Hoboken

[TimmyG]

Two plans, one plot: Should former mercury site be firehouse, or assisted living?

By: Michael D. Mullins, Reporter staff writer 07/16/2006

Mayor David Roberts and Councilman Michael Russo have different ideas on what to do with the hazardous Grand Street site that once sent tenants and neighbors fleeing from mercury contamination.

The plot of grassy land, located at 720 Grand St. between Seventh and Eighth streets, is currently owned by the Environmental Protection Agency, which decontaminated the site and found homes for the displaced tenants..

Twenty out of the 29 former residents were found to possess high levels of mercury in their systems

General Electric, which had owned the factory that manufactured industrial mercury vapor lighting at the site, was held responsible for the subsequent contamination and provided $ 15.5 million of the total $35 million it cost to clean up the site. The EPA provided the rest.

Although the EPA plans to sell the property at market value, it has said that it would take into consideration the city's plans of using the site for a municipal building that would benefit its residents.

For public safety, or seniors?
Since July of 2001, Mayor David Roberts has expressed interest in building a centralized public safety facility there. The complex would include at least two fire engines, emergency rescue equipment, and Hazmat equipment for a chemical or biological disaster.

However, the present police station at First and Hudson streets would stay where it is.

If the mayor is successful, two of the city's current firehouses will be relocated to the new facility, due to deterioration at their current sites.

But Councilman Michael Russo has proposed building a senior housing development with assisted living there. "There is no assisted living housing for seniors in the city, and we need one," said Russo. "Seniors who cannot live independently shouldn't have to leave Hoboken or have to wait at home for a help aid to arrive."

Russo feels that the younger members would also benefit from having a facility close by that could provide care for their aging parents or grandparents.

Another possibility Russo suggested was for the city to work with a private investor who would be interested in purchasing the property for such a purpose.

There are currently six senior housing facilities in Hoboken.

Of the six, Marion Towers, Columbian Towers and Columbian Arms are run by a private development company, while the other three are run by the federally subsidized Hoboken Housing Authority.

An official at the Housing Authority said Thursday that there is approximately a 15-month wait to get into the HHA's senior buildings.

Maurice DeGennaro, the former chairman of the board for Columbian Tower Development Company, which built both the Columbian Towers in 1984 and Columbian Arms in 1991, is currently seeking the city's approval to expand the towers by 80 units.

DeGennaro currently manages the Towers at 76 Bloomfield St., where he says people are still waiting to get in from a 162-person list from 2002.

"The city needs more senior housing," said DeGennaro.


Mayor's idea
In the past, Roberts has suggested that the fire stations on Second and Jefferson streets and Eight and Clinton streets should be closed rather than have the city spend several million dollars in an attempt to restore them.

Fred Bado, the city's Director of Community Development, says the reason for the deterioration is years of misuse, being that many of the fire stations were originally built to house a horse and buggy and not to support a fire truck weighing over a ton.

Thus, the trucks would go in the new central facility.

But Michael Russo said that he thinks Roberts' facility should go somewhere else.

Russo suggested moving it to one of the less developed areas in Hoboken, such as the southwest or northwest part of town.

"I agree with his plan; I don't agree with his placement," said Russo, who would like to see the creation of a "central command center" that includes both the police and ambulance corps in addition to the Fire Department.

Coincidentally, a rumor has said that the Police Station on First and Hudson streets would be relocated. Although the city has not abandoned the possibility of relocating the police headquarters, which currently requires renovations, Bado feels the present location better serves the needs of the city because of its proximity to City Hall and the PATH Station.

As both politicians wait to see if the city is able to acquire the property, Russo plans to ask his fellow council members at the next meeting to consider making a request for the EPA to remove the fence at the property. That way, it could be used as a temporary park.


Michael Mullins can be reached at mmullins@hudsonreporter.com


©The Hudson Reporter 2006

[Ninjahedge]

Um, if people all over the state have to move to different towns to be able to get "assisted living", why should Hoboken be any different?

This is all vote pandering.

And besides, I do not feel comfy putting grandma and grandpa in the Mercury Lounge for the ret of their lives anyway. It is tough to say what would be best, but crying for assisted living is not one of them (with the only reason being the people having to move out of Hoboken. Not any other hardship, just moving to Weehawken, JC or some other neighboring town with a retirement home).

[TimmyG]

5-screen theater for Hoboken

Wednesday, July 19, 2006 By BONNIE FRIEDMAN

JOURNAL STAFF WRITER
HOBOKEN - Break out the popcorn, movies may be returning to the Mile Square City.
Mayor David Roberts says he's reached an agreement with the developers in the Northwest Redevelopment Area to build a five-screen theater on 14th Street between Grand and Adams streets.
The theater - which could open as early as next summer - would be the city's first moviehouse since Hudson Street Cinemas closed last fall.
"This is the biggest single issue people have called me on," Roberts said. "Our residents are going to have a theater in town, in walking distance."
Since plans for the movie theater were not part of the original 1998 redevelopment plan, the City Council is expected to vote on the zoning change at its August meeting.
Fred Bado, director of community development, said it will be a two-story, 600-seat theater, roughly 200 feet wide and 50 to 60 feet long.
Ursa/Tarragon, the developer in the Northwest, will build the theater and then rent it to an operator.
Michael Sciarra, a principal of Ursa/Tarragon, said he is in negotiations with a major company that operates theaters in New Jersey and New York, and that the theater will likely include restaurant and retail offerings.

