Old World Influence Meets Modern Luxury at Gallery Lofts
Our team is truly thrilled to be working with Alfonso Carrino and Vicente Monge, the partners behind Gallery Lofts, a new 16-unit condominium project at 391 Palisade Ave. Their passion, aesthetic vision, and deep roots in Italian culture – both in Florence and Jersey City – have brought contemporary Italian luxury living to the thriving Heights neighborhood. This is a very special project with a lot of history behind it. We’ll get to that history in a moment, but first, here’s a look at these spectacular residences for sale.
The design aesthetic – a marriage of clean, sleek lines and modern luxury – is achieved through meticulous use of space, a warm neutral palette and the most high-end Italian appliances and fixtures available. Kitchens are outfitted with Bertazzoni and Blomberg stainless steel appliances, Mittel Cucine cabinetry, and gorgeous grey Sapien Stone porcelain countertops, all imported from Italy.
The elegant cabinet/countertop combination repeats in the luxury baths, which feature dual sinks, plenty of storage and Italian tile throughout.
The open plan living space and bedrooms are grounded in white oak LVP hardwood design, renowned not just for its beauty but its durability and functionality.
Each of the 1-, 2- and 3- bedroom homes offer gallery-inspired lighting that creates a harmonious flow of light and air. Many of these units come with private terraces, NYC views, and include onsite parking. Yes, you read that correctly!
As a long-term, active JC resident, Darden is especially proud to work with Carrino on the Gallery Lofts; “His preservation-minded projects in Jersey City have retained the beauty and history of landmarks while creating new living spaces that reflect how we want to live today.”
These projects include the award-winning m650 Flats on Montgomery Street. Working with his son Anthony and nephew John Colaneri (both of HGTV fame), Carrino transformed this early 1900s-era industrial building into an environmentally sustainable apartment building fitted with modern amenities while retaining the original materials. The team also restored the Mid-19th Century (1876, to be exact) firehouse at 218 Central Ave, and recreated 8 Erie St into Telco Lofts. Constructed in 1900, the original building housed the NY/NJ Telephone Company and eventually the JC Police Department, before falling into serious disrepair. The building was restored and transformed it into a multi-use space of rental lofts and ground floor retail, while retaining the original interior and exterior details as much as possible.
Protecting JC history is a natural fit for Carrino. Both he and his wife Francine (něe Colaneri) Carrino have deep family roots here. Both of their families emigrated from Italy in the 1920s and found their way to JC. The Carrinos lived in the Italian Village downtown, while the Colaneris resided on Summit Ave. While both families would relocate to Bergen County, Alfonso and Francine would eventually meet, marry and raise three children. Today, Alfonso and Francine reside in a brownstone in Paulus Hook, which they have (unsurprisingly) beautifully restored. The couple also spend a few months per year in their second home in Florence. Carrino’s love affair with Florence began during the Vietnam war era. He was the first member of his family to attend college, leaving a politically torn college climate to focus on academics, earning a degree in comparative literature at the University of Florence. A self-taught builder, it was in Italy that Carrino developed and cultivated his life-long appreciation for art, architecture and design. Francine has also been instrumental in shaping his aesthetic; “She is an absolutely phenomenal [interior] designer. I see buildings, she sees design.”
Carrino is also quick to point out that Gallery Lofts is the result of a dedicated team of talent and expertise; “I really give a lot of credit to [partner]Vicente Monge. He comes from a banking background and worked at the highest levels both in NYC and abroad. He was instrumental in the project - it could not have been built without him. As an individual, he is really one of the nicest people I have ever known both professionally and personally. I look forward to a long relationship and other projects, together.” Carrino also applauds the work of Hoboken-based Katerra Construction, for their expert work in building Gallery Lofts.
Preserving the beauty of the past while embracing the opportunities the present holds. If any one building is a metaphor for Jersey City, it’s Gallery Lofts. Come check it out!