Hoboken
 

Just curioius what is everyone's opinion of Hoboken?

Hoboken
 

Really cool city, getting outrageously expensive, constant parking shortage. *Lots of nice blocks of old brownstones. *Unofficial sixth borough, or is it seventh, after JC? *Really nice old train station. *Best views of Midtown anywhere. *Youthful, fun city, rapidly gentrifying and thus losing its edge to young stockbrokers. *Frank Sinatra's home town. *Moody, atmospheric industrial ruins. *
Maxwell's is a venerable music venue for up-and-comers, and is where Bruce Springsteen shot his "Glory Days" video.

(Edited by dbhstockton at 11:43 am on June 6, 2003)

Hoboken
 

I lived there for a while after college, as did most of my friends. It was the perfect time to live there as there are SO many bars and young, beautiful girls walking around, plus it was affordable back then. And Greenwich Village is a ten minute PATH train away. One block I lived on was a not-yet-gentrified Italian neighborhood where I actually heard a lady yelling "Anthonyyyyyy!" out the window (like the Prince spaghetti commercials). GREAT pizza - as good as anywhere in New York. I loved it there, and occasionally still enjoy the restaurants and the many cool bars. It definitely has that less vibrant but neighborhoody outer-borough feel, obviously a little quieter than Manhattan for the most part, and safe. Parking is, and always has been, a living nightmare.

There are some beautiful blocks of brownstones, as dbh said, and still plenty of creepy projects back near the cliffs. Most of the redevelopment in the backstreets is successful and architecturally interesting, but I'm not crazy about the waterfront development aside from the fabulous new parks and piers.

Baseball's first officially recorded organized game was played there (by two New York clubs) at the Elysian Fields.

Hoboken
 

Developement is non-stop in Hoboken. *I agree that the waterfront office buildings are not so hot. *But the town will soon build a W hotel on the water and add another peir next to the one already there. *
Public transportation is getting better. *The PA approved funding to renovate the old Lackawana Ferry terminal. *The lightrail will open 2 new stops along the west-side of Hoboken in early 2004 and there is a new elevator structure they are currently building that will connect the 9th street lightrail stop to JC heights. *In that same area they are building out several new developments including a project called Village West. *That project will be along the lightrail and will be an artist community with several fountains, etc... *Obviously I now live there (but miss Astoria) and enjoy the neighborhoods. *It is extremely gentrified and probably the most Yuppie area in NJ.

Hoboken
 

New tower and hotel: http://www.nytimes.com/2003/06/08/re...te/08NJZO.html

Development finishes fast in Hoboken, one time I checked out skyscrapers.com and it listed one project as proposed, and before I knew it (or even saw any of the construction), I saw the real thing complete, one day when I looked in its direction.

My Girlfriends father own a couple houses in Hoboken, when we get married we hope we can move into Hoboken.

Hoboken is like the City, more like the Village, but safer and smaller.

The night life is excellent in Hoboken, and there are more outside cafes on Washington street than I've seen anywhere in Manhattan.

It's getting expensive but it just adds to it's prestige.

The Lackawanna terminal is excellent, it's the second nicest rail facility after Grand Central.

Also the Port Authority is investing Hundreds of Millions in restoring the orginal ferry landings which will greatly expand the ferry service from Hoboken. Also NJ Transit connects Hoboken with many towns as far away as Port Jervis NY, Hopefully the proposes Lackawanna Cut-off project will get the go-ahead which will restore passenger rail service from Scranton PA to Hoboken.

http://hobokenterminal.com/webpix/hobokenferryslips.jpg

http://hobokenterminal.com/webpix/ho...ight_small.jpg

http://hobokenterminal.com/photos/sn...5_decesare.jpg

City and grassroots citizen's group file appeal to stop already-built buildings
Tom Jennemann - Hoboken Reporter
Reporter staff writer September 28, 2003

Both the City of Hoboken and a citizens' organization called the Hudson County Alliance have filed appeals of a dismissal of their suit against the developer of two 17-story towers at 101 Marshall St. on the city's southwestern border. The project is commonly referred to as the Gateway Towers.
Construction on the 326-unit high rise was approved by the city's Zoning Board in 1998 and construction began nearly a year and a half ago. Both towers now stand 17 stories tall, and construction of the exterior is nearly complete.
The plaintiffs argue that approvals for the project were given illegally, and that the tall towers will add to congestion and sewer problems.

