When the state Department of Transportation and NJ Transit announced plans to renovate the intersecting area of Tonnelle Avenue, Paterson Plank Road and Union Turnpike in North Bergen leading to Secaucus, it seemed like a perfect idea.
The renovations were slated to done in order to build a station for the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail, as well as an overpass that will allow traffic to go over Tonnelle Avenue in the future. The alterations were going to enable people to have easy access to the Light Rail, as well as cut down on traffic problems caused by the passing freight trains.
The entire project is slated to cost some $80 million when completed by the end of 2002.
However, to build the structure, some people were going to have to endure some inconveniences. Like moving altogether.
To make way for the overpass and light rail station, several homes and businesses were going to have to be razed and the families occupying the homes would have to relocate.
The process began last month, with at least two of the families receiving a fair market value for their homes and receiving relocation assistance from NJ Transit officials. All told, nearly 50 homes and businesses have been purchased through intense negotiation.
Others have not been as fortunate.
The owners of two homes and one business have yet to agree on a purchase settlement price with the state DOT and NJ Transit and have yet to vacate their premises. The DOT handles the purchases, while NJ Transit helps with the relocation process.
It hasn’t got to the point where the families are being forced to move immediately, but it may get to that stage in the future.
“I’ve been told that if we don’t reach a settlement by May, then they’re going to take me to court to get out,” said a woman who owns one of the homes on Paterson Plank Road.
If the owner of the home and authorities don’t come to an agreement on a settlement price soon, the state can exercise its power of “eminent domain,” which enables the authorities to have property condemned for public use.
If it reaches that stage, an arbitrator is appointed by the state, who will then set an appraised value on the property in question.
In the meantime, the negotiations continue. One homeowner has already agreed to a selling price of approximately $160,000, which appears to be fair market value for the residence.
However, that is not a fair value to the woman, who has requested anonymity, for fear that she may receive ramifications that would interfere with the land sale in the future.
“My home is worth more than what they’re offering,” the woman said. “I can’t go anywhere else that offers the same room and same location. I have to stay nearby, because my family all works near the area and we need to stay here. They want to show me homes in Elizabeth, Perth Amboy, and Jersey City. Everything else here in North Bergen, we can’t afford. That’s not fair to us.”
A local Realtor has offered assistance, but again, anything that could accommodate the woman’s large family in north Hudson County has been priced in the $200,000-to-$250,000 range.
“We can’t afford that,” the woman said. “It’s not fair.”
Several businesses have also been bought out and forced to relocate, including a taxi stand, a restaurant, a gas station, a sign company, a theatrical lighting company, a trucking firm and a heating fuel company. Some have been able to relocate. Others are still waiting out the storm.
“We felt like we were dealt with in a professional matter,” said a representative from the trucking firm. “It’s hard to pick up and move after you’ve been settled in one place for so long. But we’ve sent out notices to our customers to tell them that we’re moving [to Jersey City]. The response has been favorable and we’ll be able to move on. It’s a major headache now, but it won’t be once we’re settled. And I believe we received a fair price for what we gave up.”
NJ Transit spokesman Ken Miller said that his organization has done everything it can to help all of the local residents and businesses.
“We have to stay within the federal market guidelines in offering fair market prices,” Miller said. “We cannot go far and beyond those regulations.”
Miller also said that adjustments are made to the relocation funds if children are being taken from their current school district.
“We’ve made every effort to fund suitable homes for the families that we have to relocate,” Miller said. “It’s unfortunate that some people disagree, but we’ve been more than accommodating with these people. But we need to have the property vacated as soon as possible.”
Demolition of the area is scheduled for this summer. Everyone involved is hopeful that there will not be any further delay in the matter.