Zimmer backs down on ‘rolling reassessment’; proposes revals every six years
The administration of Mayor Dawn Zimmer is backing off of its plans for a rolling annual revaluation of property values for the next four years. In a letter to the Hoboken City Council released Nov. 26, Zimmer announced that she placed an ordinance on the agenda of the council’s upcoming Dec. 3 meeting requiring a revaluation only every six years.
Zimmer said she changed her mind after “many members of the community expressed strong reservations about the impact that the rolling revaluation might have on their taxes going forward” in letters and at a Nov. 12 community meeting.
After the news about the rolling reval was broken in the Reporter two weeks ago, the newspaper received several letters as well.
Zimmer still argues that revaluations must be done regularly, and that property value assessments cannot be allow to lapse for 25 years, as the city did before its 2013 revaluation.
All nine City Council members voted in favor of the contract with Appraisal Systems to undergo the rolling reassessment in September. Since then, however, the four Council members unaffiliated with Zimmer have come out publicly against the contract, arguing that it will raise taxes and had been misrepresented when it was presented to the council.
If the council passes Zimmer’s new proposal, she said she will terminate Appraisal Systems’ contract to conduct a rolling reassessment of property values over the next four years, and will not use the work that has already been done to alter property values. The city has already paid out some money to the company.
Zimmer said that rescinding the approval for the Appraisal Systems contract, as the four Zimmer opponents on the council have proposed, is technically not possible, so it has to be done by passing her new proposal. The city’s contract with Appraisal Systems, she wrote, “has already been executed…[and] the authorization to enter into it can no longer be rescinded by the City Council.”
DIY Network Star sells upgraded Hoboken condo for almost $700K
After eight years, DIY Network star Jason Cameron will be leaving his condominium in Hoboken, but not without a chunk of change in his pocket. After renovating and upgrading his two-bedroom, one-bath condo in the southern end of Hoboken, Cameron sold it for $696,000–$27,000 above asking price—this month, according to Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage.
Cameron has hosted several home improvement programs on the DIY Network, including “Man Caves,” “Project Xtreme,” and “Desperate Landscapes.” In his own home, his improvements included random-plank hardwood floors.
The condo, which is located on the 200 block of Clinton St, also boasts a generously sized, verdant yard that can be enjoyed from an oversized, covered deck, a living room with stone fireplace, and a fully equipped designer kitchen with dining island.
Michael Check, the Coldwell Banker agent who represented Cameron, said the condo sold after only three days on the market, and had four interested buyers.
“It was my pleasure to represent Jason in the sale of his condominium. His ingenuity is evident throughout the entire premises,” said Check. “Jason utilized his incredible professional creativity in crafting a unique residence he was proud to call home.”
Fair Housing Association presents cautionary tale for Hoboken Dec. 5
On Friday, Dec. 5, 2014, the Hoboken Fair Housing Association will host a screening of “Lost Bohemia,” a 2012 film that documents the vibrant life and sad end of Carnegie Hall Artists Studios, 165 live/work studios for artists, writers, and musicians that once existed above Carnegie Hall.
Built in 1896, the studios played host to hundreds of famous creative minds over the years, including Mark Twain, Norman Mailer, Enrico Caruso, Isadora Duncan, Bob Fosse, Leonard Bernstein, Marlon Brando, Paul Newman, Marilyn Monroe and Robert Redford.
But in the early 2000’s, the Carnegie Hall Corporation decided to evict the studio tenants in order to build administrative offices. HFHA member Cheryl Fallick said the film “poignantly presents the age-old struggle between art, culture and commerce and asks us to consider and re-think the direction that our society is headed.”
Josef Astor, who directed “Lost Bohemia” and is a former tenant himself, will be on hand to give an introductory presentation at 7 p.m. and to answer questions after the film.
The location is the Community Church in Hoboken at 606 Garden St. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Admission is $10.00.
Baruch College prof to speak on Chinese immigration in Tri-State Area
The Hoboken Historical Museum’s Immigrant Experience lecture series will continue Sunday, Dec. 7 at 4 p.m. with a talk by Dr. Charlotte Brooks of Baruch College on “The Excluded: Chinese Immigration to the Tri-State Area in the Early Twentieth Century.”