Uphill fight continues
At this point, the odds of success are stacked against the city's and the HCA's appeal. The first obstacle is that the project was approved back in 1998, meaning that it is going to be exceedingly difficult to argue that the statute of limitations hasn't run out. Normally plaintiffs have one year to file.
The HCA continues to argue that because Jersey City, whose border is within 200 feet of the project, was never notified that the project was before the Planning Board, "the clock [for possible litigation] never started."
Jersey City had joined the HCA and Hoboken in earlier litigation, but has since dropped out after reaching a six-figure settlement with the developer, Gateway I LLC and Harrison Street Apartments.
The second thing working against the city is that Superior Court Judge Arthur D'Italia on August 21, 2002 threw the HCA, Jersey City and Hoboken's case out, and in his ruling scolded Hoboken, Jersey City and the HCA for filing years after the project was approved. In his ruling, the judge said that all parties involved failed to act "with due diligence and dispatch" an that even under "the most liberal" interpretation the city "slept soundly on its rights."
The judge added that stopping work would be an "onerous" hardship on the project's builder, which has received $58 million in bank loans to erect the buildings.
The final obstacle that faces the HCA and the city, and maybe the most obvious, is that the buildings are already built.
While there is a precedent of developers being forced to shave floors off the top of buildings, it's highly unlikely, according to one high-ranking city official, that any judge is going to make a developer tear down 326 units of already-constructed housing.

What's to gain
All of these factors beg the question to be asked, what is there to gain from appealing the approvals for a building that is already built?
One reason is to show current developers, and those who might want to develop in the future, that there are watchdog groups scrutinizing development closely.
"We still strongly feel the [Zoning Board and the North Hudson Sewerage Authority] were wrong and that still needs to be addressed," said Eric Volpe of the HCA. "We believe that it is important that court hears our arguments and rules on the legality of these approvals."
A second rationale for continuing litigation was presented by Councilwoman Carol Marsh. She said that the issues of legality and of possible remediation should be looked at separately.
"Let's first find out if these approvals were illegal," she said. "Then we can talk about what can be done." She added that the buildings being nearly finished shouldn't be a reason to stop litigation. If a wrong was committed during the approval process, it should be brought to light no matter where the construction is.
Neither the HCA's nor the city's appeal gives any suggestions as to what a possible remediation might entail. Also, both Marsh and Volpe both declined to speculate what might be an acceptable resolution if their appeal is successful.

