Hoboken elected officials are announcing that Marineview Plaza will register under rent control following a municipal court hearing this morning.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“I am very glad to share the news that Marineview Plaza will be registering under city rent control, a position that we have long held that will give much-needed clarity to tenants,”
Mayor Ravi Bhalla said in a statement.
“From the very beginning, my administration has been steadfast that any unjustified rent hikes will be fought, tooth and nail, by the city and our efforts have finally paid off. I would like to thank Councilman Presinzano and the City Council members for their partnership, as well as the Marineview landlord for their recent cooperation on an amicable resolution, as this has been a multi-year saga that is now coming to a resolution in favor of tenants.”
According to Bhalla’s office, Marineview’s attorneys have confirmed that the property will register under rent control for 2025.
Additionally, they have represented that rents increased by approximately 3.6 percent in January 2024, with an additional 3 percent increase retroactively taking effect in January 2025.
The city and MVP will work together over the next several weeks on needed steps management must take to register the buildings under rent control, and any additional instructions for tenants.
Marineview management did not immediately return an email seeking comment.
“I want to thank the mayor and his administration for listening to my ideas, that we need to be firm with MVP and get a solution for the residents quickly because year after year they faced unnecessary stress,” noted Presinzano, who represents the MVP tenants.
“This is a great example of how unity leads to the right outcome.”
Additionally, city officials have also requested information regarding the number of vacant apartments at MVP to assess potential violations related to unit warehousing, which is impermissible according to municipal law.
Seven of the eight council members, with the exception of Council President Jim Doyle, celebrated the decision.
“The outcome of today’s court hearing is a good one for Hoboken and the residents of Marineview Plaza, as the owners agreed to register with Hoboken’s Rent Control Office – providing residents the assurance that they will have the protection of our local rent
control laws,” stated At-Large Councilwoman Emily Jabbour, who voiced support for MVP residents yesterday.
“Thank you to the Marineview residents who joined me at the hearing this morning, and thank you to all of the Marineview residents for working with the City to address this issue and share accurate information with neighbors.”
MVP building management wrote a letter to tenants on November 30th stating that they could potentially have a 9.8 percent rent hike this year, citing an inability to reach an agreement with city officials, as HCV first reported.
Bhalla then took the position that the building is in violation of the city’s rent control ordinance shortly before city officials hosted a closed door meeting with MVP residents.