When Sal Garcia set out to transform 457,000 square feet of potential in Elizabeth, no one expected a pandemic, a flood, and countless obstacles. March Construction faced them all head-on, turning the challenge into a $63 million success story.
A Bold New Beginning for Elizabeth, NJ
Sal Garcia founded MÁS Development with a bold vision: to rebuild historic midtown Elizabeth, New Jersey, as Vintage City, a thriving, connected community that drives economic growth.
While many overlooked Elizabeth, Sal, a proud local native, saw its potential. His goal was to deliver the city’s first Class-A luxury apartment complex, Vinty, complete with coworking offices, retail, and a fully connected live-work-play environment.
To make his vision a reality, he needed a reliable construction partner, and the search wasn’t easy.
Finding the Perfect Partner
How do you choose a commercial general contractor that will get the job done?
“When we met with March Construction, we got a good feeling right away.” Garcia said. “It’s a family-run company. Lou March himself sat down with us personally. He embraced our vision.”
Garcia soon faced another challenge: finding the right investment partner. With Elizabeth’s designation as an Opportunity Zone investment area and its proximity to a $71 million upgraded train station, the city was perfectly poised to attract young professionals and local businesses eager to fuel its growth.
However, Garcia realized his initial investment partner didn’t share those community-focused values, looking to create a more of a “cookie-cutter” building. He made the bold decision to find someone who did — ultimately partnering with Lecesse Development Corporation.
“When you’re partnering with someone, it’s a long journey,” Garcia said. “It’s important to make sure that they share the same values as you.”
Now, MÁS Development is welcoming additional investors to join the next phase of Vintage City—those who see beyond short-term gains.
Keep reading to find out more about investing in the next phase of Vintage City.
When Disaster Strikes Your $63M Project
Just as March Construction was about to power up the apartment complex, Hurricane Ida tore through New Jersey, destroying equipment and causing $5 to $10 million in devastating flood damage overnight.
“We went through the trenches together,” Garcia said. “A pandemic, a flood, a hurricane, a shortage of supplies, you name it.”
Through it all, March Construction remained a steadfast partner. Their team worked side by side with MÁS to secure insurance, replace damaged systems, and restart construction faster than anyone thought possible.
Even during the height of pandemic-era restrictions, March leveraged supplier relationships and open roads to keep deliveries on track and pricing under control.
The service was there from day one,” Garcia adds. “If you can work with somebody that finds solutions the way March does, you’re ultimately saving money, and that’s important.”
Turning Crisis Into Victory
With 98% occupancy achieved, Vinty Luxury Residences stands as one of Elizabeth’s biggest success stories, a 267-unit Class-A community that earned NAIOP New Jersey’s Multifamily Deal of the Year award.
The $63 million development sparked a wave of new projects including Ecco, Trio, and a new hotel, further advancing the vision for Vintage City.
“Everyone has received Vinty with open arms,” Garcia said. “Tenants are raving about it. We’ve proven it can be done, and now we’re getting ready for the next building.”
Building the Future With The Right Team
Elizabeth is redefining itself as one of New Jersey’s most livable cities: a place where community, convenience, and opportunity meet.
“Pricing and access are the two key components of any location, and Elizabeth has them both,” says Don Treich, Development Liaison at MÁS Development.
When it comes to projects like Vinty, having the right construction partner makes all the difference. That’s why MÁS Development chose March Construction.
“I would recommend March,” Garcia said. “We really felt like they cared about what they were building, to build it right.”
Are you a developer looking for a construction partner you can trust?
Call March Construction at 973-904-0213 or email marketing@marchassociates.com for your next multifamily project, or visit MarchAssociates.com to see how top developers are building success with March.
If you’re ready to make a positive impact with your next investment, Sal Garcia invites those who are seeking profitable, accredited investor opportunities and value-add multifamily projects. Reach out to MÁS Development today at 908-353-9500 or info@developmas.com to see how you can be a part of growing Vintage City.