History of the project
Foundation permits were granted in September of 2001 by the city of Hoboken for two 17-story towers at 101 Marshall St. The original zoning approval was granted in 1998. Developer Rene Abreu, the owner of several real estate, mortgage, and tax appraisal companies, submitted and got approval for the 17-story towers for one of his companies, Gateway 1 LLC. He sold the properties and the company and the company in 2001. In May 2002, Abreu was indicted by the U.S. Attorney's Office on charges of bank fraud, mortgage fraud, check kiting, money laundering and bribery of bank officials.
While 101 Marshall was not listed in the indictment, there were checks cited that were deposited into the accounts for "Gateway 1 LLC," which is the name of Abreu's company that was developing 101 Marshall. Those checks were dated before the sale of the property. The current owners are in no way related or linked to Abreu's alleged indiscretions.
Variances approved for the project in 1998 included parking height and lot coverage. Gateway was allowed to have a 17-story height and 100 percent lot coverage, while city ordinance stipulated a five-story building with only 60 percent lot coverage. Similarly, parking ordinances called for 484 off-street parking spaces, and the project got approval for only 431 spaces.
On July 1, 2002 litigation was initiated by the Hudson County Alliance (HCA), a local citizens' group, to stop construction. On July 9, 2002, both Hoboken and Jersey City joined the litigation. The lawsuit aimed to overturn the project's Zoning Board approvals and those from the North Hudson Sewerage Authority that will allow the builder of the project to connect the building to the city's sewer lines.
The buildings - which will feature 326 rental units, two restaurants, a health club, retail space and an enclosed seven-story garage - are nearly complete. The suit filed against the property owners named the Hoboken Zoning Board and the North Hudson Sewerage Authority as defendants. The Hoboken City Council and the HCA were co-plaintiffs along with Jersey City.
Members of the Hudson County Alliance have stated in previous reports that the organization's resistance to the project is due to both possible improprieties in securing variances and permits and also the traffic and flooding problems the complex may cause.
Property values are also at stake, as the 158-foot towers would obscure sight lines to Manhattan and New York Harbor from the Jersey City Heights neighborhood at the edge of the Palisades.
On August 21, 2002, Judge Arthur D'Italia dismissed nearly every count of the case. On Sept.5, 2003 the HCA filed its appeal with the state Appellate Court, and on Monday the city filed its appeal.

Manhattan views from the Hoboken waterfront.

http://galleries.soaringtowers.org/a...ont1.sized.jpg

Downtown from Hoboken:
http://galleries.soaringtowers.org/a...oken.sized.jpg

Reshaping the watefront:
http://galleries.soaringtowers.org/a...ont2.sized.jpg

From Stevens Institute of Technology:
The Howe Center, superb views of the city high up on a cliff:
http://galleries.soaringtowers.org/a...vens.sized.jpg

http://galleries.soaringtowers.org/a...ine1.sized.jpg

Waterfront soccer field:
http://galleries.soaringtowers.org/a...ccer.sized.jpg

Marina
http://galleries.soaringtowers.org/a...rina.sized.jpg

Midtown from the 13th Street pier:
http://galleries.soaringtowers.org/a...er13.sized.jpg

http://galleries.soaringtowers.org/a...View.sized.jpg


Brownstones:
http://galleries.soaringtowers.org/a...ones.sized.jpg


Train Station waiting room:
http://galleries.soaringtowers.org/a...room.sized.jpg

I Love Hoboken, and I love Hoboken Terminal. Great job with the interior shot, they are begining work to restore the outside of the terminal as well as the original ferry slips.

Should be awesome.

Gruzen Samton is busy here..


1118 Adams Street
Mixed-use structures in Hoboken, New Jersey
461,165 Square Feet
Hoboken, New Jersey - 2005

http://www.gruzensamton.com/images/p...ng_1_2005t.jpg

Hoboken Northwest Development - Block 88
Mixed-use structures in Hoboken, New Jersey
461,165 Square Feet
Hoboken, New Jersey - 2005

http://www.gruzensamton.com/images/p...g_1_2003_p.jpg

Hoboken Northwest Development - Block 87
Mixed-use structures in Hoboken, New Jersey
461,165 Square Feet
Hoboken, New Jersey - 2005

http://www.gruzensamton.com/images/p...7_1_2004_1.jpg

Hoboken Northwest Development - 1100 Adams Street
Mixed-use structures in Hoboken, New Jersey
461,165 Square Feet
Hoboken, New Jersey - 2005

http://www.gruzensamton.com/images/p..._Rendering.jpg


www.gruzensamton.com

A lot of the new development is dissapointing.

You have some of these really nice brownstones all over, and then you get these aluminum stud-wall pre-fab units growing like weeds all over the place and going for upwards of $600 a sf because they have marble countertops in the kitchen...

The general rule with most of these developments is to buy new and sell within 5 years before the window weatehrstripping starts to peel, or the pressboard cabinets start to "loosen".

