Developer wants to build 20-story hotel on post office property
City officials said on Tuesday that while an NJ Business article stated that a design firm is working on a proposed “200-room, 140,000-square-foot hotel project located on the Hudson River in Hoboken,” the actual project has not been discussed.
The project has been proposed by a development firm and by the U.S. Post Office, which owns the land.
Town officials say that the only thing that has been decided by them so far is that the area has been deemed in need of rehabilitation.
“The idea of a 20-story building hasn’t even been discussed,” said Mayor Dawn Zimmer.
Zimmer referenced the similarity of the recent back-and-forth with NJ Transit. The transit authority owns 52 acres of land in the southwest region of Hoboken and has wanted to build a massive development for years. They are seeking the city’s blessing, but the city has pushed for a more scaled-down plan. The city of Hoboken and NJ Transit both hired their own planning firms to explain their visions.
“If we go forward, we’ll have a hearing. We will hear everyone out in the community,” said Zimmer. “The post office or the property owner will be involved. [It would be] very similar [to what occurred with] NJ Transit.”
Port Authority to cut weekend PATH service to expedite Hoboken repairs
The Port Authority announced on Thursday that there will be no weekend PATH service on the Journal Square-33rd Street route this weekend and next so that work crews can expedite repair work being done to the damaged Hoboken Station. Mayor Dawn Zimmer was pleased that repairs to the closed Hoboken station will be expedited.
The only PATH service into New York will be on the Newark-World Trade Center line, for the next two weekends.
“Seeking to return PATH rail service to Hoboken as quickly as possible, the Port Authority will run weekend service only on the Newark Penn Station-World Trade Center line for the next two weekends, allowing crews to proceed unimpeded with post-Hurricane Sandy repair time,” The Port Authority said in a press statement. “While the Port Authority crews already are working 24/7 to make expedited return of at least partial PATH service a top priority where safely possible during the week and weekends, repair time proceeds significantly faster when power to third-rails can be turned off and trains are not running in construction zones. Each weekend of suspended service will provide PATH crews with 48 hours or more of uninterrupted work time, which in turn will shave as much as five or more days off of the recovery schedule.”
Weekday service on the Journal Square-33 Street line will resume at 5 a.m. Monday, Dec. 10 and will operate each day from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. There will be no weekend service again on this route on Saturday, Dec. 15 and Sunday, Dec. 16.
Toy and food drive
The Hoboken Police Department has teamed up with the Hoboken Fire Department, the Hoboken Motorcycle Club, the Hoboken Special Needs Parent Group, and the Wallace School Peer Leadership to host a toy and food drive on Tuesday, Dec. 11 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The Hoboken Police Department will attempt to fill their police bus to the top with donations.
If you are interested in donating, bring unwrapped gifts and/or non-perishable goods outside the department headquarters at 106 Hudson St.
They will also be offering hot cups of coffee or hot chocolate and pictures with Santa Claus.
If you are a family in need or know a family in need, please contact the Hoboken Police Department at (201) 420-2100 or leave a massage at (201) 616-6046.
Hudson County Recovers sets fundraising event
“Hudson County Recovers,” a non-profit organization formed to help Hudson County victims of Hurricane Sandy, will hold a fundraising event Thursday, Dec. 20, 2012.
The event will be held at La Reggia restaurant, 40 Wood Ave. in Secaucus, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. All proceeds will be used to benefit local non-profit organizations involved in helping Hudson County recover from the effects of the hurricane and flooding, and all donations are fully tax deductible.
“Hudson County Recovers” was started by Hoboken City Councilwoman Beth Mason, who is also the president of the Mason Civic League, a charitable organization based in Hoboken. For more information or to purchase tickets in advance, please call Cassandra Alessio at (201) 457-9000.
Menorah lighting Sunday
Chabad of Hoboken is sponsoring their 11th annual Menorah lighting at Hoboken City Hall, 94 Washington St., recognizing our elected local and state officials for their efforts and leadership during Hurricane Sandy.
The event takes place Sunday, Dec 9 at 5:30 p.m. There will be hot latkes, donuts, chocolate gelt, funky dreidels, dancing, and more. Honored guests will include Mayor Dawn Zimmer, U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez, Rep. Albio Sires, other area mayors and members of the Hoboken City Council. This event is free and all are welcome to attend.
A children’s program begins at 3:30 p.m. inside City Hall and features the Yeladudes Theater performing the story of the “Three Challot” and arts and crafts. Performance begins at 4 p.m. and tickets for the show are $10 or $8 on the web.
Chanukah at City Hall is co-sponsored by Hoboken University Medical Center, ShopRite of Hoboken, and ESS Home Theater.
