M id A tlantic Real Estate Journal — Owners, Developers & Managers — July 2025 — 39
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O wners , D evelopers & M anagers
The group toured The Modern, a five-story, 119-unit multifamily development in NJ ULI NNJ & Hero Development give students an inside look at East Orange multifamily community
AST ORANGE, NJ — 25 students from East Orange Campus High School participated in a unique learning experience as part of the Urban Land Institute Northern New Jersey’s (ULI NNJ) UrbanPlan program. The group toured The Modern, a five-story, 119-unit multifam - ily development located in the heart of East Orange. Led by Hero Development principal Dennis McNeil and his team, the tour and discussion offered students an opportunity to explore how the concepts they studied in the classroom are coming to life in their local community. Joining the students were East Orange Councilwoman Naiima Fauntleroy and Coun- cilman Christopher Awe as well as East Orange School District’s Board of Education president Andrea McPhatter and director of Teaching & Learning and Innovative Projects Paulette Salomon. The tour was the culmina- tion of East Orange Campus High School’s second year of hosting an UrbanPlan pro- gram. Introduced to East Or- ange by ULI NNJ in 2024, Ur- banPlan is a national program developed by the Urban Land Institute to introduce high school students to the funda- mentals of real estate develop- ment. Through a role-based simulation, students take on positions such as finance direc - tor, city liaison, and site plan- ner to respond to a fictional redevelopment challenge. The program teaches them how market forces, government policy, and community needs intersect in the built environ- ment. Students also have the opportunity to connect with experienced industry profes- sionals and learn more about potential careers in real estate and planning. “The Modern is a powerful example of what respon- sible development can ac- complish,” said Mara Win- okur , executive director of ULI Northern New Jersey. “Bringing students to a site like this allows them to con- nect what they have learned in the classroom with the real decisions and partnerships that shape neighborhoods.” Located at 45 South Grove St., The Modern sits on the former site of the Blood Center of New Jersey, which served Essex County for more than E
70 years. Completed in 2023, the project includes a mix of studios, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom loft-style apart- ments, along with amenities such as a rooftop lounge, fitness center, and multiple community spaces. Headquartered in West Or- ange, Hero Development was founded in 2007 by Dennis McNeil and continues a family legacy of investment in East Orange. In the late 1970s, McNeil’s father, Larry McNeil, played a key role in the city’s revitalization by developing 13 residential projects that
helped shape its future. Today, Hero Development has grown into a leading boutique firm with more than three million square feet of real estate and over 2,100 residential units developed across New Jersey. “This project is personal to me. I started in construction when I was a teenager, and it means a lot to show the next generation what is possible,” said McNeil. “These students are the future of this industry and this city. We are proud to help them see how develop- ment can create positive, last- ing change.” MAREJ
25 students from East Orange Campus High School participated in a unique learning experience as part of the Urban Land Institute Northern New Jersey’s (ULI NNJ) UrbanPlan program. The group toured The Modern, a five-story, 119-unit multifamily development located in the heart of East Orange, New Jersey.
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