Prudential Center resurges high demand for downtown Newark living

Stretch of downtown Newark could pass for an eerie set of the old “Twilight Zone” series, but it is ever-so-slowly starting to come to life, a beneficiary of the economic catalyst of 18,000-seat Prudential Center arena just up the street. “We believe there’s a huge demand for downtown living,” said real-estate developer Samer Hanini, who partnered with Marc Berson just 18 months ago on the Bowers building. “’The Rock’ brings safety to the street, and that helps rent out the units a lot quicker.