Dear Editor:
Thankfully, at the Aug. 2 City Council meeting, two resolutions to change Court Street were pulled due to the fact that the Hoboken Historical Commission had not been notified about these resolutions and had yet to weigh into the idea of hiring consultants that would look into modernizing the historic alley. There were two resolutions on the agenda by which the city would pay consultants $68,000 and $28,750 (for a total of $96,750) for their ideas. The resolutions contained a list of ridiculous changes to cram into Court Street’s one car lane width. City Hall is consultant-happy and are often willing to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on consultants’ fees and then to agree to make very stupid decisions, not realizing the eventual consequences that alter Hoboken.
Court Street runs from Newark Street to 7th Street in the back of the businesses and residences on the east side of Washington Street. That makes Court Street an alley. This alley is lined in the Belgian blocks that were placed there decades ago by hand as must still be done today. When the blocks would go missing, because they were lost or due to some careless roadwork, the gaps were filled in with concrete, asphalt, or dirt to get the job done quickly and cheaply. There was no element of respect or appreciation to take the time to preserve the alley in its original incarnation.
This is a public alley, yet it is home to many private homes and garages. This is not a place for regular traffic but for reflection and peace and appreciation of Hoboken’s history. As I traverse it day or night, I find it a quite comforting change from the loud roadways of the chaotic streets such as Washington, Newark, Observer Highway, River Road, or Hudson Place. Hoboken has become so crowded with people, traffic, vehicles with flashing lights, and large trucks all trying to vie for a space as they attempt to navigate the passageways in town with an urgent frenzy.
So much of Hoboken’s past is gone forever to the modern world. History is forgotten when the past is ripped up and thrown away. Those who come to Hoboken after historic structures like churches or factories are torn down or dismantled beyond recognition will never experience the architecture or ambiance of our town’s history and culture of a bygone time. That is why historical societies and preservation boards are so important to a city, ensuring that all would not be lost to the future.
Court Street should now and always be preserved as it is. It is a reminder of Hoboken’s past and figured importantly in the 1954 movie, “On The Waterfront.” The only thing that should be done to Court Street is that all the missing Belgian blocks should be replaced with blocks dug up all around town when doing roadwork so that the idiotic patches of concrete that currently mar the alley will be no more.
Mary Ondrejka
