EPA adds Lower Hackensack River to Superfund list

September 7, 2022

09secriver15 — EPA Deputy Regional Administrator Walter Mugdan announces the Lower Hackensack River was added to the Superfund National Priorities List on September 7 in Secaucus. Photo of the event livestream via Rep. Josh Gottheimer.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is adding the Lower Hackensack River in Bergen and Hudson counties to the Superfund National Priorities List (NPL), officials have announced.

The river’s inclusion on the list is a major step toward the remediation of river sediments contaminated with pollutants from past industrial practices. In total, twenty municipalities line the Lower Hackensack River including: Secaucus, Jersey City, North Bergen, Kearny, River Edge, Ridgefield Park, Carlstadt, Little Ferry, Oradell, Rutherford, Bogota, Ridgefield, Hackensack, Teaneck, East Rutherford, Moonachie, North Arlington, New Milford, South Hackensack and Lyndhurst.

Officials make the announcement in Secaucus

The event was held on the banks of the Lower Hackensack River at the Boardwalk Promenade at Laurel Hill Park in Secaucus on September 7. Those in attendance included EPA Deputy Regional Administrator Walter Mugdan, Representative Donald Payne, Jr., Representative Josh Gottheimer, New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette, and the Hackensack Riverkeeper Captain Bill Sheehan, among others.

Secaucus Town Administrator Gary Jeffas spoke at the event on behalf of Mayor Michael Gonnelli who was not feeling well and did not attend: “We’re very excited here in Secaucus for the cleaning up of the river. As you can see from our parks and our town, it runs completely along the Hackensack. It’s going to be an awesome development to have this waterway back to what it was, hopefully, one hundred years ago.”

Years in the making, the site had been proposed for the list in March of this year. Now, the EPA is adding five sites across the nation to its NPL including the Lower Hackensack River, and proposing to add two others that pose significant risk to people’s health and the environment.

“The inclusion of the Lower Hackensack River on the National Priorities List will unlock the federal tools and resources needed to return this precious waterway to the community,” said Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia. “New Jersey’s industrial past helped build this country, but the weight of that legacy has been unequally carried by overburdened and underserved communities. We are committed to restoring this natural resource and working with our state, local and community leaders to get the job done.”

“As the state with the most Superfund sites in the nation, New Jersey has been harmed by legacy pollution and residents have had to endure the harmful effects of toxic air and toxic water,” said Senator Cory Booker. (D-NJ) “With the Lower Hackensack River finally added to the Superfund National Priorities List, our state will receive new tools and resources to clean and restore one of our state’s treasured waterways. I am especially grateful to the advocates, organizations, and government officials who worked tirelessly to make this announcement a reality.”

Industrial activity polluted river over hundreds of years

The Lower Hackensack River site, stretching approximately 18.75 river miles from the Oradell Dam to near the river mouth at Newark Bay, along with its associated wetlands and the surrounding area, has been a center of industrial activities for more than 200 years. As a result, decades of sewage and industrial discharges into the river and its tributaries have contaminated river sediments. Prior studies and investigations show that the river contains sediments contaminated with arsenic, lead, chromium, mercury, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon compounds, and polychlorinated biphenyls.

Four current Superfund sites believed to have contributed significantly to the contamination of Hackensack River sediments are: the Ventron/Velsicol site in Carlstadt and Wood-Ridge, a mercury processing facility that operated from 1929 to 1974; Universal Oil Products, Chemical Division, in East Rutherford, which processed chemicals from 1930 to 1979; Standard Chlorine, in Kearny, which manufactured and processed various chemical products, including mothballs and lead-acid batteries, from around 1916 to 1993; and Scientific Chemical Processing in Carlstadt, which conducted various chemical recovery, processing, and storage activities from around 1941 until 1980.

“The EPA prioritizing the cleanup of our Lower Hackensack River here in North Jersey is terrific news. I have been leading federal efforts to restore the river from its current contaminated state because our communities deserve better,” said Congressman Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09) “I have worked closely with the EPA to ensure that the Lower Hackensack’s cleanup process be prioritized. I have also strongly supported the Murphy Administration’s efforts to hold up their end of the bargain in this endeavor. I’m grateful for the work of our partners on the federal, state, and local level to make this progress possible. Together we will restore the Lower Hackensack River to its former glory.”

“It is great to see the Lower Hackensack River added to the EPA’s Superfund National Priorities List,” said Rep. Donald M. Payne, Jr. (D-NJ-10) “A few of my New Jersey House colleagues and I wrote a letter to the EPA in July 2021 to request the agency designate the river as a Superfund priority. This action shows the Biden Administration’s continued commitment to environmental protections and restorations. Now, New Jersey can get the funding and support necessary to clean up the Lower Hackensack River and create an environmental space that all residents can enjoy.”

