Church Towers, a 402-unit affordable housing building erected in 1965 to keep the working class in Hoboken, has spurred a lot of controversy of late. Thus, we decided to post our investigative story from 1996 (on the left) to help clear up some of the misinformation going around.
The City Council is scheduled to vote this coming week on whether the PILOT payment on the three-building complex should be renewed. While most of those in the building met the income limits to get into it decades ago, they have not left, even as some ended up earning six-figure salaries and purchasing outside property in Hoboken or at the shore. It is perfectly legal for them to stay in the building. Some in town believe that Church Towers should pay regular taxes, as should its residents, if this is the case. And others say there are still senior citizens and middle-income people in the building who need the rents to stay low.
The flames of ire were further fanned when 3rd Ward Councilman Michael Russo, a Church Towers resident, sent out a letter encouraging his neighbors to come to the upcoming council meeting, writing about “those of us” who couldn’t afford to live in “million dollar condos” needing the building.
We thought we would direct you to a report in the 1990s that bears the sidebar “They live in affordable housing, yet own outside property.” In addition, it cites reports done by a group called the Hoboken Alliance for Lower Taxes, and a rent control committee. If you find this difficult to read, feel free to e-mail us at editorial@hudsonreporter.com and we will send it to you as an attachment.
Click the graphics (five) on the left to make them bigger.
Who lives in Church Towers, Marine View, and Clock Towers
