Dear Editor:
You recently published a letter written by Leah Healey critical of the Hoboken City Council’s vote to begin a process of creating an eight-block redevelopment area in the Northwest corner of Hoboken. Ms. Healey contends that the area in question is being established to “finesse a deal already made between the City and Developers Tarragon URSA.” As is her normal practice, Ms. Healey’s criticism is not based upon hard facts, but rather on her view and her view alone of what those facts should be.
Consider the facts:
Fact: The proposed redevelopment area consists of four separate parcels, three of which are already owned by Tarragon URSA and the fourth of which is currently in negotiation for purchase.
Fact: The Master Plan calls for discontinuance of industrial uses in this area and for the introduction of residential uses supported by public recreational and open space.
Fact: The property is too valuable for the City to condemn on its own with the use of tax dollars. Should Hoboken seek to use another developer to accomplish the Master Plan goals, it would have to impose its power of Eminent Domain and face long and expensive litigation. As the major developer of the adjacent Northwest Redevelopment Zone, Tarragon URSA is eminently qualified to develop their own property.
Fact: The Tarragon URSA concept plan for this redevelopment zone will include 5.5 acres of public recreational and open space.
Fact: The Tarragon URSA concept plan includes 4.5 acres of green space made up of a green circuit linking bike paths with walking paths on the outer edge of the zone, four distinct park plazas linked along the “green circuit” as envisioned by the Master Plan including age specific play areas, bike paths, tree-lined dog runs, shade structures, lawn areas and a green amphitheater.
Fact: The Tarragon URSA concept plan also includes the donation of a community center consisting of a two-story, 26,879 square foot community recreation center which will house a gymnasium, exercise rooms, dance studios, computer and recording rooms, art studio, indoor spaces for social gatherings, administrative offices and shower and locker rooms and a 25 yard Olympic-size competition pool and separate children’s pool which will open out onto a 20,000 square foot outdoor pool deck.
Fact: The Tarragon URSA community center and pool carries an estimated donated value to the City of Hoboken of $10 million.
Tarragon URSA has already accomplished a great deal for the citizens of Hoboken. They are building 200 affordable housing units, they have donated lights to the City’s little league field, they have paid for winter skating rinks, they have cleaned up severely contaminated properties in Hoboken and are now proposing to donate a $10 million community center and pool and 4.5 acres of green space. All Leah Healey has done is criticize.
Hoboken needs balanced development that includes parks and other amenities like the proposed community center, as well as residential and retail development in keeping with the Master Plan. The proposed Tarragon URSA concept plan for the redevelopment zone under study is far and away the highest and best use of this blighted industrial area for the residents of Hoboken.
Michael Sciarra, URSA Development