Garage vote on Sunday night
A special meeting of the City Council is scheduled for Sunday, June 13 at 7 p.m. to decide whether to bond for $13 million to buy back the city’s public works garage that the city has been leasing.
In actuality, the city is hoping to sell the garage – not buy it back – but it’s possible that a pending $25.5 million sale to a developer may not go through, because the sale is contingent upon state environmental approval.
If the city does not sell the property on Aug. 13, it needs to extend its financial arrangement with Capital One, which finances the city’s leasing of the garage. The current arrangement expires July 1.
Zimmer said last week that Capital One is requiring the city to show that they can buy back the garage in order to extend the financing for three more months. This means that the City Council would need to establish the $13 million bond ordinance in the coming week in order for the city to have an opportunity to buy back the garage if the sale falls through.
A representative from Capital One will address the council on Sunday, Zimmer said.
Zimmer said that if the council fails to pass this bond ordinance, the city risks losing the garage itself and an estimated $600,000 in fees.
Zimmer and Council President Peter Cunningham made the decision to have the meeting on Sunday, even though three council members – Councilpersons Beth Mason, Michael Russo, and Theresa Castellano – cannot attend. They could also have addressed the matter this coming Wednesday, when only Councilman Nino Giacchi expects to be absent from the meeting.
1600 Park fix-up begins
Soil remediation at a long-vacant patch of land, 1600 Park Ave., the proposed site of a future public park, has begun.
Community Development Director Brandy Forbes said Tuesday that the DEP-approved remediation of contaminated soil will be completed by the end of July. The process includes encapsulating the hazardous soil with a new layer of topsoil.
The city will be taking bids beginning Tuesday for the remediation of another future public amenity, Hoboken Cove, which is adjacent to 1600 Park along the waterfront.
Over the summer, the city will hire an engineering or landscape architecture firm to handle the design of both parks.
And in the fall, the city will hold public meetings to decide the design and programming of the entire uptown area.
In addition, the ARC Trans-Hudson Passenger Rail Tunnel will be boring 150 feet beneath the site, Forbes said, and the city will hold a public hearing on the tunnel project on June 30 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Multiservice Center, 124 Grand St.
The 1600 Park site has a storied history. At one point, it was slated to be the site of a large residential development, but then the city was awarded grants to buy it from developers.
The plot of land abuts the Weehawken city limits, on which sits a unique house built last year by Hoboken-based developer Mark Settembre.
No surprise in primary elections
There were few surprises in Tuesday night’s primary elections in Hudson County, with many of the countywide and region-wide candidates running unopposed to grab the Democratic or Republican nomination. Now the winning nominees will face off in November.
In Hudson County, the Democrats usually win, so the race is sometimes more heated to grab the Democratic nomination than to beat a Republican opponent in November.
The incumbents won handily in most of the races.
U.S. Rep Albio Sires, a Democrat who was once mayor of West New York, won the primary to run for re-election to the 13th Congressional District in November. He earned 10,567 votes. But surprisingly, Guttenberg candidate Jeff Boss, who has run in several local elections, earned 1,961 votes in his bid for the nomination.
For Hudson County Sheriff, Frank Schillari, backed by the powerful Hudson County Democratic Organization, garnered 14,201 votes to get the Democratic nod. He ran unopposed for the nomination.
However, Schillari will face the Republican nominee, incumbent sheriff Juan Perez in November. Perez actually was a Democrat until he recently failed to get the HCDO’s backing, then decided to run as a Republican for the nomination so as not to face Schillari. Perez earned 2,290 votes as a Republican, and challenger Christian Araujo amassed 972. Thus, Perez is the Republican nominee and will face Schillari for the job in November.
Fourth of July celebration announced
The city of Hoboken announced Wednesday that it will host a festival on Sinatra Drive on July 4 featuring artists, crafters, photographers, food vendors, rides, games, and live music.
“In addition to being a prime location for viewing the annual Macy’s fireworks show over the Hudson River, Hoboken will also present a special Fourth of July Festival along Frank Sinatra Drive between First Street and approximately…Seventh Street from noon until 10 p.m.,” the city stated in a press release.
Information and an application form for reserving vendor space is available at the city website: hobokennj.org
The city is also seeking musicians who wish to perform. For additional information, please contact the Cultural Affairs office at (201) 420-2207.
