The Jersey City Council reviewed the second reading ordinance that would finalize approval for the construction of the proposed Albion Hotel, a nine story, 72-room establishment at 201 Newark Ave. during yesterday’s caucus.
By Daniel Ulloa/Hudson County View
Ward C Councilman Rich Boggiano noted there’s a lawsuit seeking to halt the project in its current form.
Attorney Anne Studholme then approached the podium and told the council she represents the Saffron Homeowners Association in the litigation.
“That’s clearly going to take a few months to play out … It’s not really a good time for the city to take action on something that affects this application,” she declared.
“The people don’t want it! Most of the people in this city are sick and tired of seeing beautiful buildings like that destroyed. I believed the community should stand up and say no, and this project should be killed,” he added.
“You understand you and I agree?” Studholme asked.
“I guess we do,” Boggiano said to laughter. Studholme argued the outside portion was designed poorly.
Attorney Chuck Harrington, who represents the hotel developer, was also on hand to defend the project.
“There’s no reason to not act on this now, it’s part of the process. You’re at your own risk. The Zoning Board heard [it], five hearings. They voted unanimously to approve the project.”
He explained the project would construct a hotel, including a ground-floor restaurant at the site of the old Capital One bank downtown at the edge of the pedestrian plaza and also defended the design as being consistent with the neighborhood.
“Councilman Boggiano, many people are in favor of it,” he added.
“I haven’t heard one person,” Boggiano declared.
“This complements this building. You want something that’s grand there,” Harrington argued.
He also said they have been working closely with city officials to incorporate residents’ suggestions.
“How does this hinder your client’s ability to move forward?” Ward F Councilman Frank “Educational” Gilmore questioned.
“If this is approved, we keep moving forward with construction documents … The Court action doesn’t delay us because we can keep moving forward at our own risk,” Harrington replied.
“For how long?” Gilmore asked.
“Every day is a huge delay,” Harrington asserted.
Gilmore then asked Acting Corporation Counsel Brittany Murray for her recommendation.
“The zoning board is the defendant, the city itself is not a defendant … I would be cautious and not vote on it,” she replied, noting that the zoning board has their own counsel to defend them in the matter.
Studholme sought to speak, but Council President Joyce Watterman did not allow her to interject.
“That’s it! No more talking! “This ain’t the court of law where you go back and forth! No! No!” she said.
“The planning board and zoning board, they never go along with what the people want, and they just do as they’re told,” Boggiano stated before they moved onto the next topic.
The Jersey City Council will convene for their regular session this evening at 6 p.m. at City Hall, 280 Grove St., and their regular session will also stream on Microsoft Teams.
