Hoboken council unanimously approves North End Redevelopment Plan amendment

The Hoboken City Council unanimously approved (9-0) an amendment to the North End Redevelopment Plan for the North End Rehabilitation Area at last night’s meeting, the first one in over a year to have nine council members.

By Daniel Ulloa/Hudson County View

“I’d like to take a moment to welcome [6th Ward] Councilwoman Diane Imus for her first meeting. It’s nice to have the full contingent back,” Hoboken Council President Jim Doyle said to begin the meeting to applause.

Imus convincing won the 6th Ward special election to fill the remainder of the term of the late Jen Giattino, who passed away suddenly on November 5th last year.

During the ordinance’s public comment period, Kiera Berman said she is a student who works at Mile Square Theater and represented the trustees endorsing the plan.

“Northwest Hoboken is thriving. We are excited for our neighborhood to meet its full potential … Vote yes on the Rockefeller partnership agreement,” she said, arguing it would bring new people to the area.

“Our entrances are the ugliest part of our city. I think it’s time we get them developed,” former Councilman Tony Soares, who works in real estate now, declared.

“I’m just really excited about the potential for the north side of town … I think this project specifically is going to go a long way to advance that,” expressed George Kahn.

He added that he liked the prospect of new businesses coming to the area, along with plan for a new park.

“Public parking has been an issue for the last, actually, my entire time there. Very in favor of this development for that aspect alone,” Don Dempsey stated.

He hoped to see more mom-and-pop shops in the area.

“I’ve been talking about this project for so many more years than it’s been an approved project … I was one of the people that brought Mile Square Theater to the North End: I’m excited for the next neighborhood of Hoboken,” Zabrina Stoffel stated.

Prior to the vote, 2nd Ward Councilwoman Tiffanie Fisher sought to explain what they were voting on.

“This amendment tonight for the North End Redevelopment Plan is specifically to accommodate the Rockefeller site, three different properties,” she explained.

“ .. We have an existing plan in place … We put something in place that really contemplated building a neighborhood. What we didn’t want to do was build out like Jersey City has these giant full city block buildings … I’m pretty excited about this plan.”

“We’ve heard about lack of a parking garage, um, in Hoboken for a long time, in the North End…,” she noted.

Fisher also said the additional parking would be welcome and the redevelopment agreement for the plan would be discussed at their next meeting.

5th Ward Councilman Phil Cohen said he has been working on the project for six years.

“There was a lot of thought that went into this design … We don’t want a neighborhood that looks like Jersey City. No disrespect to Jersey City, but … we wanted to have a thoughtful streetscape.”

Cohen further stated that no new construction would block views.

“We’ve seen piles of rubble greeting you as you go over the bridge between Weehawken and Hoboken … What’s going to greet you when this is done is going to be a completely revitalized neighborhood,” he added.

Cohen explained it will address flooding, which is important since the neighborhood was greatly affected by Superstorm Sandy.

“I still have a little bit of a concern when it comes to parking related to this entire project, and of course, the finances of it. But I think we can move it forward as a plan. And I’m hopeful that in the redevelopment agreement we can work some of that out,” 3rd Ward Councilman Mike Russo said.

He also wanted locals to get free parking so they wouldn’t take spaces on the street from others.

The council passed the ordinance was approved second reading unanimously (9-0).

During public comment, Lucas Kovalcik said he owns a rock climbing business in the area. He said parking nearby is very hard and wanted developers to provide temporary parking while construction is ongoing.

“The Rockefeller Group … is required to build the garage first,” Doyle noted, to which Kovalcik said they said it would be finished in 2029.

“Yeah, it’s not a tomorrow thing,” Fisher said.

“There are continuing conversations… about additional proposals in the interim while the construction is going on. There are costs associated with creating a lot … It will require some financial commitment from some of the developers,” stated Cohen.

Kovalcik also asked if they would subsidize parking.

“We have two people that are going to be the next mayor. We should be insisting that any project solve for protecting residents and access, ya know, going through streets,” Fisher argued.

“It’s a vexing issue certainly,” Doyle said before moving onto the next subject.