‘Light at the end of the river’

The Hackensack River is part of the New York–New Jersey Harbor Estuary and is habitat to over 30 designated endangered or threatened species and home to over 8,400 acres of wetlands. It runs through residential, commercial, industrial and public areas. Due to the elevated contamination levels found in fish and crab throughout the Newark Bay Complex, including the tidal Hackensack River, the NJDEP has placed multiple advisories on the river’s recreational and fishing activities.

“The official Superfund designation for the Hackensack River is a critical milestone for the Garden State that will hasten the cleanup and restoration of one of our most precious natural resources,” said Commissioner LaTourette, who requested the federal superfund listing immediately upon his confirmation as New Jersey Commissioner of Environmental Protection last year.

“Governor Phil Murphy, Lt. Governor Sheila Oliver, and our Administration are committed to the swift assessment and cleanup of the Hackensack for all those who live, work and recreate in its watershed. We thank Administrator Regan, Regional Administrator Garcia, Congressmen Pascrell and Gottheimer, and the many EPA, county, local and nonprofit partners who have championed this river and made this moment possible. While we may just be at the beginning, there is abundant light at the end of this river.”

There are thousands of contaminated sites across the country due to past practices of dumping, storing or discharging contamination indiscriminately. President Joe Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will accelerate the EPA’s work to help communities clean up these contaminated sites with a $3.5 billion investment in the Superfund Remedial Program and reinstates the Superfund chemical excise taxes, making it one of the largest investments in American history to address legacy pollution.

This historic investment strengthens the EPA’s ability to tackle threats to human health and the environment. The EPA has already set action in motion to clear the backlog of the 49 contaminated sites awaiting funding to start remedial action.

For updates on this and other stories, check www.hudsonreporter.com and follow us on Twitter @hudson_reporter. Daniel Israel can be reached at [email protected].

Jersey City opens applications for first time homebuyer program

Hudson Reporter

September 1, 2022

Row,Of,Beautiful,Old,Brick,Homes,With,Staircases,Along,A — The city's Golden Neighborhood Homeownership Program will provide financial assistance for down payments and closing costs for eligible first time homebuyers. (Shutterstock photo)

Jersey City has announced the city is opening applications for their first time homebuyer program, which will award grants to assist low to moderate-income residents looking to buy a home in the city.

Titled the Golden Neighborhood Homeownership Program, the program provides financial assistance with down payments for a home for up to 10 percent of the purchasing price, as well as up to $10,000 in closing costs for eligible homebuyers.

“This is a great opportunity to get the community engaged and educated about home ownership in our city,” said Mayor Steven Fulop in a statement. “Our goal is to create and preserve affordable housing while also helping residents achieve home ownership where they may not otherwise be able to afford their own family home.”

Those that can qualify for the program must have family income between 60 to 80 percent of the area median income (AMI), with the maximum subsidy for qualified applicants being $150,000. Receipt of the maximum allowable amount will be reliant upon family size, household income and AMI percentage.

Subsidies are awarded to the homeowner once they find a home in the city and enters into a contract, the property passes the mandatory housing standards and lead paint inspections, and the buyer receives a property appraisal and secures a mortgage lender commitment.

“We are excited to bring additional support to make home ownership a reality for Jersey City residents,” said Deja Anderson, the Director of the Division of Community Development. “We want to keep communities intact while creating opportunities for generational wealth building.”

Applications can be submitted online at www.cognitoforms.com/CityOfJerseyCity1/GoldenNeighborhoodHomeownershipProgram2022PreApplication through November 1. Those who qualify after a preliminary screening will be entered into a lottery selection process.

The city said that the subsidies are considered a grant, and will become a loan if the buyer moves, sells the property prior to the end of the required affordability period, or defaults on the mortgage. The home buyer will be required to repay a portion of the grant based upon a recapture schedule.

The Division of Community Development will also be hosting a mortgage fair with local and national banks to provide additional support/information on their own in-house first-time homebuyer programs, which can be use in combination with the GNHP grants. The fair will take place at 4 Jackson Square inside the Holloway Board Room at Oct. 5 from 3 to 8 p.m..

For a list of qualifications and details about the program, visit www.jerseycitynj.gov/cms/One.aspx?portalId=6189744&pageId=18803022&mc_cid=cef57fa407&mc_eid=UNIQID. For more information about the application process, contact the Division of Community Development by phone at 201-547-6910 or at [email protected].

