Three hundred and twenty-four Hoboken residents were winners two weeks ago in a lottery held by the Hoboken Parking Authority to assign parking spaces in the new automated facility nearing completion at 916 Garden St. Hoboken Mayor Anthony Russo drew the first index card from a wooden cylinder used for the drawing. The winner of the first space allocated was Grant McCrea of 264 Tenth St. McCrea, an attorney with Dewey Ballantine in New York City, is a 12-year resident of Hoboken who emigrated from Canada. He and his wife, Anne-Marie, have three children, ages 9, 12 and 13.
Subsequent index cards were pulled by Councilpersons Nellie Moyeno, Stephen Hudock, Theresa Castellano, Richard Del Boccio and Michael Cricco; HPA Commissioner Michele Russo and Chairman Donald Pellicano; HPA Executive Director Jo Ann Serrano; and members of the audience.
All of the prospective applicants were mailed a letter informing them that the completion of the automated parking facility was approaching, and requesting that they return a form indicating their continued interest in renting a space.
Mayor Anthony Russo was elated that the new facility would free up 324 parking spaces on Hoboken streets for residents to vie for. He also pointed out that with the opening of the automated parking facility, the first in the entire nation, his administration has created or facilitated thousands of new parking spaces by both public and private entities.
Parking Authority Chairman Donald Pellicano revealed that final details in the facility are being completed and that testing with actual cars is being performed. He is hopeful that the facility will be ready within two months but added that the Authority is pushing for an opening in about four weeks. He indicated that he and the other commissioners were “pleased that we have been able to fulfill Mayor Russo’s pledge in 1993 to provide more parking facilities in Hoboken.”
The Authority is currently in the process of getting ready to build another parking facility on Clinton Street in conjunction with St. Mary’s Hospital that will house approximately 800 cars. Residents interested in renting spaces at that location can sign up at the Parking Authority. As of now, a new waiting list for the facility at 916 Garden St. will also be started.