Despite months of debate, the Jersey City Council tabled an ordinance amending the Journal Square 2060 redevelopment Plan after hearing many concerns from the public exclaiming that affordable housing hadn’t been sufficiently addressed.
By Daniel Ulloa/Hudson County View
Part of the plan was to incentivize developers to create affordable housing units by allowing them to create skyscrapers in certain portions of the district.
During public comment on the ordinance, development attorney Chuck Harrington called for his clients’ lots, as well as a couple of other nearby property owners, rezoned for their benefit to be larger, which would incentivize them to create more affordable housing.
“The planning board and the planning department did not recommend this to the city council. We believe it would be a minor amendment. Both the property owners are consenting,” Harrington exclaimed before handing over a memo for review.
“Madam Council President, do you wish to question him?” Deputy City Clerk John Hallanan asked, to which Council President Joyce Watterman declined.
Mike Vasdev agreed with Harrington on his rezoning amendment proposal.
“I have seen that area is particularly coming up good …He’s sticking to 27 [stories]. And he’s complying with the height of that building …We need more affordable housing there,” he stated.
Natalie Limon echoed a similar sentiment, though she asked outright for the council to vote no since she believes there should be more affordable units.
She further stated that as the area is gentrified, the median income rises and makes things more expensive.
“It also puts rent control buildings at risk: This is not an equitable switch. I really resent that we have to undergo this as a community to receive affordable housing…. There should be other ways to achieve it,” she declared.
“Stop dealing with developers and getting nothing for us,” stated Edward Perkins, claiming that the mandatory 10 percent affordable housing should be much higher.
Additionally, Arjumand Juweria seemed to agree with Harrington on his proposal to rezone certain properties.
“As for [developer] Sunny [Kumar], he has talked to the property owners … about combined properties to create a square lot and meeting planning requirements for a setback,” she said.
“We should freeze building any property now unless it’s for low-income. Not 10 percent,” stated council-at-large candidate Tina Nalls.
She explained that many in the city are in a crisis because of the high price of housing.
“Y’all keep building and building and building no low income!” Nalls exclaimed to applause.
Ward C Councilman Rich Boggiano aide Pam Andes agreed, noting that Journal Square has become unaffordable as well.
“Affordable housing is not affordable at 1700 for a studio! The developers are coming anyways. What can we do when the developers are coming? We have to draw the line.”
She wanted to preserve middle-class housing to stop developers, who would not create more affordable housing. She also alluded to rent control rules not being followed.
“The way we’re doing affordable housing isn’t working. We need to come up with new ways,” Chris Perez said, noting that a one-bedroom apartment with a $1,850 a month rent is not actually affordable.
Boggiano noted that both he and city planning had hosted several meetings on the amendment, explaining that he was for housing preservation in certain zones of the square instead of allowing them to become sites of future skyscrapers.
“ … I’ve been advised the Planning Department has said they’re against any additional changes,” he noted, adding that parking, affordable housing, and housing preservation are difficult problems to solve.
“I am committed to keeping this an ongoing review … I don’t want to see this amendment being held up any longer…. There will be changes coming, and we are going to be having future meetings.”
Assistant Business Administrator Peter Horton clarified that the amendment came to be based on recommendations from the council, which came after a lengthy community outreach process.
“These recommendations … are primarily a fix for some of the parking issues. It will increase and include affordable housing,” Horton added, reiterating that Harrington’s proposed amendment was not included in the proposal.
“As this is your area, as it relates to the four parcels … what is your position?” Ward F Councilman Frank “Educational” Gilmore asked Boggiano.
“We’re working with planning. We’re trying to get a new amendment passed,” Boggiano replied.
“We have the authority to include the parcel that’s left out. It’s concerning we’re going to take an area for redevelopment and exclude certain areas,” Gilmore added.
Boggiano noted that there is an inherent conflict between new affordable housing and preservation before Watterman asked if the ordinance could be tabled.
The councilman said he would prefer to approved the measure and work with planning on any future changes since it has already been delayed for months.
“There was a meeting with 150 people: They were in a rage,” Boggiano recalled.
“Can we make a motion to amend this right now?” asked Councilman-at-Large Daniel Rivera.
Acting Corporation Counsel Brittany Murray said it would be too substantial of a change to be able to do so immediately, therefore a floor amendment would effectively send the ordinance back to first reading.
“Pass it and we’ll work on it,” Boggiano repeated.
“Why can’t we just table it and bring it back?” Watterman asked, and after some brief discussion, Rivera said he would like to make a motion to table.
“I think it’s a mistake to table it. We’ll work for another six months on this issue,” Boggiano exclaimed.
“By November or so we can bring it back. No one’s here to give us an answer,” Watterman asserted.
The Jersey City Council tabled the ordinance 6-3, with Ward B Councilwoman Maureen Hulings, Boggiano, and Ward D Councilman Yousef Saleh voting no.
The Council also passed three rent control enforcement ordinances introduced by Ward E Councilman James Solomon on first reading without comment, which is standard for introduction.