For updates on this and other stories, check hudsonreporter.com and follow us on Twitter @hudson_reporter. Mark Koosau can be reached at [email protected] or his Twitter @snivyTsutarja.

North Bergen amends five-year tax exemption, introduces another for 30 years

Hudson Reporter

August 31, 2022

09nbtax08 — An aerial view of the Wyndham Garden Hotel in North Bergen. Photo courtesy of the township.

North Bergen has amended a five-year tax exemption it granted to a redeveloper to support an already-constructed hotel. Meanwhile, the township is contemplating granting another tax exemption for 30 years for a planned residential redevelopment.

Mayor Nicholas Sacco and the Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to adopt an ordinance authorizing amendments to the hotel’s financial agreement at its August meeting, after it was introduced in July.

The tax exemption is for Spectrum Capital North Bergen, LLC, for 1706 and 1904 Paterson Plank Road. The property is the Wyndham Garden Hotel in North Bergen, owned by Rohit and Raj Gaur.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony took place for the hotel on June 2, 2021, delayed one year by the COVID-19 pandemic. The entity applied for the tax exemption back in 2020, to support the five-story hotel with 135 units on the property.

Tax exemption granted in 2020

According to the ordinance, the Tax Assessor can regard the full and true value or a portion of certain improvements as not increasing the full and true value of certain property for a period of five years. That is, if the applicant gets approval from both the Board of Commissioners and the Tax Assessor.

In 2020, the township voted unanimously to adopt the ordinance authorizing the agreement. The township and property owner entered into the Tax Exemption Agreement on November 9 of that year.

According to the new ordinance amending the agreement, Spectrum Capital North Bergen, LLC will pay the township, in addition to the full taxes on the land which shall continue to be conventionally assessed and taxed and not appealed, pursuant to the Amended Agreement, a tax payment for the new improvements to the property.

The new payment schedule will see a total payment of $476,240 to paid quarterly in the amount of $119,060 on February 1, May 1, August 1, and November 1. For 2023, the $250,000 payment can be paid quarterly in the amount of $62,500 on those same dates.

For 2024, the $275,000 payment can be made quarterly in the amount of $68,750 on those same dates. And in 2025, the $300,000 payment can be paid quarterly in the amount of $75,000 on those same dates.

Another tax exemption eyed by township

The Board of Commissioners also introduced an ordinance that would approve and authorize a financial agreement between the township and 8619 Holding Company, LLC for a term of 30 years.

Earlier in the meeting, the commissioners approved a resolution designating 8619 Holding Company, LLC the redeveloper for 8505, 8515, and 8619 Bergenline Avenue, after a Developer’s Agreement was executed in May. At the same August meeting, a redevelopment plan was approved by the board, allowing 11-story multifamily residential buildings on the lots bigger than 7,500 square feet, and 6-story buildings on the lots smaller than 7,500 square feet, as well as allowing parking lots and garages and commercial uses that serve the residents of the buildings.

The area contains a vacant lot that has previously been approved for a mixed-use development, as well as a condominium building that has fallen into disrepair, and an adjoining retail space. 8505 Bergenline Avenue is currently home to James Vincent Bicycles, 8515 is the Mariah Condominiums building, and 8619 is a currently vacant lot adjacent to the Mariah’s parking lot.

Now, the township is eyeing a financial agreement pursuant to the state’s Long Term Tax Exemption Law to support the project. According to the ordinance, the agreement calls for a development with an unclear height and 128 units on the site, with off-street parking and other facilities and public amenities.

James Vincent Bicycles (left) and the Mariah Condominiums (right). Image via Google Maps.

Upcoming public hearing on financial agreement

During the public hearing for the redevelopment plan in August, no members of the public spoke, but Sacco asked Township Administrator Janet Castro if James Vincent Bicycles at 8505 Bergenline Avenue was included in the ordinance. Castro confirmed it was included in the redevelopment plan, but that no final site plans had been submitted by a redeveloper that includes the site.

Sacco noted that if the bicycle business sold the property, they were offered the opportunity to open on the ground floor of the redevelopment. He added that nothing is being done forcefully, however, and the owner of the business can choose not to sell and remain in place.

While the redevelopment plan has been approved, 8619 Holding Company still needs final site plan approval from the North Bergen Planning Board. Meanwhile, the financial agreement ordinance will be up for a public hearing before the North Bergen Board of Commissioners at the next meeting.

The Board of Commissioners will meet again on September 7 at 5 p.m. in the council chambers at Town Hall at 4233 Kennedy Boulevard. For more information, go to northbergen.org.

