185 ACADEMY

brought to you by

Watch the Presentation Here

Copy of 24-1104_Render_181-185 - Academy.jpg

Welcome to 185 Academy — Your Gateway to High-Return Urban Development!

Discover an exceptional ground-up development in the heart of Jersey City’s booming Journal Square — 70 brand-new, luxury rental apartments designed for today’s connected, convenience-driven renter.

From smartphone keyless entry and a secure package room to a state-of-the-art fitness center, rooftop deck with grilling stations, and stunning skyline views, 185 Academy delivers the lifestyle modern tenants demand.

Perfectly positioned in a thriving, transit-oriented neighborhood, residents are just a 15-minute PATH train ride to Downtown Manhattan — offering the best of both worlds: vibrant city living with unbeatable access to NYC.

Invest now in a premier project that’s built to capture strong tenant demand, high occupancy, and long-term appreciation in one of the fastest-growing urban hubs in the Northeast.

New Construction

Great Location

Rapidly Improving Neighborhood

6 stories
70 units
5 parking spaces

Located in Jersey City, NJ with an 8 minute walk to Journal Square PATH Station. Connections to NYC, Hoboken, Newark Airport and beyond.

Surrounded by several new developments from other institutional developers such as Kushner, KRE, Ironstate and Related.

Thoughtful Amenities and Design

Strong Real Estate and Economic Fundamentals

Attractive Land Basis / JV Structure

Roof top terrace with grill/bar area and Jersey City/NYC views, gym, package room, bike storage and smart phone entry.

High absorption of apartments, strong rent growth, low vacancy, strong job growth, and new retail businesses in the Journal Square core.

Acquisition sourced off-market directly with owner resulting in joint-venture structure and attractive land basis. No markup for new investors.

Attractive Returns

The Company seeks $1.9MM in common equity. Common equity investors projected to realize an ~18% annual IRR or ~2.7x their invested capital over 7 years.

$0

$1.9M

Learn More

We get it — investing in real estate is a big decision. We’re here to make it easier.

Book a short call with us — no obligation, no pressure. We’ll answer your questions and help you see how this opportunity could fit your goals.

By submitting the form you agree to be sent updates regarding future investment opportunities.

Book Your Call Here

Who We Are

BLDG-UP was founded in 1998 by Ben LoPiccolo and grew out of hands-on real estate work in Jersey City and the surrounding region. Ben started his career in the trades, working directly in the field as a painter and later across multiple areas of construction.

That early, ground-level experience shaped how BLDG-UP operates today. We focus on what actually happens on projects, not just what looks good on paper. Over the years, BLDG-UP grew from smaller renovation work into larger and more complex development projects. Along the way, we worked through different market cycles and learned where projects tend to break down.

That experience reinforced the importance of structure, accountability, and clear decision-making, especially when capital, risk, and regulations intersect. In 2016, Kevin Kansagra joined the firm after investing in Boniface Lofts, a historic redevelopment led by BLDG-UP. With a background in finance, Kevin added strength in capital planning, financial oversight, and coordination with lenders and investors. His partnership with Ben helped strengthen how execution and financing work together on complex projects. Today, BLDG-UP focuses on leading execution.

We work alongside owners and capital partners to manage development and construction, coordinate teams, and keep projects aligned from early planning through completion. We do not advise from the sidelines. We step in and take responsibility. We are selective about the projects we take on. We focus on situations where experienced leadership and clear accountability make a real difference in reducing risk and getting projects finished the right way.