Dear Editor:
Congratulations and thank you to all public servants and private individuals involved in securing 1600 Park Avenue as much needed recreational space.
While I cannot pretend to know all those involved or those instrumental in making this happen, it brings to mind the recent history of this site and the various struggles by many to have something done with this large, vacant, uniquely located site. There have certainly been many attempts to find a use for this promising yet challenged property sandwiched between two extremely busy thoroughfares forming our northern gateway.
The site has always appeared ill suited for commercial development by many who feared for the traffic yet its close proximity to the waterfront and a serene natural cove begged for some public use. I myself dreamed of a beautiful new home for the Hoboken-North Hudson YMCA to occupy a corner of the site but this was not meant to be.
I recall many years ago speaking to Leah Healey who was then spreading word that public money was available to secure open space in urban environments. As a member of the Planning Board and the City’s Master Plan Committee, I spoke to City officials about this prospect but was “corrected” that this was nonsense; they insisted no public money was available.
Now the subject properties are the lots along the tracks, north of the 9th Street light rail station. These were identified as good candidates in our new Master Plan for more recreational use, yet all the City can do is cut deals with developers who happen to be large campaign contributors and justify it by saying that this is all that is available.
Hoboken is small and our problems complex enough that we could certainly benefit from a new spirit of cooperation and collaboration to find the best possible solutions to these challenges. Maybe there is a way for alto benefit and stop grinding axes? In addition, Hoboken’s Planning Dept. could certainly use a hand. Is this all so ridiculous?
By the way, have any of our local officials spoken to our county, state and federal officials about the “Hoboken-By-Pass” proposed in our Master Plan to relieve the bottleneck at the southern gateways?
Hank Forrest