For updates on this and other stories, check www.hudsonreporter.com and follow us on Twitter @hudson_reporter. Daniel Israel can be reached at [email protected].

PILOT approved to support waterfront redevelopment in West New York

Hudson Reporter

August 31, 2022

09wnyPILOT08 — One of the existing Riverbend buildings at Port Imperial in West New York. Image courtesy of Riverbend.

West New York has granted a payments-in-lieu-of-taxes (PILOT) agreement to a redeveloper to support the construction of new waterfront residential buildings.

Mayor Gabriel Rodriguez and the West New York Board of Commissioners adopted the financial agreement ordinance at the August meeting after it was introduced in July. Previously, the ordinance was introduced at the May meeting this year, but withdrawn at the recommendation of corporation counsel.

Two new Riverbend buildings

Now the town is moving forward with the financial agreement with RB III Apts Urban Renewal, LLC to support the construction of two new buildings at the Riverbend redevelopment. The property is located on the eastern side of Port Imperial Boulevard, in the town’s Controlled Waterfront Development Zone.

Riverbend Building Company II, LLC, an affiliate of the previously mentioned entity, got approval from the the West New York Planning Board for the project in November of 2020. But the redeveloper had to make modifications to the site plan due to changes in FEMA’s policies regarding below grade parking in multifamily buildings, requiring it to be heard again at the May meeting after which the board passed a resolution approving the project at its April meeting.

Under the approvals, the redeveloper adjusted the lot line between two parcels so that the one lot with an existing decreased in size from 3.15 acres to 2.997 acres and another lot increased in size from 1.73 acres to 1.881 acres.

On the lot that was increased, the redeveloper will demolish the existing Buildings 2 and 3 of the Riverbend development and construct two new residential buildings with rental units at market rate, according to the ordinance. The new Riverbend 2 building will have 164 units, an increase from the existing building which contains 87 units; the new Riverbend 3 building will have 426 units, an increase from the existing building containing 126 units.

Inside the 30-year financial agreement

According to the ordinance, the project would not be feasible without the financial assistance of the town, leading to the redeveloper applying for the PILOT agreement. As such, the redeveloper sought to support the project by applying for a PILOT agreement, as is allowed per the state’s Long-Term Tax Exemption Law.

After review of the request together with the town attorney, redevelopment counsel and the town’s financial advisor, the mayor has recommended that the long-term tax exemption and financial agreement be approved, according to the ordinance. The ordinance authorizes the town to accept, in lieu of real property taxes, an annual service charge to be paid by the redeveloper.

The PILOT will be for a 30-year term with an annual service charge based on 11.5 percent of annual gross revenues for years one to five. The annual service charge increases to 12 percent for years six to 10; 12.5 percent for years 11 to 15; 13 percent for years 16 to 20; and 14 percent for years 21 to 30.

The property currently generates $1,400,000 per year in real estate tax revenue. The projected annual service charge over the 30-year term will generate an annual average of approximately $2,600,000, according to the ordinance. The project is also estimated to create temporary jobs during construction, as well as permanent jobs.

Ordinance approved unanimously

No members of the public or board members spoke at the public hearing for the ordinance at the August 10 meeting. Subsequently, it was adopted unanimously.

The next meeting of the West New York Board of Commissioners is on September 7 at 6:30 p.m. For more information, go to westnewyorknj.org.

For updates on this and other stories, check www.hudsonreporter.com and follow us on Twitter @hudson_reporter. Daniel Israel can be reached at [email protected].

Five-story Monticello Ave. building approved in Jersey City

Hudson Reporter

August 29, 2022

09jcmonticello01_1 — An architectural rendering of the proposed development on Monticello Ave.. Image by Hampton Hill Architecture via Jersey City Planning Board application.

A five-story mixed-use building with 38 units will one day stand on Monticello and Jewett Avenue near McGinley Square, after the Jersey City Planning Board unanimously signed off on its approval at last week’s meeting.

The applicants, Monticello 200 LLC, will use three lots, two vacant and one once occupied by a church. The building will include a commercial space on the first floor, followed by eight studio apartments, 26 one-bedrooms and four two-bedrooms.

Jeffrey Lewis testified on behalf of Monticello 200 over the site plans. Outside the building, the applicants plan to have new curbs and sidewalks on Monticello and Jewett, along with adding three new trees and tree pits on Jewett, and a few permeable paver patios in the rear yard surrounded by a six-foot fence.

