The lunch line at your favorite Hoboken deli might get a little bit longer next week as the international publishing giant John J. Wiley & Sons begins to move 900 employees into its new corporate headquarters on River Street on July 1.
The firm is relocating from Midtown Manhattan into the first of two 13-story office buildings on the south waterfront. Once the firm is situated in its new digs, the corporate giant will become the largest single employer in the mile-square city. Wiley & Sons publishes scientific, technical and medical journals. The company generated $613 million in revenue last year.
When finished, the Waterfront Corporate Center, which is being developed by SJP Properties, a Parsippany-based commercial builder, will include two 550,000 square foot office buildings – a total of 1.1 million square feet of coveted Class A office space.
Hoboken Mayor David Roberts said Thursday that relocation of Wiley & Sons represents a major victory for Hoboken.
“The arrival of John Wiley & Sons is both historic and symbolic, marking the re-use of Hoboken’s waterfront as a corporate center,” said Roberts. “[It will] provide ratables and jobs, which will have a ripple effect throughout the city’s economy. We are delighted that after being located in New York City for 195 years, Wiley has chosen Hoboken as home to its new worldwide headquarters.”
The corporate center, the commercial office component of the Hoboken South Waterfront Redevelopment, is a mixed-use development that is the product of a unique public/private partnership between the city, the Port Authority and SJP Properties.
SJP spokesperson Tony Cicatiello said Thursday that Wiley & Sons’ relocation into Hoboken is a major coup for both the city and the state.
“[Wiley & Sons coming to Hoboken] is particularly exciting,” said Cicatiello. He added that this is a giant leap forward because Wiley is not merely looking for a little extra “back office” space but is instead a highly respected firm moving its global headquarters to New Jersey.
“This means a lot for the economy of this part the world,” Cicatiello added. “It’s a major achievement for the city and the Port Authority and is the culmination of their efforts over a long period of time to plan and create a beautiful waterfront redevelopment.”
Susan Spilka, John J. Wiley and Sons’ director of corporate communications, said that the move should be done by early- to mid-August.
“It’ll take about six weeks for everyone to come across the river,” she said. “It’s being done on weekends and different groups and departments are moving at different times.”
Joining Wiley in phase one of the corporate center are Japanese bank Sumitomo Trust & Banking, CPR (USA)/ Liberty View Capital Management, and Fuji Securities, each taking one floor.
Phase two, which began construction in November 2001, is, according to SJP officials, 85 percent leased. Marsh & McLennan Companies, a leading professional services firm, has signed a long-term lease for 425,000 square feet of office space. Phase two is scheduled to be completed in the third quarter of 2003.
The corporate center joins the recently opened residential building at 333 River St., which was built by the Applied Companies in partnership with Starwood Heller, LLC. Applied, one of the major players in the area’s luxury apartment market, is now filling its $100 million E-shaped building, which offers 526 studios and one-, two- and three- bedroom units and over 60,000 square feet of street level retail.
Public open space
In the area of public space, the Port Authority has already contributed more than $80 million by upgrading the surrounding infrastructure, including road improvements, the renovation of the five acres of Pier A Park, and the completion of the stretch of the riverfront walkway that connects Pier A Park to Sinatra Park, all of which are now completely open to the public. The new walkway covers the distance of three city blocks.
The Port Authority also secured and allocated funds for the recent demolition of Pier C. The Port Authority will also pay for the construction of a park where Pier C once was. That park is currently being designed in a collaborative effort between the city and the Port Authority.
Still left to be finished
The final portion of the southern waterfront development has yet to be approved. Parcel B lies between the office complex area and the residential area. The city is still in negotiations with the Port Authority to determine the height and density of the remaining building.
The original plans called for another 13-story building, but community opposition and a new administration in City Hall have given them reason to rethink the size of the construction at parcel B. Sources inside the administration said that the when negotiations are complete, that third building will be smaller than the other two.
Although the size of the last lot is in question, it is all but assured that there will be a 300-room hotel at that site with some retail stores.
SIDEBAR
Advice for newcomers
What should Hoboken’s newest workforce know about the mile-square city? A reporter walked around the area asking residents for advice. Here’s what some of them said:
“It’s a friendly, close community. There’s tons of stuff to do.” – P.J., 25, teacher “I almost guarantee your productivity will go down with all the three-hour lunches you’ll be taking on the riverfront.” – Matt, 23, a reporter
“Parking. That’s just me, but that’s it in a nutshell. That and all the stop signs.” – Joyce King, as she was rushing onto an Academy bus at Fifth and Washington streets
“Parking [stinks]! You better have a lot of money for your tickets.” – Dani, 27, make-up artist
“It’s a really welcoming kind of place. People are friendly, open, that sort of thing. For me, it’s a home away from home. It’s not all ‘panic! panic! dash! dash!'” – Becky Wells, 31, British expatriate whose husband works at Saint Barnabas Medical Center
“Hometown quality. It’s got that small-town feel like Mayberry. Everybody knows everybody. They’re not afraid to let their kids out.” – Connie Younus, 40, architectural engineer
“For the area, it has some good restaurants and bars to go to. But it’s not a very diverse community. It’s a little too homogeneous for my taste.” – Susan, 28, day camp instructor
“Parking is an issue, and it is a small town. But it’s very collegiate. I always saw it is people from New Jersey who want to go to New York but are scared of the ‘big, bad city.'” – Denise, 34, graphic designer.