[Ninjahedge]

5-screen theater for Hoboken

Wednesday, July 19, 2006 By BONNIE FRIEDMAN

JOURNAL STAFF WRITER
HOBOKEN - Break out the popcorn, movies may be returning to the Mile Square City.
Mayor David Roberts says he's reached an agreement with the developers in the Northwest Redevelopment Area to build a five-screen theater on 14th Street between Grand and Adams streets.
The theater - which could open as early as next summer - would be the city's first moviehouse since Hudson Street Cinemas closed last fall.
"This is the biggest single issue people have called me on," Roberts said. "Our residents are going to have a theater in town, in walking distance."
Since plans for the movie theater were not part of the original 1998 redevelopment plan, the City Council is expected to vote on the zoning change at its August meeting.
Fred Bado, director of community development, said it will be a two-story, 600-seat theater, roughly 200 feet wide and 50 to 60 feet long.
Ursa/Tarragon, the developer in the Northwest, will build the theater and then rent it to an operator.
Michael Sciarra, a principal of Ursa/Tarragon, said he is in negotiations with a major company that operates theaters in New Jersey and New York, and that the theater will likely include restaurant and retail offerings.

So instead of the crappy little 2 screen that charged you $6.50 (and later 7) for the almost-latest Adam Sandler flik, we get one that will show 5 of the latest Keanu Reeve - Saundra Bullock fliks for $9 a pop.


The only reason I went to the theater in Hoboken was the double combo of "right around the corner" and the fact that it was so much cheaper than the city. Otherwise.... :P

[amaluu729]

Sorry for the remedial question, but what is the transit time from Hoboken to Times Square/Midtown?

[Schadenfrau]

Probably about 40-45 minutes.

[RandySavage]

Walk from Times Square (42nd) to 33rd St. Path Station: 10 min.

Path Train from 33rd to Hoboken: 18 min.

If you catch the 33rd st. PATH right when you enter the station you could probably be in Hoboken 30 minutes after leaving Times Square. You'll probably wait 10 minutes or so in the station.

[Ninjahedge]

Bus goes right into PA. On non-rush hours it takes about 15 minutes. Walk to TS from PA? About 5 min.

During rush, commute is usually about 20 minutes, but could be +++ if there is a lot of traffic....

[Zoe]

You can also take the ferry which is 10 minutes to the midtown terminal. From there you would take a free bus and it depends on traffic (10-15 minutes).

[STT757]

Probably about 40-45 minutes.

I can drive to Times Square from my House in 40-45 minutes, and I live 35 miles South in Monmouth County.

[Schadenfrau]

That's because you don't leave your car idling for 15 minutes like a PATH train, STT757.

[Ninjahedge]

It all depends on the time of day.

At 4am I can get into TS in my car in 12 minutes, but that is also going all green on the lights as well....


One other important thing to realize:

Ferry is the most expensive, followed by bus, and PATH is the cheapest.

Ferry is something like $4 e.w., bus $2.30, and PATH $1.50.

[TimmyG]

Still 'step-down,' but taller

Wednesday, August 09, 2006 By BONNIE FRIEDMAN

JOURNAL STAFF WRITER
HOBOKEN - The redevelopment plan for the city's municipal garage site on Observer Highway is back - and it's bigger than ever.
Fred Bado, the city's director of community development, said the revised plan for the 1-acre site will add as many as three stories to the original blueprint, which called for a building with a "step-down" design - the lowest portion of the building topped out at seven stories, the highest, on the southwest corner, at nine.
The revised plan envisions a similar "step-down" design, but now the building's height will range from nine to 12 stories.
In May, the City Council unanimously approved the original garage-site plan - which was developed using the recommendations of a 16-member resident advisory committee.
But that plan only drew two bidders - Metro-Ran LLC and Applied Development/Cali Futures LLC - both of which were substantially less than the $30 million figure Mayor David Roberts was hoping for.
The City Council eventually rejected both of those bids, arguing that both failed to meet bid specifications - which included coming in 10 to 15 minutes late.
Lane Bajardi, president of the Observer Highway Advisory Committee, called the new plan "the mayor's rush back to square one."
"The mayor's actions are disrespectful and regrettable," he said. "Despite our sincere efforts to work with him, the mayor is showing he has no interest in truly forging development solutions with the citizens of Hoboken."

[JCMAN320]

Hoboken's new slogan should be; Hoboken where we cater to the rich and shit on the little guy.

[stache]

We can apply that to large portions of this planet.