Marketing event in Hoboken for local business owners
Elizabeth Barry & Associates has announced the first of many “creative branding events” for local business owners. On Wednesday, June 23, beginning at 4 p.m., local businesses and their managers are invited to attend a free one-hour marketing lounge hosted at Ganache Café, 1500 Hudson St. Attendees are guaranteed fresh ways to reinvent their brands through innovative marketing changes.
Within the hour, EB&A plans to energize local brands featuring unique ways to grow their businesses through print advertising, web, social networking, e-mail marketing, and other strategic methods. Additional “perks” include free coffee, 10 percent off additional Ganache snacks, gift bags, guest speakers, a celebrity meet and greet with Seth Stewart from “In The Heights,” and exclusive discounts from the Hudson Reporter.
The event will be sponsored in part by Ganache Cafe and The Hudson Reporter.
If you’re a business owner who can use a promotional refresher, you’re encouraged to RSVP early. Deadline is Wednesday, June 16. Email info@EBandAssociates.com.
City presents Fitness in the Park
The city is presenting Fitness & Yoga in the Park on Monday and Tuesday nights at Pier A Park. The events are free to the public.
Yoga at Pier A Park is on Tuesdays from 7 to 8 p.m. in June, July, and August, excluding July 13.
This series is run by Devotion Yoga. Participants are asked to bring their own mats.
For more info, call (201) 610-9642 or visit www.devotionyoga.com.
Fitness in Pier A Park is on Mondays from 7 to 8 p.m. in June, July, and August.
Every week a different gym will run the event, so participants will get a free sampling of what the local gyms have to offer.
For instance, the Hudson Athletic Club does their cardio kickboxing on June 21, while Club H does Zumba, a Latin music fitness routine on June 28.
For additional information, please contact the Cultural Affairs office at (201) 420-2207.
Library offers Stories in the Park
The summer session of the Hoboken Library’s Stories in the Park program begins on July 6.
Simple songs and stories for children from six months to 2 ½ years old will take place on Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m. Children 2 ½ years old to 5 years will hear stories on Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m.
Both programs will be held in the Church Square Park gazebo. No registration is required and events are free to all.
For information on these and other summer reading programs, call the Library’s Childrens’ Department at (201) 420-2384.
Downtown sidewalk sale scheduled
On Saturday, June 12, the Chamber of Commerce is hosting their first annual Sidewalk Sale – rain or shine – in downtown Hoboken between Newark and Fourth streets.
Retailers for some unique local stores and boutiques will be outside their stores with great deals, special promotions, and festive treats.
Participating stores include: Anastasia’s Accessories, 88 Garden St.; Bellie & Katrina, 159 Fourth St.; The Candy Shoppe, 59 Fourth St.; City Discount, 207 Washington St.; Greetings from Hoboken, 327 Washington St.; Hoboken Gold and Diamond Exchange, 115 Washington St.; W. Kodak Jewelers, 60 Newark St.; Lorraine’s House of Styles, 160 First St.; Lucy’s, 92 Hudson St.; Luxe Face & Body, 158 First St.; Maxwell’s 9.13.34, 106 Fourth St.; Michelangela, 330 Washington St.; NJ Skate Shop III, 91 Hudson St.; Nutrition Zone, 120 Washington St.; Patricia’s Yarns, 107 Fourth St.; Solid Threads, 365 First St.; Tunes, 225 Washington St.; The Tux Shop, 341 Bloomfield St.; William Howard Home, 138 Park Ave., and Zin Home, 257 First St.
For more information, call (201) 222-1100.
Silent auction for cancer is June 23
The Hoboken Relay for Life charity fundraising group is hosting a “Fight Back Night and Silent Auction” on Wednesday, June 23 at 7 p.m. at the Chandelier Room at The W Hotel, 225 River St.
Tickets are $30 before June 7 and $40 after and at the door. Cash, checks, and credit cards accepted.
To purchase advance tickets, contact the American Cancer Society at (908) 354-7373, option 3, extension 200.
Relay will be providing complimentary appetizers, drink specials, giveaways, and amazing silent auction items available for bidding.
For more information, or if your business is interested in donating a silent auction item or gift card, e-mail rflhoboken@gmail.com.
Net proceeds benefit the American Cancer Society.
Learn reading at Jubilee Center
The Hoboken School District is partnering with the Jubilee Center this summer for “Reading First,” an early reading program, from June 23 through July 29.
Children from kindergarten to third grade will be offered three-hour reading sessions with certified teachers.
For more information contact the Jubilee Center, Sixth and Jackson streets, at (201) 792-0340.