Dear Editor:
I would like to take this opportunity to express my support of the current ordinance before the City Council which would reduce by a third the density of a hotel and office building on the “B” parcel on the city’s southern waterfront site. Moreover, I would like to address misinformation which opponents of this plan expressed at last week’s council meeting.
The current proposal would bring a world-class hotel with much needed banquet facilities, as well as an office building. Both components of this plan would create jobs for Hoboken residents and have an ancillary effect in stimulating the local economy.
The density of this project was lowered at the request of residents who approached me of their concerns about a lack of light and air at the south waterfront redevelopment site. Their case was made clear with the completion of the residential building on River Street, and I recommend that we have buildings that are less in bulk and are more architecturally dynamic.
Under an agreement with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, our partner in this endeavor, the three development parcels allow a maximum of 2.8 million square feet of commercial and residential space, with a minimum of 2.3 million square feet. Also in that agreement, which was ratified six years ago, if the city for any reason failed to complete the development, the Port Authority had an obligation to build out all three parcels. The provision was made to allow the Port Authority to recoup their $80 million investment to provide infrastructure, landscaping and Pier A Park which are beautiful amenities to be enjoyed by all residents and visitors.
The proposal before the council attempts, at the request of numerous residents, to reduce the project’s density to its lowest level to create light and air as well as view corridors at intersecting streets. The plan would reduce the development by approximately 300,000 square feet and create additional open space with wide setbacks between the buildings and the streets. This plan still allows for the development of a much needed hotel to be managed by a world renowned lodging operator.
I would like to emphasize that the amended proposal, which is before the City Council, was born from public reaction to the existing buildings on the site. Technically, the city could have commenced construction of the original proposal upon selection of a developer. It was my desire to amend this proposal to lower the density to conform with our citizen’s desire.
The public spoke and we responded. This proposal offers Hoboken offers a hotel and commercial space, view corridors, spectacular architecture and will bring in over $4.7 million in new exclusive Hoboken tax revenue, all while fulfilling our obligation to complete the southern waterfront project.
Mayor David Roberts