The Bayonne City Council approved the second reading of an ordinance for a new development on West 25th Street with 182 units, none of which are affordable housing, and a recreation center at last night’s meeting.
By Daniel Ulloa/Hudson County View
“How many affordable housing units are in it?” former Council President Sharon Ashe-Nadrowski asked during public comment on the measure.
“None,” Council President Gary La Pelusa replied.
“And how many parking spots are there? Is there retail?” Nadrowski continued.
La Pelusa said there would be over 200 parking spots and no retail stores, though there would be space for public recreation.
Project attorney Mike Miceli said they had experts available while they’re still designing some of the technical aspects of the building.
“We think it will be 182 units, about 221 parking spaces,” he explained, later adding that the building would be 10 stories with one entrance on 25th Street.
“We all know the nightmare it is there,” Nadrowski said about the traffic.
“Is the forum gonna be the in the bottom of that?” Mike Rescigno asked.
La Pelusa said it’s closing and their parking spaces will be available to the city for this project.
2nd Ward Councilwoman Jackie Weimmer said she wanted to question their traffic expert.
“It’s a condensed business district with a lot of people coming and going. It does raise some concerns,” she explained.
“We’re not necessarily looking at what the existing fitness center is generating. We look at the peak hours,” replied traffic engineer consultant Craig Peregoy.
He said there would only be a slight increase in trips in the morning and less overall on Saturdays.
“You said you did not base it on the actual traffic. What’s it based on?” Weimmer asked.
“It’s based on the (Institute of Transportation Engineers) ITE rates,” Peregoy said.
He added their residential building needs fewer parking spaces than the gym.
“Would you have an expert on the data as it pertains to the rec center?” 1st Ward Councilman Neil Carroll questioned.
“I used the ITE rates for a YMCA. Those are the best numbers I had. I’m probably overestimating,” Peregoy responded.
“What were the number of estimated trips coming out of that McDonald’s?” Weimmer asked.
“Around 100 trips an hour … Coming out of this building … the increase is 38 in the morning and… 153 less over the court of a day. At a fitness center, people are in and out all day,” Peregoy replied, adding that a residential building generates less traffic.
“What is the number of public parking spots in the area?” La Pelusa asked.
“There are a number of public parking facilities in close proximity,” Weimmer noted.
Peregoy said there were indeed a few garages with spaces nearby.
“It’s a good number. You’d be hard-pressed to find a place in the city with more parking,” Miceli said.
“What about an allowance for deliveries? What we can’t have is people double parked, creating havoc,” Weimmer declared, which Micelli said was possible.
“There should be no reason for traffic to be blocked. The street isn’t wide enough for that,” Weimmer said.
Peregoy said delivery trucks would be able to go in.
“The give back to the city of 12,000 square feet of public space for a term of in perpetuity is tremendous, and I am appreciative of that,” Weimmer stated.
“We’re going to clean and maintain that area as well,” Miceli noted.
Bayonne Planner Sue Mack said they could add a parking space requirement in the passage of the ordinance.
Miceli said it was possible to add such a space to avoid double parking and blocked streets.
“Do we have any professionals ready to discuss the recreation?” Carroll said.
Miceli said they would leave that to the city.
La Pelusa said the recreation center would be indoors and include 7,000 and 5,000 square feet on different floors for slightly more than 12,000 square feet.
“This is something we’ve talked about for the last 10 years. It’s a big bonus for the city,” he added.
Miceli said it would be like a multi-floor, multi-purpose community center that the city can use at its discretion.
“You don’t have to pay anything,” he added.
“This presents a lot of problems. I don’t think they were all answered. I’ve been talking about affordable housing for a while. This doesn’t include that,” Carroll declared, further stating that the community center details need to be further defined.
“Parents are clamoring for some sort of indoor recreational use, in the vein of a boys and girls club. There’s no shortage of development.”
He also said it’s a dangerous area for more pedestrians.
“We need a recreation center here. However, I don’t think this will be the last opportunity” Carroll argued.
“You have four schools around this area. Kids going up and down there constantly. If there’s a recreation center there, I’m hoping it’s for kids with disabilities. It’s a dream I’ve had,” Councilman-at-Large Juan Perez said.
“This time, we’re getting a recreation center for our kids. I vote aye.”
Weimmer said she had mixed feeling on the project, noting that a rec center would be a great asset for the city.
“It’s been kind of a mantra we get a recreation center for this town,” La Pelusa said.
“The location is an issue. But it’s also a positive to have a recreation center in the center of town. For me, the bonus is that recreation center. I think the area will be able to handle it. It will be a home run for the city.”
The Bayonne City Council passed the ordinance 4-1, with Carroll voting no.
During the general public comment, Nadrowski argued they made a deal for a recreation center without having a cohesive redevelopment plan.
We need affordable housing or many people with a median income will be forced out into the streets.Redevelop the Broadway corridor with modern building designs to attract professional and business opportunities.The shopping aspect has been severely impacted by the development of the Walmart.walmart jobs do not pay enough to their employees to maintain a residence any longer.The shape of many of our roads is deplorable.The side streets are filthy.The city needs to concentrate on the entire city,not just these new buildings.The lifelong residents are the backbone of this city,not developers who are constantly granted tax abatements without concessions for the city residents as a whole.We need jobs that will keep people here.The development of more and more residential housing is not cutting the mustard.
Sounds like Jersey City. They sure pushed the people out and no one cares. It’s about the money, not the people.