It is a nice place to live (been there 8 years) but it has its own problems. Parking being one of them.

One of the hardest things to give up here will be the proximity of so many good restaurants within walking distance!

Hoboken, New Jersey?
 

I have a friend that just moved to NYC and got an apartment in Hoboken, New Jersey. Anyone ever been there? If so, anything fun to do there aside from going into the city?

I'd love to know!

I have only been a few times, but Hoboken definately has it's own nightlife that doesn't involve going into Manhattan. Restaraunts, bars, outdoor spaces, etc. Parking is a bitch though from what I have seen and heard...

Forget parking. Hoboken has an excellent subway connection to Manhattan via PATH. It's also acessible by frequent ferry service.

Hoboken, never heard of it... ;)


Fun to do? Yes:

Hoboken Ski Club
Volleyball
Soccer (although I don't know where to sign up)
Bars all over the place.
Live music (some really good, the rest are covers)
FOOD!

But Hoboken is SO close to the village and central mid-town that you should have no problem getting around.



As for food, I reccomend these places in Hoboken:

Augustinos - Italian
Sri-Thai - Thai
Satay - malaysian
Arthurs - CHEAP steak
Helmers - Beer
Maxwells - New/Up and coming performers. So-so food
Baja - Mexican. Do NOT go to East LA.
Margharitas - PIZZA!!!!

And there are a few others.


www.kannekt.com has some listings.

Dude,if your friend moved to New York City they would have an apartment in New York,not Hoboken,New Jersey.

I merged this thread with a new one started by mluetke so there aren't two Hoboken threads.

Personally I find Hoboken more fun than the City, Younger crowd with a Wall Street/Party College vibe.

Nirvana played Maxwells right before they hit it big with "Smells Like Teen Spirit". There's a band called Eugene based in Hoboken I like to see.

For food..

Precious (Chinese/Sushi)
East LA (Mexican)
Qadoba (Mexican fast food)
Tutta Pasta (Italian)
Malibu Diner
Benny Tedinos (Pizzaria)
Fiores (Mortadella Sandwiches)
Black Bear (Steak)
Chock Full of Nuts (Coffee/Pastry)


My favorite restaraunt that I took my Fiance all the time is/was Flavia which is a lite Italian Fare, however they have not been open the last couple times I was there but I hope they come back!.....

Karma Kafe (forgive the queer name) is great for Indian:

http://www.karmakafe.com/

Also, Zafra is wonderful for Cuban:

http://www.hobokeni.com/zafra.asp

Flavia is OK, but very dry . they make things lite by not putting much on it that is fatty.

So it is great for a light pasta or bruchetta, but if you want a true Parmigana you need to go uptown.


Sorry for ranking on some of the places in your post STT, but I just had to offer my opinion on the places you commented on... ;)

They are all good, I love Hoboken. Im getting married there in October '06, my fiance was born there and her father owns some properties on the West Side of Town . His business has a real driveway, where I can park for free when we visit:)

.

That's the place, real old world sandwiches. I love the Mortedella but it comes back to haunt you after you eat it.

One more place I forgot is City hall bakery, Carlo's.

They are doing our wedding cake.

The two best places in the tri-State area for Italian pastries are Mona Lisa Bakery in Dyker Heights Brooklyn and City Hall/ Carlo's bakery.

Here are a few other places to check out

Illusion
Trinity
House of Sushi
Pita Grill
OdeFellows (cajun)
Venue
Amanda's

There are also a few Prix Fixe that are good as well at:

Amandas - Very small window of opportunity though.
Madison B+G
City Bistro

That is all I can remember now.


I do recommend Karma for indian though. Bombay West is not bad either.

And Cuban? get your butt to La Isla!

I just miss Carmalitoes! Charitoes is OK, but it is much more expensive, and ever since the owner "left" (He worked there all the time when it opened), the guys that are left are HORRIBLE at cleanup (I used to live above them).

