LETTER: The time is now for Hoboken to build housing at former PSE&G site

In a letter to the editor, Hoboken 3rd Ward Councilman Mike Russo emphasizes that the time is now to build workforce or senior housing at the former PSE&G site on Marshall Street.

Dear Editor,

In 2017, the City of Hoboken began a process to upgrade our energy infrastructure that involved consolidating the PSE&G substations on Marshall and Madison Streets; the Madison substation became more resilient against flooding and Marshall Street site was left vacant.

As part of that process, the City acquired that Marshall Street lot through a Land Transfer Agreement—and we began a series of discussions about what to do with that now-empty land.

That lot is precious; it’s right next to the 2nd Street Light Rail, and within walking distance of key Hoboken locations.

In 2018, we indicated in our Master Plan Reexamination Report that we want to use the site to support our community.

Then, in 2020, we worked with Rutgers University’s Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy to survey the community—which helped us identify multiple use cases for the lot.

The most desirable of these use cases was a mixed-use complex featuring both market-rate and affordable housing, as well as retail units. There was eager talk, for example, of getting a grocery store into the ground floor of that space.

We’ve taken more than enough time to consider options laid out before us, so I believe it’s time to do what I’ve been advocating for years: this lot should be deeded to the Hoboken Housing Authority and used for senior and/or workforce housing.

I’m asking Mayor Bhalla and my colleagues on the City Council to take the steps necessary to make this happen.

As the longest-serving member of the Hoboken City Council and the only Council member currently serving as a Commissioner on the Board of the Hoboken Housing Authority, I’ve watched the pieces for this scenario fall into place for the past few years, both at a granular level and from a bird’s-eye view.

In December of 2023, the City Council passed the HHA Redevelopment Plan, which will rehabilitate HHA’s current stock of over 1,300 units across multiple decades-old buildings—without the displacement of a single current resident.

Incidentally, the Marshall Street lot now owned by the City is located directly behind the current boundaries of the HHA and would therefore be a natural fit.

So why senior housing? Senior housing helps keep Hoboken families together—and the number of affordable units we currently have designated for seniors is too low.

Last year we voted to build 36 new senior units at 11th and Willow, but that’s still not good enough.

After all that our elders have sacrificed for us it’s time we give back to them—and that may as well come in the form of new homes that are located right next to public transit.

And why workforce housing? Well, first it’s worth explaining what workforce housing is: these would be units specifically set aside for employees of the City of Hoboken.

The reasons for doing so are many: less commuter traffic, more money spent within our local economy, happier workplaces, and higher productivity. Plus, our employees would develop a deeper understanding of their neighbors and neighborhoods.

The HHA Redevelopment Plan already stipulates 10% workforce allocation in new buildings, and adding to that number would allow us the opportunity to tell our valued public workers that if they work here, they deserve the chance to live here.

As for what would go on the ground floor of the building, I leave it up to the reader to dig deep into your imagination and think about what could go into a giant space next to a Light Rail station. The possibilities are truly endless.

The components to make this proposal happen have neatly fallen into place over the last five years, and at this point the project would frankly be a layup.

It makes sense given our housing needs, given its proximity to passive transportation, and given that the HHA redevelopment is finally underway.

Hoboken deserves this. We must act now.

Sincerely,
Dr. Michael Russo, DPT
3rd Ward Councilman, City of Hoboken