Hoboken City Council seeks the public’s input on the Neumann Leathers project

HOBOKEN — During this week’s council meeting there will be a presentation on potential development options for the Neumann Leathers project. Members of the community are invited to review the options and attend the June 21 council meeting, and voice their views.
The council passed the Neumann Leathers Redevelopment Plan in Dec. 2015. The goals of the plan included preserving the historic buildings of Neumann Leathers, preserving the existing light manufacturing and arts businesses that are currently operating in Neumann Leathers, and creating new public spaces. Some residential density was included in the plan to achieve these goals. All of the possible alternatives have the same 230 units of residential development, but reconfigure the development in different ways.
While there was a community process to finalize the approved plan, the press release states residents at 415 Newark St. next to the development have concerns about the location of the residential element of the plan. To address these concerns, the property owner’s architect met with some residents and showed them several concepts that shift some of the residential density to the east, away from their building. These concepts would also demolish some Neumann Leathers buildings and eliminate some of the public open space required by the Redevelopment Plan, according to the press release.
The City Council will be asked to take a vote to express its views on a preferred option at the following July 5 council meeting.
The city will then move forward with possibly amending the current redevelopment plan, if needed, and then negotiating a redevelopment agreement.
“A plan that would demolish significant Neumann Leathers buildings is not an option that I could support, however, residents in the neighborhood have expressed concerns about the adopted redevelopment plan, and we want to get input from the community and Council to reach consensus on a preferred direction,” said Mayor Dawn Zimmer in a press release. “Based on the results of a city council vote, the administration will then work with the council to possibly amend the plan and then negotiate a redevelopment agreement to move forward with the project.”
To view the possible options go to http://hobokennj.gov/2017/06/city-seeks-community-input-on-neumann-leathers-alternative-concepts/