Dear Editor:
For several years I have been reading articles and opinions in the Weehawken Reporter regarding the proposed construction along the Weehawken waterfront. The rhetoric has increased as these projects get closer to reality. There are several major problems that I have not seen addressed:
1. An additional 1,000+ apartments are supposed to be constructed. If they consist of a mix of studio, one and two bedroom apartments, with an average of two people per apartment, there will be more than 2,000 new residents. The average person uses approximately 50 gallons of water a day for sanitation, laundry, bathing and cooking. There will be a demand of an additional 100,000 gallons per day from these new residents. Much of this demand would be from 6 to 8 a.m. as they all begin their day. Can our existing water delivery system and water treatment plant handle this additional load?
There is also a proposed additional 450,000-500,000 square feet of office space to be created. Assuming the average employee utilizes 500 square feet of floor space, that translates into 1,000 employees (plus visitors) in these buildings during business hours. Could this water demand also be met by our current infrastructure?
2. Are there any proposals in the works regarding increased fire, police and emergency service for all these new residents and office employees? Currently the two nearest firehouses, which are not up on the cliff, are at the southern end of the Lincoln Tunnel and, to the north in Edgewater. Shouldn’t the establishment of a new fire house be worked into the construction approval applications? Or is it too late?
3. Has any thought been given to the possible increase in school population? I can’t imagine that in 1,000+ living units, you wouldn’t have some children added to our schools. Will these children be expected to walk up the cliff or are we to supply transportation? Do you have empty classrooms to accommodate them or are we planning to increase class size as needed?
Much has been written and discussed about access to a riverfront walkway and the impediment to some people’s view. I believe that it is more important for the entire town to come to grips with whether or not our infrastructure can accommodate thousands of new residents and daily visitors.
Arthur Dolgan