A Stevens Institute of Technology plan to build a new 90,000-square-foot academic complex on Hudson Street in Hoboken remains alive but in limbo before the Zoning Board of Adjustment. Through four previous multi-hour hearings, the last of which took place this past Tuesday, the college has the completed the direct testimony of its expert witnesses, but several statutorily required steps remain before their proposal can be voted on by the Zoning Board.
A fifth hearing is scheduled for Sept. 30, though several board watchers speculated that a sixth could be needed as well. Still forthcoming is the public portion, in which any member of the public can comment on the project for as long as they like.
The current Stevens Academic Gateway concept consists of two four-story buildings on the north and south sides of Sixth Street where it meets Hudson Street, connected with a two-story skybridge.
Stevens altered its original design for the Gateway complex in response to concerns from a group of Hudson Street residents, reducing the buildings’ height and abandoning a pedestrian plaza concept, but a number of neighbors still oppose the project.
The main concerns of these residents are the building’s height, the skybridge, and the potential effect of the building on parking as a Stevens lot will be lost to make room for the north wing of the complex.