HOBOKEN – After 17 months, six hearings, and countless hours of discourse with experts and community members, Stevens Institute of Technology has the go-ahead to build its Academic Gateway Complex.
During a five-hour hearing Tuesday night, Nov. 17, the zoning board voted 6-1 to approve three zoning variances, as well as the site plan for the complex. The project, which is now able to begin construction, is expected to be complete by 2017 (around the time the school hopes to also finish the Babbio Center parking garage which the board will vote on in the near future).
The 90,000 square foot academic complex is made up of two four-story buildings located on the north and south sides of Sixth Street where it meets Hudson Street. The buildings will be connected by a glass two-story “sky bridge.”
“I’m relieved. I’m ecstatic. I see a bright future for the institution and an equally bright future for the city of Hoboken because of the closer collaboration between the university and the city,” said Stevens President Nariman Farvardin after the decision was announced during the hearing at the Multi-Service Center.
The project was originally proposed to the board in June 2014 but met with major backlash from some community members, including the Hudson Street Alliance, a coalition of concerned residents living in the brownstones along Steven’s western edge.
Although they officially opposed the project, their objection was later dropped following adjustments made by Stevens planners. These changes included a 25-foot reduction in the height of the complex, a redesign of the façade, abandonment of a pedestrian walkway, and relocation of a floor’s worth of mechanical equipment underground.
The complex attempts to integrate with the current historic look and feel of Hoboken, as well as add 11 classrooms, 10 labs, and 45 offices.
“I am immensely impressed that the members of the zoning board listened to reason. They remained fair, open minded and at the end of the day they made a decision that I think is good for the community,” added Farvardin.
Split vote
Zoning Board members Antonio Grana, 1st Ward Councilman-elect Michael DeFusco, Phil Cohen, 2nd Ward Councilwoman-elect Tiffanie Fisher, John Branciforte and Diane Fitzmeyer-Murphy voted in the affirmative.
Chairman James Aibel voted no to the sought-out variances, which included a use-variance for the north lot because it broke into a residential area, a height variance for both lots that exceeded the 40 ft limit by 25 and 26 feet and a bulk variance (which relates to dimension requirements).
Hundreds attended the hearing to speak in favor and against the variances, with slightly more speakers signed up to champion it.
“I understand there will be [development] in the area no matter what Stevens does. It’ll impact light and air to some degree but to me one of the key issues here is the very large looming sky bridge which to me is usurping part of our open air,” said Aibel during the hearing. “I think that is a substantial negative.”
Many residents echoed Aibel’s concerns about the bridge, while others spoke of how it encouraged collaboration. The ultimate impact in regard to parking and quality of life were also discussed during the hearing.
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