Hero Construction lands $20M loan to build East Orange apartments

New 119-unit development replacing old Blood Center of New Jersey

45 South Grove St in East Orange (Rendering via Progress Capital)
45 South Grove St in East Orange (Rendering via Progress Capital)45 South Grove St in East Orange (Rendering via Progress Capital)

A residential project that broke ground two years ago in East Orange has landed a $19.5 million construction loan.

Hero Construction, led by Dennis McNeil, got the 18-month, interest-only loan from Metropolitan Bank. Brad Domenico of Progress Capital arranged the financing.

The multifamily development at 45 South Grove Street, called The Modern, will replace the Blood Center of New Jersey, which closed in 2014. The Modern will stand five stories and have 119 units — 67 two-bedrooms, 48 one-bedrooms and four studios — each with floor-to-ceiling windows and stainless-steel appliances.

The site is blocks from Central Avenue, a main retail hub of the city.

Sign Up for the undefined Newsletter

A groundbreaking ceremony was held more than two years ago for the project, which is expected to help revitalize East Orange, located just three miles from Newark.

East Orange has significant access to mass transit, which has led to a spate of developments in recent years. New Jersey Transit’s 90 bus to Newark, Bloomfield, and Irvington stops near the development, which has quick access to the Garden State Parkway and the New Jersey Turnpike.