92 percent of survey respondents from last month indicated they want one of the four Hoboken municipal complex proposals, officials said today.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
The latest public survey was available between April 6th and April 19th and had over 1,000 respondents, according to the mayor’s office, and 92 percent selected one of the four designs.
“The survey results speak for themselves. The Hoboken community recognizes how transformational the Hoboken Municipal Complex can be if it provides much-needed recreation facilities, a long-awaited community pool, and, importantly, a new home for our public safety department and public works garage,” Mayor Ravi Bhalla said in a statement.
“As our population continues to grow, we must invest in our future to provide for their needs and I look forward to continuing to work with the community on this vision for the Hoboken Municipal Complex.”
The fourth design, with a cost estimate of $192.5 million, incorporates amenities such as civic center, pool, recreation center, and field house, was selected by 41 percent of respondents, compared to 28 percent for the third design – which is the same design concept aside from the field house.
15 percent were content with the second concept, which has only the civic center and pool as amenities, and just nine percent selected the first design which has no amenities and has a tentative price tag of $152.5 million.
Additionally, 84 percent of respondents indicated they’d like to see a building with recreational amenities, while 52 percent said they wanted to see a pool included. Overall, just eight percent indicated they didn’t want any of the designs proposed.
“The city’s recreational facilities are close to maxed out with most basketball teams, baseball teams, soccer teams, and lacrosse teams only able to practice once a week, due to the high demand,” added Health and Human Services and Recreation Director Leo Pellegrini.
“This new facility will help meet the growing need and allow us to provide recreational activities for even more age groups, including our seniors.”
Initially billed as a public safety complex for the police and fire departments, along with the volunteer ambulance squad and office of emergency management, the concept has been expanded to include the Department of Public Works, the municipal court, council chambers, a library, community center, and much more.
“Mayor Bhalla’s Administration is committed to bringing a 21st-century municipal complex to the City that includes state of the art public safety components to greatly enhance the safety of all of our residents, visitors, and businesses, as well as provide the safest environment for our women and men of public safety to proficiently do their jobs,” noted Public Safety Director Ken Ferrante.
“Together, we need to join in giving Police Chief Steven Aguiar, Fire Chief Anton Peskens, and OEM Coordinator Sergeant William Montanez all of the tools necessary that best allows them to run their departments, instead of asking them and the brave men and women who protect this City, to do more with less.”
Additionally, Council President Mike Russo said that after three public meeting and two public forums, the administration, council, and public should feel comfortable moving forward soon.
The proposed site for the complex, the Poggi Press site at 1501 Adams St., remains an issue though.
Earlier this year, the council approved the ability to use eminent domain, as well as the first reading of a related $44 million bond ordinance, by the same narrow vote tally of 5-4.
However, the second reading of the bond requires six votes, and is expected to be removed from Wednesday’s agenda completely after being carried for the past two meetings.
This has prompted speculation that the city will work with the Hudson County Improvement Authority to fund the project.
Through a spokesman, the HCIA confirmed they met with Hoboken officials in March to discuss their financing programs, with no specific project discussed, with no subsequent meetings or communication since then.
Another virtual community meeting on the municipal complex will be held Thursday, May 12th at 6 p.m. and anyone wishing to register for the meeting can click here.