Roaches in the hallway! Dragging leaking garbage through the foyer from the back to the front curb! Smoking and drinking IN THE HALLWAY!

When the boss is away, the kids will play.



Oh, outside the city, two places I have been to that are nice:

The Iron Monkey (remember the stupid ads?) - Fusion food of all sorts
Prestos - GREAT Italian at can't be beat prices.

There is also a pretty good , I think it is Korean place in JC right next to a decent Korean Grocery, and Fort Lee has a pretty good Kimchee/Soup place right near the GWB (parking is a beast, and the neighbor owns the lot across the street and gets pissey when people park there).

Anywho, GL!

(And I have to try out the bakery. I remember walking along, I think it was 1st or 2nd and smelling this small bakery, all in white tile, baking up some fresh breat one day. smelled so good!)

My first place was in Hoboken when I moved to the NYC area. I *hated* it. Absolutely hated it.

Sure, the brownstones were pretty, the waterfront nice, and all of the asian-fusion restaurants palatable, but the people, my god, the PEOPLE!
These are the people who are either too scared to live in New York or too name-obsessed to live in Queens or Brooklyn, or Harlem or somewhere else. The town was so homogenous in the worst way possible. Hoboken types are generally one of the following:

1. the B.A. degree white girl from suburban philadelphia, suburban new jersey or somewhere else. likely went to villanova, northeastern, or another second-tier university. was probably in a sorority. sticks largely to manhattan west of 6th ave. if possible.

2. the frat-boy young wall street worker who only lives there to meet type 1. Can be seen starting fights at an overpriced bar where they serve beer in really large mugs with really large TV's showing really large football players.

Needless to say, I was neither, so I moved to Brooklyn and don't regret it. I didn't move to New York to live in a place like Hoboken... it was basically suburban Dallas with brownstones and a subway.

Ouch.

Tell us what you really think of Hoboken...

In all seriousness though, your description is basically on the money.

You do not go to Hoboken for the people.

You forgot to mention the clique-ey nature of the town.


People are really nice when you start to break down the barriers, but that is hard to do. Most people come in with their own cadre of friends and do not bother looking for any more.

But if you wanted to meet some better people you had to follow some simple rules:

1. Do not go to ANY of the trendy bars.
2. Visit places like Scotland yard to listen to the blues
3. Try clubs or other social organizations
4. Talk to the LOCALS, not the ones that just moved in!!
5. Dont even try to get some open space at the parks on a nice weekend.
6. Visit NY a lot... ;)


I think I like it for a few reasons:

1. It is VERY close to work.
2. A LOT of places to eat, all within walking distance.
3. Nice brownstones.
4. Still close enough for me to easily drive to visit family.

But I do have to agree with you about the people. They seem to be mostly suburbanites coming into Hoboken right after college because it is a shorter commute with more bars, look for someone from the same genre, going out, getting hitched, having a kid and moving out when that kid turns 2.

;)

I've visited Hoboken several times - and it definitely reminded me of Brooklyn. Your thoughts? I went to several open houses in Brooklyn and the price is more affordable and you definitely get more space.

Depends on the area. Hoboken had a price boom with all the development running rampant (all you have to do is go back by 10th and Monroe and see the maze of 6 story plain jane condos that are going up.).

Brooklyn Heights compares very favorably to Hoboken, as well as other areas nearby. Park Slope is probably pretty close a comparison as well. There are even 2 or 3 blocks near the projects in Hoboken that remind me of areas of the OLD east village/Bed-Sty.

But it is hard to compare Brooklyn with Hoboken in that Brooklyn seems to have held itself together a little more. Depending on where you go, it is a little more crowded, but more neighborhood-y.

I don't know how else to describe it. I liked areas of both, quite frankly. And the Blues Fest in the Heights had me sold on BH. If it wasn't for the $$ I would be living there now!

What are your thoughts on SKY CLUB? i almost purchased a condo there

Sky Club?

You would have to give me the addy on that one.

There are a lot of new things going up in the area, and it is hard to say which ones are better than others.

