Dear Editor:
It seems that neither war, recession, court defeats, or election reversals can stop the development juggernaut from trying to totally ruin this community.
I refer specifically to the latest scheme our friendly developers have foisted on us, the two 17-story apartment towers under construction at 101 Marshall Drive, (Hoboken Reporter, Feb. 17.) Apparently the defeat of one ludicrous project (1600 Park) is seen as a signal to inflict an even more ludicrous project on this community (and I was interested to note that they don’t seem to have given up on 1600 Park either; last I heard the matter was settled, and yet now I see that project is ‘still in litigation’).
Considering the problem of overdevelopment that this city has been confronted with the last several years, this project is absolutely preposterous. We have already been hit with increased traffic, parking problems and power outages, with many other new developments not even occupied yet, so now someone proposes to add these two 17-story buildings?
This is truly atrocious development. Equally ludicrous are some of Mr. Weiss’ assertions that this project somehow is good for the neighborhood. Indeed, Mr. Weiss contradicts himself on the relationship of this project to the neighborhood. In one place he states “(we) are enhancing a neighborhood that needs it.” Later on he states “This project is about neighborhood building. In order to create a neighborhood you need to infuse a certain amount of people.” Well which is it? Is this about enhancing an existing neighborhood or creating a new one?
It really doesn’t matter, because this project fails on either count. As far as enhancing the existing neighborhood, as a resident of the exiting neighborhood, I fail to see how these high rises will do me or any of my neighbors one bit of good.
For the city as a whole, these towers are overwhelmingly negative. One reason is that there is practically nothing in the immediate area to serve the future residents of these towers. Most of my daily living involves walking east from where I live on Madison Street. Washington Street is a pretty good hike for me. Considering that 101 Marshall is another three to four blocks to the west, I frankly doubt that too many of the future residents are going to be making that hike. What will they do? Drive their cars! Where? Either into the heart of Hoboken, thus increasing the amount of traffic, until they can find a parking space, thus increasing the parking crunch, or elsewhere (the Meadowlands? Newport Mall?) to do their shopping/recreating, so so much for “enhancing the community.” The developer claims that 80 percent of the residents will take mass transit to work (how did he figure that out?). Even if it’s true, that’s all well and good, and I’m a big supporter of mass transit use, but what about all the other activities of life? This location is about as far as you can get away from Washington Street and still be in Hoboken, a rather inconveniently long hike to almost everything in Hoboken.
As far as creating a new neighborhood, I seriously doubt that anybody is going to move into what will doubtless be exorbitantly priced apartments with any intention of settling down and building a life there. The very geographical isolation of these buildings makes it unlikely that many of its tenants will feel any connection or allegiance to the community that is Hoboken. The fact is, this is just more dormitory housing for a transient market that will do nothing to enhance the community.
Mr. Weiss states he is bringing in jobs — what jobs? It’s an apartment house! Is it going to have a doorman? Maybe a super? That’s all well and good, but I hardly think high rise apartment houses are going to be a boon to local employment opportunities. Indeed, this proposal doesn’t even have any storefronts in it.
As I stated above, Mr. Weiss stated he is ‘creating a neighborhood’. I say, who asked him to? Who elected Mr. Weiss to plan the future of this city? I think it’s terrible that unelected, unaccountable real estate developers have so much power over the shape of our community.
I urge the mayor and city council to take whatever steps are necessary to stop this project. Considering the convoluted zoning path that was followed, as well as the continuing questions regarding the sewer hookup, I think the city government should seek an immediate injunction to stop construction, pending a thorough investigation into this matter, and I urge him to do so.
Eric R. Volpe