The best development in Hoboken — infill projects — closely conforms to Hoboken’s turn-of-the-20th-century standards

FBW | August 28, 2024

What developer would consider building on a narrow 25-foot wide lot that is only 100 feet deep, sandwiched between several 100+ year-old structures without on-site parking? In Hoboken, examples abound. It is called infill development.

These new buildings fit seamlessly into Hoboken’s turn-of-the-20th-century character. The local zoning code requires the builder to conform to the blocks’ prevailing heights, so, for example, if most of the existing buildings on the block are five stories, a new building would match that height. Similarly, most of the existing historic buildings in Hoboken are built at or near the front lot line; a new structure would match that line.

Infill projects replace substandard buildings or empty lots. As a result, these buildings play a vital role in maintaining a cohesive neighborhood. Traditional blocks contain rows of many adjoining buildings, each adding to that street’s life and varying facades. This is referred to as the “Hoboken donut,” structures facing the outside perimeter of a block with the interior being the donut hole, adjoining private backyards at the center of each block.

In her iconic book, The Death and Life of Great American Cities, Jane Jacobs wrote: “To generate exuberant diversity in a city’s streets and districts,” one of the indispensable conditions is to “mingle buildings that vary in age and condition, including a good proportion of old ones.