(November 2002)

Monday, December 2 at 7 pm — Special Meeting/Public Workshop of City Council — Hoboken City Council Chambers

Monday, December 4 at 7 pm — Hoboken City Council — FINAL VOTE

On November 18, a packed City Council Chambers caused the Council to table an ordinance to amend the South Waterfront Redevelopment Plan. The final vote will take place at the next Council meeting on Wednesday, December 4 at 7 p.m. Your presence at this meeting is our only hope of stopping its passage. Also come to the Special Council Meeting/Workshop regarding this legislation on Monday the 2nd. Here are some of the things that are wrong with what the City has proposed for Block B:

Too big The actual bulk and density of 650,000 square feet proposed for Block B is roughly equal to the massive structure built at Block C (333 River Street). The building heights will match Block A (the Wiley Building) at 175 feet. The amendments will permit heights at the northern portion of Block B of 160 feet, bumped up from the current limit of 125 feet. Compare this to the controversial 101 Marshal project which is 158 feet high and is comprised of 350,000 square feet of development.

Same ol’ developers Rather than seeking out new developers who will upgrade the quality of the architecture of the buildings, the City has designated SJP Properties and Applied Companies/Starwood Heller to build Block B. SJP is the developer of Block A and Applied/Heller, Block C, both much criticized .

Degrading the design The City was expected to tighten up and improve the design guidelines so that mistakes made at Blocks A and C would not be repeated at Block B. Instead, the City has ignored the original design guidelines that aimed to avoid large monolithic structures filling up the block.

It’s about the money, stupid The City needs to approve these amendments quickly in order to include the $4 million in advance payments from SJP Properties for Block B in this year’s budget that will be introduced this same evening, December 4.

Damn the public participation The Roberts administration came into office promising an open government where public participation would be encouraged. The negotiations with the developers and changes to the plans were all done behind closed doors, outside the public’s view. After quickly unveiling the new plans, the City has attempted to railroad the ordinance changes through the City Council.

Please call 201-217-0500 or email fbw@betterwaterfront.com for more information.