What Is ECCO in Elizabeth, NJ?
ECCO is a 258-unit luxury multifamily apartment development moving ahead in Elizabeth, New Jersey. It is the second phase of the broader Vintage City mixed-use project.
The Class A rental community is planned at 250 Union Street, directly across from the renovated Elizabeth Train Station. Its location gives residents strong transit access in a growing urban district. Similar transit accessibility has been a key driver in other multifamily housing developments near commuter rail.
ECCO will be served by two NJ Transit lines with direct service to New York Penn Station. It will also offer connections to Newark Liberty International Airport and Jersey Shore destinations. The project has secured $83.35M capitalization to support its development and construction.
The development is designed as a five-story building with wood-framed construction over a concrete parking podium. It will include 233,880 square feet of residential space and 278 parking spaces.
The apartment mix will include studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom units. Planned amenities and the walkable surroundings are expected to support Elizabeth’s evolving live-work-play district by 2027.
Who Is Behind the ECCO Project?
Leading the project are LeCesse Development Corp. and MAS Development Group. The two firms are advancing the 258-unit ECCO apartment community as phase two of Elizabeth’s broader Vintage City redevelopment.
JLL, Baker Barrios, and March Associates each identify both companies as the client and development team behind ECCO. This points to a joint venture structure rather than a single-sponsor build.
LeCesse brings a long multifamily track record to the deal. Its background includes more than 60 years in development, over 25,000 units developed or acquired, and more than $3.5 billion in activity.
MAS is led by Salvador Garcia and operates as a vertically integrated firm. The company reports more than 25 years of experience across multifamily, retail, and mixed-use projects.
Institutional financing from Bank OZK and PGIM adds another layer of support. It also signals confidence in the LeCesse-MAS partnership. Similar projects are gaining momentum as multifamily demand stays supported by population growth, job creation, and high mortgage rates pushing more households toward renting.
What Will ECCO Include?
At 250 Union St. in Elizabeth, ECCO is planned as a 258-unit Class A apartment community with 233,880 square feet of residential space.
The project is set to include studios, one-bedroom units, and two-bedroom apartments across four-story, elevator-serviced buildings with enclosed hallways.
Amenities and Design
Plans call for a central courtyard designed to support community programming.
Additional amenities are expected to include a pool, fitness center, coworking space, golf simulator, outdoor theater, and a game room with a wet bar.
The residences are positioned as luxury rentals.
They are expected to feature smart home packages, quartz countertops, and upscale smart finishes aligned with a Class A product.
Setting and Use
Project coverage also references retail space within a larger mixed-use setting near transit connections just outside New York City.
How Is the ECCO Project Financed?
Momentum behind the Elizabeth development sharpened in February 2026 when an $83.35 million financing package closed for the 258-unit ECCO project. The deal established a two-part capital stack of senior construction debt and mezzanine financing arranged by JLL Capital Markets.
The capital structure relies on Bank OZK for a $63.2 million senior construction loan. It also includes $20.15 million in mezzanine debt from PGIM.
| Financing sources | Amount |
|---|---|
| Total package | $83.35 million |
| Senior construction loan | $63.2 million |
| Mezzanine financing | $20.15 million |
| Senior lender | Bank OZK |
| Mezzanine lender | PGIM |
Public context also strengthens the financing profile.
The transit-oriented site is in Elizabeth, New Jersey, within an opportunity zone. It also falls under a 30-year city tax incentive program, factors that supported lender confidence.
When Will ECCO Open?
With financing in place and construction already underway, ECCO is scheduled to open in late 2027.
Available reporting aligns with that construction timeline. LeCesse and Multifamily Affordable Housing both say the 258-unit apartment community in Elizabeth is slated for completion in late 2027.
NJ.com described completion as anticipated in 2027. JLL similarly reported that construction had already commenced and was expected to be completed in 2027.
What Is Confirmed
No public source in the gathered reporting gives a specific opening month or day.
No report identifies a later revised date either.
That makes late 2027 the most precise and supportable opening window currently available.
As phase II of a mixed-use development, ECCO’s delivery could influence leasing activity, neighborhood planning, and broader community impact in Elizabeth.
Assessment
ECCO marks a significant multifamily advance in Elizabeth, adding 258 apartments to a constrained New Jersey housing market.
The project reflects sustained investor confidence in transit-oriented urban development and signals continued construction momentum despite financing and market pressures.
With residential units, amenities, and ground-floor retail planned, ECCO is positioned to reshape part of the local streetscape.
Its expected opening will stand as a closely watched milestone for Elizabeth’s ongoing redevelopment pipeline and broader regional apartment demand.