In conjunction with the current exhibition, “Hoboken, Ellis Island, and the Immigrant Experience, 1892 – 1924,” the Museum has invited noted scholars and authors to address the topic of immigration from diverse angles. On Dec. 14, the lecture series will wrap up with a talk by Brooklyn College professor Dr. Jerome Krase on “the Vernacular Architecture of Italian American Neighborhoods.”
All talks take place at the Museum, located at 1301 Hudson St., and are free and open to the public.
Come to City Hall for the Holiday Crafts Fair Dec. 6 and 7
Mayor Dawn Zimmer and the City of Hoboken invite you to the Hoboken City Hall Holiday Crafts Fair on Dec. 6 & 7 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event will take place on all three floors of City Hall, featuring artwork & unique handcrafted gift items by local crafters & artisans including scarves, candles, holiday ornaments, stuffed animals, art from recycled license plates, essential oils, floral arrangements and much more. A selected list of merchants can be found online at www.hobokennj.org/departments/human-services/cultural-affairs/holiday-craft-fair.
For more info, call 201-420-2207 or email gfallo@hobokennj.org.
Hoboken writer-actress debuts feature film at NYC screening
Come out to support the first-ever screening of “Cassanova Was A Woman,” a groundbreaking film about fidelity, fantasy, and fried plantains produced, written by, and starring Hoboken resident Jezabel Montero. This romantic comedy with a serious twist, which is directed by Kevin Arbouet and also stars Hobokenite Margo Singaliese, will have you rolling in the aisles!
The screening will be held on Dec. 1 at 7:30 p.m. at the NYU Film Cantor Center at 36 E. Eighth St. in New York City. Tickets are $35, but include the scrfeening, a Q&A with the filmmakers and stars. and a cocktail reception afterwards. Tickets must be purchased online at cassanovawasawoman.bpt.me. To watch a trailer for the film, go to www.fuacatafilms.com/trailer.
Enjoy ‘O Luminous Night’ this holiday season with Cantigas Choir
Hoboken’s all-women community chorus, Cantigas Women’s Choir, will presents its 13th annual winter concert entitled “O Luminous Night: on Saturday, Dec. 13 at 7:30 p.m. at St. Matthew Trinity Lutheran Church at 57 Eighth Street in Hoboken. The suggested donation for the concert is $15 ($5 for seniors and students).
“Our repertoire comes from near and far, from simulating the soundscape of a Brazilian rainforest — animal sounds included! — in Marcos Leite’s ‘Trěs Cantos Nativos dos Indios Kraó’ to capturing the spirit of Jerusalem as the City of Light in ‘Jerusalem Luminosa,’ written by American Abbie Betinis when she was 21,” says Joan Litman, Cantigas founder and director.
And to celebrate its 13th season, Cantigas is paving new ground and breaking all the rules. “The program will feature a surprise,” she says. “No hints… but it just might go viral, so make sure you come catch it live!”
Cantigas Women’s Choir, named after a medieval Spanish song form called a “cantiga,” is comprised of 50 women of varying ages and backgrounds, and brings women of the community together to explore the rich tradition of women’s singing.
If individual assistance is needed to attend, please e-mail cantigaschoir@gmail.com 10 days in advance.
Rock returns to Maxwell’s Tavern with December performances by local bands
After months of speculation, Maxwell’s Tavern has announced the return of local rock music to their newly-renovated back room stage. The new owners of Maxwell’s Tavern are looking to make this room a great one for bands to play and for fans to see shows. The rebuilt stage and redesigned sound and light systems give the room a whole new feel and will be able to accommodate all kinds of shows.
On Friday Dec. 5, Maxwell’s will present a triple bill of local bands, with Ed Smith & The Ego at 8:30 p.m., Crewman Number Six at 9:30 p.m., and Dead Fish Handshake at 10:30 p.m. The night will be hosted by Stephen Bailey, a local writer, musician, and music promoter and the owner of D’s Soul Full Café. Cover is $10.
Maxwell’s Tavern is located at 1039 Washington St. in Hoboken. For more information, contact Stephen Bailey at 201-965-9955.
Hoboken Elks Hoop Shoot Contest to be held Dec. 6
Attention basketball players–the Hoboken Elks 2014 Hoop Shoot Contest will be held Saturday, Dec. 6 at 10 a.m. at the Multi Service Center at 125 Grand St. The contest is open to ages 9 to 12.