Galaxy Towers facts for kids
The Galaxy Towers are three tall, eight-sided buildings. They are located in Guttenberg, New Jersey, United States. These towers stand at 415 feet (126 meters) high. They offer amazing views of the Hudson River.
The towers were built in 1976. They were a project by Norman Belfer and the Prudential Insurance Company. The buildings started as apartments for rent. Later, in 1980, they became condominiums. This means people could buy their own apartments. The complex has 1,075 apartments, plus shops and offices. Many people in Guttenberg live in the Galaxy Towers.
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History of the Towers
Building the Galaxy Towers
The Galaxy Towers were built on the Hudson Palisades. This area used to be the site of an old brewery. Construction finished in 1976. The project was a partnership between Norman Belfer and Prudential Insurance.
The complex has three towers, each 44 stories tall. There are also two smaller buildings, 16 stories high, that connect them. Most apartments have great views of the Manhattan skyline. This is because of their unique eight-sided shape.
The location by the Hudson River was both good and bad. It offered beautiful views. But it also made the towers feel like a "city within a town." This made it hard to rent or sell the apartments at first. Some people also worried that the towers blocked views of the natural Hudson Palisades.
Changes and Growth
When the Galaxy Towers first opened, apartments were expensive to rent. Not many people rented them at first. In 1979, Norman Belfer and Prudential Insurance ended their partnership. Prudential took over the complex. They made many improvements, like new windows and renovated lobbies.
They also bought 17 acres of land by the water. This land was below the towers. By 1980, more people started renting apartments. Then, the towers were approved to become condominiums. This meant people could buy their homes.
The first apartments were sold in October 1980. By 1983, nearly 700 of the 1,075 units were sold. Many buyers came from Manhattan. The complex also has fun facilities. These include two swimming pools, an exercise room, and saunas.
Underneath the towers is the Galaxy Mall Plaza. This mall has shops and restaurants. It also used to have a movie theater called the Galaxy TriPlex. The theater opened in 1977. It showed movies and hosted special film events. However, it closed down in 2007. The space was later turned into offices.
The 21st Century at Galaxy Towers
In 2006, a resident named Mike Deluca started a website called Galaxyfacts. He wanted a place for residents to talk about issues in the community. The website became a popular spot for people living in the towers. They discussed different topics affecting their homes.
In 2014, an 80-year-old resident had an unusual car accident. He accidentally drove his car through a wall in the parking lot. His car fell several stories down a ventilation shaft. Luckily, he was able to climb out. Emergency services rescued him, and he had no serious injuries.
In 2016, an elevator repair worker sadly died in an accident. This happened while he was doing maintenance on an elevator. After this, the building's management made sure all elevators were checked. They were operated by attendants for a while to ensure safety.
In 2018, something special happened at the Galaxy Towers Mall. The North Bergen Library opened a new branch there. It's called the Guttenberg Resource Center. This center helps people who live far from other libraries. It offers a place for children to play and for seniors to meet. They also have classes like English as a Second Language (ESL). This was the first time a library from one town opened a branch in another town in New Jersey.
Appearances in media
The Galaxy Towers have appeared in TV shows. In a 2012 National Geographic Channel show called Comic Store Heroes, a character visits the towers. He is looking for a rare comic book.
See also
In Spanish: Galaxy Towers para niños