The GF and I bought the top floor of a Brownstone on Washington Street. Over 1200 SF, skylights, 10' ceilings, and (now newly replaced by us) hardwood floors.

I like it much better than the newer condos in many ways. The only downside is that we do not have a modern washer/dryer (we have a stacked electric) and that things like the whirlpool tub is also not included.

But, quite frankly, things like marble countertops and whirlpool tubs mean very little when it comes to a new place. Look at what the cabinets are constructed of (wood or pressboard). Take a look at the molding and see if they did it right, or if they just did it as fast as they could to meet deadline. Look for cracks at seams indicating insufficient rigidity (flexible structure, possible longterm damage/leaks/drafts).

Look at the windows. Hell, look at everything! I have seen so many "quick and dirties" in the new construction and the renovations it is not funny.

You may find something worth getting, but you really have to look hard!

That's on first street and jackson i believe. i cancelled it because it was next to the projects and is not close to washington street.

when did you purchase the brownstone? how many bedrooms?

Last year, 2BR (although it was 3 a while back. One of the previous owners tore down a wall).

I would look for some of the older ones before going for the new construction unless you are looking at a quick turnaround.

The pre-fabs only last about 5-7 years before needing replacements/repairs (or you start to see unsightly staining onthe facade and the like).


Also, I am hearing word of the makret slowing up a bit, places staying on the market longer or going off the market. So who knows what that means.

I do not see Hoboken really dropping in price, but a bubble flattening may be coming. Look for what you want, in your price range, and then jump on it.

And you are right about Jackson, it is a DIVE!

I guess about 8 months ago i was pretty adamant about moving to hoboken. I went to 14 open houses. but it just didnt work out. hence i am in murray hill now! i think in a 5-6 years i want to move to gramercy - you know when the prices are not as crazy!

W Hotel
 

Hoboken rolls out W-elcome mat

Ground broken for luxury hotel to open in 2 years

Thursday, December 01, 2005By JARRETT RENSHAW


JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

HOBOKEN - The Mile Square City now has something in common with San Francisco, Seoul, Sydney, Barcelona and neighboring New York City.

Hoboken will become the next city to boast a luxury W Hotel following yesterday's groundbreaking ceremony on the city's southern waterfront.

The W Hoboken, a sleek, wedge-shaped, 25-story building, will feature 225 rooms plus 37 luxury condos with unobstructed views of the Manhattan skyline, and an upscale bar and spa. Condo owners will enjoy all the luxuries of hotel life, including 24-hour room service, a daily maid and concierge service. It is scheduled to open in fall 2007.

Hoboken-based Applied Development will develop and own the facility, but it will be operated by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide.

Local civic and political leaders proudly hailed the coming of the W Hotel as a historic and transforming event in the city's history.

"This is a great milestone in the history of the city, and it solidifies that Hoboken is one of the most favored destinations in the state of New Jersey," said Mayor David Roberts, one of the biggest supporters of the project over the years.

The ground-breaking attracted political leaders from all corners, including Hoboken resident Rep. Robert Menendez, who said the W Hotel's presence "exemplifies the city's enormous potential and all the great success it has already realized."

"It's giving us an icon on the waterfront," boasted City Council President Chris Campos.

Michael Barry, president of Applied Housing, said before yesterday that the $62 million hotel would itself bring the city more than 200 jobs, not including construction work, and that guests would spend roughly $100 in Hoboken per visit.

Rumors were buzzing at the press conference that one of W's newest tenants will be newly elected Governor and Hoboken resident Jon Corzine, whose spokesman refused to confirm or deny.

Menendez was asked if he thought about moving into one of the luxury condos, and replied: "I live on a public servant salary, I don't think I could afford to live there."

Although the W Hotel is still to be built, it has already attracted at least one entrepreneur.

"When I was looking for a site for my restaurant, I looked all over Hoboken, but I chose this spot because of the W Hotel," said Richard Browne, owner of Quays restaurant, located less than a block from the site.