For more info or to receive a Menorah kit or other holiday needs, please call: (201) 386-5222 or visit www.JewishHoboken.com.
HHS Holiday lights project
The Hoboken High School Media Production Department, in conjunction with the Hoboken High School Hispanic Culture Club, is filming a holiday lights project, in which they will feature Hoboken’s best and brightest lights displays. Between the hours of 7 p.m. and 11 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 14, Hoboken High School faculty will be traveling throughout the town and if they choose your home, it will be featured on HHS Channel 77 as one of Hoboken’s elite holiday homes. The completed project will begin airing on Channel 77 on Friday, Dec. 21 and run through Thursday, Jan 3.
Urban Consign & Design to host free Santa photo shoot
Urban Consign & Design, 38 Jackson St. second floor, will host a free Santa photo shoot on Saturday, Dec. 15 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and Hoboken Councilman Tim Occhipinti will be dressing as Santa. Owners of Urban Consign & Design Paul and Cyndi Fitzgerald asked their ward councilman to stand in for Santa for the event.
“I am honored that Paul and Cyndi asked me to lend a hand with this event,” said Occhipinti. “After everything we as a community have been through, weathering Superstorm Sandy and helping each other through the rebuilding and recovery process, being given a chance to bring smiles to the children of Hoboken during this holiday season is something that I could not pass up.”
Pictures will be taken by photographer Jay Rubenstein and are available for download at http://www.7thsignphotography.com/christmas.
For more information please contact Paul Fitzgerald at (201) 921-6800
CarePoint Health Foundation to donate $25K
The CarePoint Health Foundation will make a donation in the amount of $25,000 to the United Way of Hudson County to aid local victims of Hurricane Sandy.
Bayonne Medical Center, Christ Hospital and Hoboken University Medical Center have equally donated their share as an ongoing commitment to the communities in which they serve. CEO’s from each of the hospitals will be presenting a check to Dan Atilio, president of the United Way of Hudson County on Monday, Dec. 17 at 2 p.m. in the lobby of Hoboken University Medical Center.
President of the CarePoint Health Foundation Dan Kane said, “We have an obligation to the communities we serve to respond during times of crisis. Many of our residents have been impacted by Hurricane Sandy and relief efforts through philanthropic dollars are one way for us to help.”
‘Restore Our Shore’ event coming to City Bistro
“Restore Our Shore” and City Bistro, 56 14th St., Hoboken, will throw a benefit event on Monday, Dec. 17 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. to help communities affected by Sandy on the New Jersey Shore. There will be a $25 entry fee at the door that will entitle guests to one free drink ticket and complimentary hors d’oeuvres. There will also be a silent auction, a 50/50 raffle and live music provided by DJ Kevin. For more information on “Restore Our Shore” please visit www.RestoreOurShore.com or Facebook.com/restoreourshorenj or Twitter.com/sosjerseyshore
Hoboken Choir presents eleventh annual winter concert
Hoboken’s all-women community chorus, Cantigas Women’s Choir, will present their eleventh annual winter concert entitled “A Gift for the Season: Songs from Near and Far” on Saturday, Dec. 15 at 7:30 p.m. The event will take place at St. Matthew Trinity Church, 57 Eighth Street (at Hudson Street). The suggested donation for the concert is $15 ($5 for seniors and students). For more information visit www.cantigas.net or contact Rachel Chang at (201) 683-0171 or email Rachel@byrachelchang.com
Student Art Exhibition Sunday
Urban Arts, located in the Monroe Center at 720 Monroe, second floor, will be holding a student art exhibition on Sunday, Dec. 9 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Urban Arts services many Hoboken and Jersey City families whose children attend classes. There will be live music and refreshments. For more information visit www.urbanartsnj.com
Heal Hoboken re-launches website with new partner Magento
Heal Hoboken recently announced a partnership with Magento and has re-launched their website. In an effort to raise $100,000 to help rebuild Hoboken, the organization re-launched its website, adding a marketplace functionality that now showcases products and services from local businesses.
Powered by Magento, a division of X.commerce, (an eBay Inc. company), and implemented by Hoboken-based Redstage Networks, a leading ecommerce solutions agency, the new healhoboken.org website takes advantage of enterprise features and a marketplace that allows the organization to accept donations from businesses and offer them at significant discounts. All of the proceeds from each transaction will directly benefit the Hoboken Relief Fund. In addition to t-shirts and sweatshirts, the website now offers gift cards, hotel rooms, and restaurant specials; other products and services from Hoboken businesses are being added every day. For more information visit www.healhoboken.org