LeFrak Wraps Record Multifamily Solar Panel Project in NJ
This rooftop array was installed at a high-rise on the Hudson River waterfront.

LeFrak has expanded sustainability efforts at its multifamily and commercial portfolio by completing the largest solar panel installation on a New Jersey high-rise residential building. The New York-based real estate development firm recently put a 180kW, 450-panel rooftop system at The Beach, a 336-unit rental tower located on the waterfront in Jersey City, N.J.’s Newport neighborhood.
The system was installed by Sunkeeper Solar, a solar energy company based in Brooklyn, N.Y. It will offset 13 percent of the building’s carbon emissions, equivalent to the carbon emitted by 179 acres of U.S. forests in one year or removing 37 gasoline-powered cars from the road annually.
The $1 million project will offset energy produced by electrical systems used in the tower’s common area spaces, including those powering elevators and lights as well as the cooling and ventilation in the building’s lobbies and amenity spaces. The design of the roof and building orientation will optimize the amount of solar power generated.
In the past decade, LeFrak has invested more than $100 million in energy conservation and decarbonization measures throughout its national portfolio. Charles Burton, head of community relations for LeFrak, said the installation builds on other sustainability initiatives that the company has completed at other properties, including installing solar panels and 150 EV charging stations at LeFrak City, its 20-building residential development in Queens, N.Y. That project was aided by a $3 million grant from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority.
Other initiatives include partnering with Envoy to offer electric car-sharing benefits to residents of Newport and decarbonization efforts at 59-17 Junction Blvd., a 20-story commercial building in Queens.
“Projects like these reflect our commitment to reducing emissions and advancing more energy-efficient solutions across our portfolio,” Burton told Multi-Housing News.
While he couldn’t share specific plans for more residential projects this year, Burton said the company was actively exploring expanding solar installations and making other sustainability improvements across its portfolio.
“Sustainability is a top priority for us and this project at The Beach demonstrates what’s possible when we integrate innovative, energy-efficient solutions into our buildings,” he said. “We are always looking for new opportunities to make a positive impact and advance our commitment to building a more sustainable future.”
The Beach highlights
LeFrak and Simon created the Newport neighborhood in the 1980s. The 600-acre master-planned, mixed-use community is located along the Hudson River in Jersey City.
Situated at 180 River Dr., The Beach features studio to four-bedroom rental homes spread across two towers. Completed in 2021, The Beach is 97 percent occupied. The developer received a $125 million construction loan in November 2021 from Equitable Insurance Co. for the project, according to Yardi Matrix.
The property has floorplans ranging from 433 to 1,409 square feet and penthouse apartments with 1,951 square feet of space, according to the same data. Rents range from $3,001 to $9,125 per month.
Amenities include a coworking lounge, fitness center, outdoor pool, business center and children’s playroom. The building has views of the Hudson River and downtown Manhattan. The property also has 16,490 square feet of retail.
Growing solar at multifamily sites
While LeFrak has championed sustainability initiatives at its properties for the past several years, the general adoption of solar in multifamily has been slower than other commercial real estate users. But it is growing. Since many apartment residents pay their own electricity bills, multifamily property owners more frequently use solar to offset the common-area meter, as LeFrak is doing at The Beach.
Texas, Florida and California were the most active states for solar installation in 2024, but other states are seeing installation growth, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Across all property types, the EIA reported nationwide 15.6 gigawatts of solar capacity were installed in the first half of 2024, a 55 percent increase from the record achieved in the first half of 2023.