After being delayed for more than a decade because of litigation filed by the Littoral Society, it appears that Hartz Mountain Industries will finally complete a waterfront development plan that received preliminary approval in 1989.
Last week, the Weehawken Planning Board voted to give Hartz Mountain final approval to build two office structures and a hotel on its waterfront property at Lincoln Harbor within the next seven years.
The three structures, as well as two others that got final approval this past summer, had gotten preliminary approval 13 years ago as part of a plan for the Lincoln Harbor development. The first phase of that project had included the now-existing Sheraton Suites hotel and the Lincoln Harbor towers that house many businesses, including the township’s premier employer, UBS Paine Webber. These were built in 1982.
The second phase got preliminary approval in 1989 but was then delayed for more than a decade because of a lawsuit filed by the American Littoral Society. The lawsuit claimed that the view from the Lincoln Tunnel helix would be blocked by the development. The lawsuit remained in litigation until January 2000, when it was settled between the Littoral Society and Hartz Mountain, clearing the way for the completion of the development.
But first, Hartz Mountain had to agree to drop the height of the proposed new structures.
The two 830,000 square foot office buildings that got approval last summer were slated to be erected right next to the existing Lincoln Harbor Plaza buildings. They were cut by two stories each to 10 and eight, and they received final approval from the Planning Board in June of 2001.
The two other office buildings and a hotel remained to get final approval. Their heights also had to be lowered, and the town wanted other amenities from the developer.
They received approval last week. The new plans call for a three-story, 90,000 square foot office facility at 400 Harbor Blvd. adjacent to the Sheraton Suites Hotel, a three-story 180,000 square foot office facility at 1800 Harbor Blvd. where the Lincoln Harbor Plaza’s outdoor parking area currently exists, and a three-story, 99,000 square foot 135-unit suite hotel at the corner of Baldwin Avenue and Harbor Boulevard.
“We formed the special sub-committee to get input as to what we felt should be done with the project,” Turner said. “There were some certain requirements we needed to make before we gave final approval.”
Asked for amenities
The board also asked for certain amenities, like a bicycle and pedestrian walkway that will link lower Weehawken with Hoboken. The new facility at 400 Harbor Blvd. will be set back 110 feet from the water’s edge, as opposed to the previously approved 50 feet, to give more room to the walkway. There will also be landscaping and other changes to make the area more aesthetically pleasing.
“They were very insistent upon that south plaza area,” said Allen Magrini, the vice-president and assistant general counsel for Hartz Mountain. “We agree that it will be a great viewing area for the New York skyline.”
The area will also feature easy access from the proposed Hudson-Bergen Light Rail station that will be built there by the end of 2003.
“It will also enable commuters to walk through the Lincoln Harbor Plaza interior right from the Light Rail station,” Magrini said. “It will give commuters access to the stores and shops inside the plaza.”
Turner said that other aspects of the agreement included an increase in daytime public parking spaces from 60 to 220 and that any construction of more parking facilities could only be built after a transportation study, once the Light Rail is completed and operational in the area.
Hartz Mountain also agreed to donate $1 million that will either go to the reconstruction of the pier adjacent to the Chart House Restaurant or to other capital improvements throughout the township. Hartz has also decided to turn over ownership of that pier area to the township, so that the land can be included in a proposed 11-acre recreational area to be built as part of the township’s agreement with the Roseland Properties, who are developing Port Imperial North.
“We can use the $1 million either to reconstruct the pier or use it on other improvements in the town,” Turner said. “But now, since we own the pier area, we can apply for federal and state funds to rebuild the pier.”
As part of that agreement, the township acquires an additional half-acre to include in the recreational area. “More importantly, between this approval and the one we have with Roseland, the entire waterfront walkway will be linked and completed by December of 2003,” Turner said. “Weehawken will be the first community to have the waterfront walkway totally completed.” State law forces all developers along the Jersey side of the Hudson River to contribute to a waterfront walkway.
Another part of the agreement with Weehawken enables Hartz Mountain to construct a playground “tot lot” somewhere within upper Weehawken. Turner said the “tot lot” will either be built in the Webster School’s yard or added to Louisa Park on Boulevard East.
All of the requested amenities must be built up front before any other development is to take place.
“We accomplished our goals,” Turner said. “We’ve been able to secure development at that site without affecting any views. The [tax] revenue we have received from Lincoln Harbor has been enormous. It creates jobs and will encourage people to use mass transportation.”
Although there is no official timetable for the construction, the approval lasts for seven years. If the construction is not completed within that time frame, Hartz Mountain will have to appear before the Planning Board again for further approvals.
Magrini said that he was optimistic that Hartz would break ground on the smaller office building near the Sheraton Suites hotel within the next year. Hartz is still looking for prospective tenants before the larger structures will be built.
With problems regarding economic stability facing the nation, nothing seems guaranteed. “But this gets us going toward building in the future,” Magrini said. “I still think we need a little time to react to the current market. Although there has been a drop in the major office market since Sept. 11, the smaller buildings have different needs. So now, we have a little diversity. I think we will move toward acquiring building permits very quickly.”
Turner credited the work of the sub-committee, which includes Planning Board members Ellen Gaukin and Mark Gould, Planning Board Attorney Tom Dunn, and citizens Bruce Sherman, Til Globig, Jay Savulich, and Jim Dette, for coming to a quick solution. “The Hartz people are very confident and optimistic that things can move forward within the next few years,” Turner said. “I have to thank the efforts of the Planning Board and the sub-committee for seeing this through.”