Dear Editor:
The question asked by Mr. Kosmacher last week was “Is Applied trying to claim credit for waterfront parks?” The answer, Mr. Kosmacher, is yes. The Applied Companies built Shipyard Park. The Applied Companies built the 14th Street Pier Park. The Applied Companies, Starwood/Heller along with SJP Properties will pay millions of dollars annually to the City of Hoboken and the Port Authority of NY/NJ to reimburse the Port Authority for the money used to construct and maintain Pier A Park. How many square feet of public open space have you created or helped fund for the residents of Hoboken? If the answer is anything more than zero, please let me know.
Your letter also makes mention of the state mandated Hudson River Walkway. Are you aware, Mr. Kosmacher, that the only time a property owner is required to pay for the creation of the walkway is when the developer looks to “redevelop” the property? And so, without sensible redevelopment, there is no continuous Hudson River Walkway.
Michael Barry
The Applied Companies