Browne, like others, believes the W Hotel will draw some attention away from Washington Street and cast some light on the night life on River Street, where many upscale restaurants have found homes in recent years.

"It's a huge plus for us, and for the town," Browne said.

JARRETT RENSHAW can be reached at jrenshaw@jjournal.com

But...but...why?

Talk about Hoboken's renaissance all you want, but it's no world cosmopolis and never will be.

Unless of course the W is just planning to "go Starbucks". In which case we'll probably see some pop up in places like Trenton and Bridgeport in no time.

I think the W was sold recently, but that would have been after the construction on this started.

Still, the idea of a Hoboken W will never fail to crack me up. If anyone's the betting type, who'd like to wager against that being a HoJo's within three years?

The plot was being discussed for about 3 years or more now.

I saw the tent set up on the way to work and I was wondering what sane person would have a wedding reception in a flooded construction site, then it hit me. This was the ground breaking.


Or, rather, the digging up of a shovelful of dirt that was just back-hoes and leveled to give a flat, dry place to stand.

Anyway, Hoboken has some great opportunities to make an entire riverside plaza from the large buildings it recently put up, but in the greed that is Development, they made only the riverside habitable. the other side is flush with the sidewalk. If they had just left the buildings first bay open it would have made a wonderful open atrium kind of feel, with large dining plazas all around the buildings.

Now all we get to do is look at people working out in Club H, Jos A Clothier, or Chase Bank (among others).

River Street should be named Canyon Street at the rate they are going. Aside from Castle Rock, there is not a single length of the Hoboken Waterfront that is not, or planned to be, blocked by mid-hi rise structures.

It is good to build new stuff, but they just saw the $$ and not the long term impact.....

As cynical as I am, I would wager against it.

have you been to Hoboken recently? I realize you are exaggerating to be sarcastic, but the average place there is now going for a bundle and the overall affluence of the area is above most of Queens and large sections of Brooklyn.

It is also close to a central rail station, and has what might be a direct link to Newark Airport without having to be located in Raritan.

Please do us a favor Schade and make fun of the "wholesome" Hoboken city hall rather than NJ in general...... ;)

I'm not making fun of Hoboken. I've certainly spent time there and the place has its own charm.

However, charm doesn't translate into tourists wanting to spend $400 a night on a hotel room, only to have to schlep it on the PATH the next day.

That's why they have the ferries.....


I can see them spending $$ to be in Hoboken, MUCH better view of NYC, but looking at the $$ of the restaurants and clubs that opened up along the riverside, I think that $400 a night is a little expensive too.

There has got to be a line somewhere between Luxury and Motel 6.....

(PS, that post was a little unclear.... I do agree with you Schade.... Hoboken is nice, but not Luxury. I guess that is just where the Mayor will have all his friends stay when they come to visit... ;) )

Middleground, thy name is HoJo's.

Seriously, please don't think I'm mocking Hoboken, but the town is not built to house a W hotel. A great record store, sure. Nice restaurants, of course. Lots of bars? Indeed.

The only market I can imagine for something like that would be entry-level bankers who've got college buddies visiting from out of town. And even then, former frat brahs are not known for turning their noses up at a couch.

I just read your last post and have to say, finally: we agree on something.

The hotel will have more impressive views than any Manhattan hotel... I lived in Hoboken years ago and commuted by Ferry... the hudson view of the Manhattan skyline (which will only get better with BofA, NYT, FT, etc.) never fails to impress.

But who stays in a hotel for a skyline?

An apartment I can understand, but visitors want to go out.

I think they will not be able to get what they want out of it unless they get a major presence from places liek Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan (I believe they are both in JC now).

THAT would be the money maker, as I do not see too many hotels springing up in JC.

If JC can build up more like a downtown Brooklyn, Hoboken can easliy be compared to a Brooklyn Heights.


But now? $400?

I agree, too much for a night in NJ.