State allots $300K for ‘100 steps’ near Hoboken/Jersey City border
HOBOKEN AND JERSEY CITY — Still no work has been done to restore the historic “100 Steps” on the Palisade hills near the Jersey City-Hoboken border, as promised by developer Sanford Weiss. But that project is making some progress with the recent allotment of $300,000 from the state’s Transportation Trust Fund to Jersey City for the completion of the steps.
The steps, originally built in the early 20th century, were closed in the 1920s and then torn down in the 1990s after they had deteriorated considerably. But in 2003, when Weiss’s Hoboken-based Brass Works Urban Renewal Company were looking to build the condo development called Cliffs Lofts, they came to an agreement with the city of Jersey City to rebuild the “100 Steps” in order to get approvals for requested changes to the Cliffs site plan as well as the city’s final certificate of occupancy.
Cliffs Lofts were built, but the steps were not after an April 2009 groundbreaking. This had area residents criticizing the developer for not living up to the agreement as well as the criticizing city for not compelling the developer to comply.
But the developer relayed to City Councilman Bill Gaughan that his company has run out of money, as noted in a July article in the Jersey City Reporter. The developer’s attorney, George Garcia, did not return phone calls this past week for comment.
City spokesperson Jennifer Morrill said that the city will contribute $50,000 in matching funds to the $300,000 grant, but the entire $350,000 will not go to the developer. She said the developer is contributing $250,000 to the project, with $90,000 already spent to meet requirements for the project from the city’s engineer William Goble.
Special edition of Reporter this Sunday
HUDSON COUNTY – Watch your stoop! This Sunday’s editions of the Hoboken Reporter, the Jersey City Reporter, and the other Reporters will be combined into an all-county Hudson Reporter “Year in Pictures” edition, featuring photos from news and features across the county from 2010. Pick it up and enjoy!
The Reporter offices are closed Thursday, Dec. 30 and Friday, Dec. 31. Happy new year!
Check out our website for breaking news: www.hudsonreporter.com.
If you have questions about these deadlines or any other issue, please call (201) 798-7800 or email editorial@hudsonreporter.com.
Art show benefit for gas pipeline opposition group
JERSEY CITY – The downtown Jersey City bar/restaurant LITM is holding an opening reception for its new art exhibit, “Dark Matter: Bright Future?”, on Tuesday. Jan. 4 from 7 to 10 p.m. The exhibit will run from Jan. 3 – 30.
LITM is currently looking for submissions for the exhibit, inspired by the work of the advocacy group NoGasPipeline.org. The group was formed earlier this year to fight the proposed natural gas pipeline by Spectra Energy to run through Jersey City.
The reception is a benefit for NoGasPipeline.org. It has a $10 Suggested Donation (no cover), $3 for white and red wine, and $5 for “Dark Matter” shots.
The deadline for submissions is Dec. 30. Be sure to include your name, title, medium, dimensions, and price, as well as any other pertinent information with your submission. Submit JPEG entries or website link to: andrea@litm.com.
LITM is located at 140 Newark Ave. in Jersey City. For more information, call (201) 536-5557 or www.LITM.com.
NJ Motion Picture and Television Commission offers Spring 2011 internships
STATEWIDE – The Educational Advisory Board of the New Jersey Motion Picture and Television Commission is offering Spring 2011 internships to students currently enrolled in film, television, and communications degree programs at New Jersey colleges and universities. Internships are unpaid, and college credits must be arranged through a student’s faculty advisor.
During the semester internship in the office of the New Jersey Motion Picture and Television Commission, students become involved with the pre-production and production of motion pictures, television programs, and commercials. They assist in the scouting of film locations and the preparation of research material for presentation to production companies. Students are also afforded the opportunity to visit the sets of features and television shows being made in the state.
Interested students may request further information by calling the New Jersey Motion Picture and Television Commission at (973) 648-6279. More information for the Commission can be found on their website: www.njfilm.org.
First-Sunday-of-the-Month Nature Walk with the NJMC and BCAS
NORTH JERSEY — What better way to ring in 2011 than with a brisk nature walk? This free two-hour guided walk starts outside the Meadowlands Environment Center in DeKorte Park in nearby Lyndhurst and runs from 10 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 2. We’ll walk around the 110-acre park, looking for wintering waterfowl and other birds of interest. The walk is run by the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission and the Bergen County Audubon Society. Check meadowblog.net for last-minute weather updates. You will have to sign a standard liability release for this event. To RSVP, contact Don Torino of the BCAS at greatauk4@aol.com or 201-636-4022.