HOBOKEN — Attorneys from the city of Hoboken and a small Hoboken business called Hoboken Unleashed met in Hudson County Superior Court Monday afternoon in an attempt to resolve a complaint filed by Hoboken Unleashed on Friday, Aug. 13. The small company is complaining that they already had a lease for a warehouse at 1714 Willow Ave., where the city of Hoboken began moving its own property last week.
The city finished moving its municipal garage operations from Observer Highway to that new location on Friday in order to fulfill a legal obligation regarding a deal with a developer who wanted to buy the Observer Highway property. Even though the city is no longer selling the garage to the developer, they need to show that they kept their end of the bargain to move by Friday.
But in doing so, they are now facing legal action by a new entity.
Hoboken Unleashed, a dogsitting company, has asked a judge to file a temporary restraint against the city regarding the property.
Hoboken Unleashed claims that Sunday, a principal of his company was told he could not park his car on the property, and was threatened with arrest by a police officer.
Judge Thomas Olivieri, the presiding judge of the Chancery Division, said “unfettered access” to the Willow Avenue property should be granted to Hoboken Unleashed.
Corporate Counsel for the City of Hoboken Michael Kates said the issue of site access could be worked out.
Kates has previously said that he did not believe the preexisting lease would cause a problem, as according to the complaint, it would take Hoboken Unleashed approximately four months to acquire a variance from the Hoboken Zoning Board that would be necessary for the company to relocate from their current location at 716 Clinton St. The city has leased the property for 60 days with the possibility of an extension up to one year.
“In the next 60 days, the city has to decide what course to take with Hoboken Unleashed and the property owners,” Kates said.
Kates said in court that the city has the power of eminent domain and this location is convenient for the city.
An attorney for Hoboken Unleashed said that even though the location is perfect for the city, it is also a perfect location for his client.
Judge Olivieri advised the attorneys to meet together to try and solve the issue before court reconvenes on Wednesday at 2:30 p.m.
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