Dear Editor:
After nearly two years of planning, designing, and leasing, our application for an outstanding mixed use development at 1300 Jefferson Street was denied by the Zoning Board of Adjustment last month. Apparently, a significant recreational improvement to this long neglected area of Hoboken was not deemed sufficient to allow for us to move forward and satisfy community desires for a bowling alley and climbing facility, restaurants and retail space, affordable housing and live/work residential units. While the results were disappointing, what was decisive was the tremendous community support and encouragement provided us.
We are sincerely grateful to all those who attended the meetings and to those that spoke up for our project. We appreciate all the support from those unable to attend and who have voiced their deep disappointment through emails, conversations, and phones calls to our elected official at the unresponsiveness of the ZBA members that ignored the public’s wishes. To all of you, we pledge to continue to push for our project, fortified by the knowledge that we have the community by our side.
Hany Ahmed
Mark Luis Villamar