundbreaking of the development. "This project speaks to the vibrancy of Jersey City, where development and investment continue to thrive," said Mayor Fulop. "Not only will this be the tallest residential building in the state, the project also incorporates sustainability elements and develops a community-style concept through public spaces. We are pleased to break ground on this exciting project today."

The move to start construction on a project of this magnitude signifies the continued confidence developers, business and civic leaders place in Jersey City as flourishing residential, lifestyle, and employment destination. There are currently approximately 5,000 residential units under construction in Jersey City and another 12,000 have approvals – with work expected to commence on more than half of them this year. In 2014, there will be more than 11,000 units under construction in Jersey City, illustrating the demand of the Jersey City residential market.

Mitchell E. Hersh, president and chief executive officer of Mack-Cali, commented, "We believe there is strong demand for a live-work-play environment that offers a true sense of community – all in an amenity-rich, transit-oriented location. We chose to partner with Ironstate because of their vast experience and exceptional reputation in the development and management of high-rise residential real estate."

The URL^® concept was developed by Ironstate president, David Barry, to provide people with innovative housing that maximizes space, reduces energy consumption, is more environmentally sustainable, offers close and easy access to public transportation, and provides public areas that foster community. Designed by acclaimed Dutch architecture firm, Concrete, URL^® Harborside will be a flagship property with a distinctive tower reflective of its waterfront landscape.

"We're at a historic and interesting moment in the New York area," said David Barry, president of Ironstate Development Company. "Everyone is drawn to live here, but the costs of housing can be prohibitive. To meet modern housing challenges, we need creative and thoughtful solutions. URL^® provides a new paradigm for how people can live and work in the city – in a way that is more affordable, sustainable and community oriented."

URL^® Harborside 1 will rise on a vacant parcel adjacent to Mack-Cali's Harborside Plaza 5 and will become the tallest residential tower in New Jersey. Further, the project will provide a new east-west connection of Bay Street within Harborside and add public spaces and retail vibrancy to the neighborhood. The location provides unparalleled easy access to the Exchange Place PATH station, the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail, and nearby ferry service.

About Mack-Cali Realty Corporation
Mack-Cali Realty Corporation is a fully integrated, self-administered, self-managed real estate investment trust (REIT) providing management, leasing, development, construction and other tenant-related services for its class A real estate portfolio. Mack-Cali owns or has interests in 279 properties, consisting of 267 office and office/flex properties totaling approximately 31 million square feet and 12 multi-family rental properties containing over 3,600 residential units, all located in the Northeast. The properties enable the Company to provide a full complement of real estate opportunities to its diverse base of commercial and residential tenants.

Additional information on Mack-Cali Realty Corporation and the commercial real estate properties and multi-family residential communities available for lease can be found on the Company's website at www.mack-cali.com.

About Ironstate Development Company
Ironstate Development Company is one of the largest privately held real estate development companies in the Northeast. Based in Hoboken, New Jersey, Ironstate engages in the development and management of large-scale mixed-use projects and has a diverse portfolio of residential and hospitality assets. Additional information on Ironstate Development Company is available on the Company's website at www.ironstate.net.

Statements made in this press release may be forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "may," "will," "plan," "potential," "should," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "continue," or comparable terminology. Such forward-looking statements are inherently subject to certain risks, trends and uncertainties, many of which the Company cannot predict with accuracy and some of which the Company might not even anticipate, and involve factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or suggested. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements and are advised to consider the factors listed above together with the additional factors under the heading "Disclosure Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" and "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Reports on Form 10-K, as may be supplemented or amended by the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, which are incorporated herein by reference. The Company assumes no obligation to update or supplement forward-looking statements that become untrue because of subsequent events, new information or otherwise.

SOURCE Mack-Cali Realty Corporation