Dear Editor:
The “New York” view of the complex at 333 River Street in the September
30th Hoboken Reporter is quite appealing. That is the type of view that
was promised in the last sketch of this complex before it was
built–also in the Hoboken Reporter–three towers BUT with air space
between so that Hoboken could still enjoy some of the Hudson River and
retain its unique character.Instead what resulted was a lovely view
for New York City and a solid block of a mammoth building that looks as
if it were built in Moscow just after World War II.
Attempts at getting a reliable measurement of the height of this
monument to greed, to verify that it is not higher than the zoned limit,
have been repeatedly shelved and/or ignored. At least some move in this
direction would have represented the people of this city rather than the
power of wealth–regardless of the outcome of the measurement. Next
time any of us feel like boasting of the tremendous transformation of
Hoboken, we should walk the block between 3rd and 4th on River Street
and try and find the sun. Next time the developers are hailed as
saviors of our little city, we should take into account that these
saviors think enough of us to point the back end of their most
prominent building in our faces.
There has been a lot of talk about preserving Hoboken for Hobokenites,
but little seems to have been done. Mostly it appears that we are
developing Hoboken for the bed and breakfast employees of Manhattan–the
few who can afford the rents. Many of us had high hopes that this
election would turn the tables, but it looks like it will take another
one to do that. By then the sky will probably only be a memory in our
little city.
Phillip Dieckow
A Marine View resident who STILL has a view but also is a resident of
this city for 21 years–living and working and shopping here.