For the building itself, the first floor will have a 2,331 square foot commercial area and two one-bedroom apartments, along with an elevator lobby with a mail area and package room, a bike storage room for 36 bikes, a trash compactor room, and a 521-square-foot amenity space. Two of those apartments will also have a private patio and yard in the backyard.

Lewis continued that floors two through five will have nine apartments each – two studios, six one-bedrooms and one two-bedroom, connected by a common corridor with two sets of stairs and the elevator. Three of the apartments facing the rear yard will each have their own private balcony at the back of the building.

The studio apartments will be 466 square feet, the one-bedrooms will be 646 square feet, and the two-bedrooms will be 983 square feet. Each will also come with a washer and dryer.

Onto the roof, the deck there will be 1,320 square feet with two green roof areas; one is 628 square feet and the other is 1,016 square feet. The rest of the roof will be used as an equipment area for the condensers for the residential units.

One resident, Valeriy Verkhovskiy, spoke in favor of the project, calling it a “beautiful structure” and saying that will be a positive addition to the neighborhood. “I’m so glad this empty lot is finally going to be developed,” he said. “[I’m] so tired of looking at this empty lot of people throwing garbage in there.”

The board eventually voted 7-0 to approve the site plans.

For updates on this and other stories, check hudsonreporter.com and follow us on Twitter @hudson_reporter. Mark Koosau can be reached at [email protected] or his Twitter @snivyTsutarja.

Seven-story Rampart House approved near Hamilton Park

Hudson Reporter

August 25, 2022

09jcrampart01_1 — The new project will come with a number of studios, one and two-bedrooms, along with 222 parking spaces. Image by HLW via Jersey City Planning Board application.

A new seven-story development near Hamilton Park was unanimously approved by the Jersey City Planning Board on Aug. 23, with 246 residential units set to be built on a former railroad embankment.

The applicant, Newport Associates Development Company, sought approval to build their new project titled the “Rampart House” on a 3.08 acre of vacant land on the corner of 10th and Monmouth St.. 203 of the units will be one-bedrooms, 26 will be two-bedrooms, and 17 will be studios, along with 222 surface parking spaces.

Newport’s attorney, Ronald Shaljian, explained that the site was part of the Erie Railroad Embankment and is currently surrounded by stone walls on the east and south sides. “The design of the site and the building incorporates those walls as an integral part of the project,” he said.

Going over the site plans, Matthew Neuls of Dresdner Robin started with the outside parts of the project. He explained how there will be a new concrete sidewalk along 10th St. with street trees, and similar improvements along Monmouth St..

The driveway to access the parking lot will be on the north side of 10th St.; the lot itself is located on the second level of the site to the north of the building. Neuls also added that 15 percent of the spaces will be required to have electric vehicle charging stations as per state regulations.

Scott Herrick of HLW continued that the entry lobby on the first floor will provide street level entry, with a reception area and feature stairs to the second floor. There would also be amenity spaces on the floor such as co-working spaces, a play room, fitness room and laundry room. There would also be bike storage for 124 bikes.

The parking lot on the second level of the site will have an entrance to the building. Image by HLW via Jersey City Planning Board application.

The second floor is the level where the parking lot is on the exterior, with a lobby on the floor that also has the aforementioned feature stairs from downstairs.

Herrick explained that the second floor will have 36 units laid out in a double-loaded corridor configuration, and floors three to seven will then have 42 units each in a similar layout. The studio apartments will be about 734 square feet, the one-bedrooms will be 772 square feet, and the two-bedrooms will be 1,220 square feet.

Michael Tegnell, also from HLW, explained that the roof will have a number of amenities that will be organized around a central gathering place, surrounded by ornamental planting and flowering trees. A barbecue area, picnic tables, pavilion and seating area will be up there.

During public comment, one resident, David Grabowski, had asked the applicants if the new building would inflate the traffic issues in the neighborhood, saying that the Embankment and Revetment buildings cause “constant” traffic issues on 10th St. due to delivery and taxi vehicles stopping in front of the buildings.

Chairman Christopher Langston agreed with Grabowski and asked if the applicants could speak to that. Shaljian replied that it’s an enforcement issue for the city and that it wasn’t his client’s obligation to restrict traffic.

“We could further bring it to the attention of the city and ask them for more enforcement, but that’s probably the extent of what we could do,” he said.

After public comment ended, the board voted 7-0 to approve the project.

For updates on this and other stories, check hudsonreporter.com and follow us on Twitter @hudson_reporter. Mark Koosau can be reached at [email protected] or his Twitter @snivyTsutarja.

Secaucus offers activities for seniors

Hudson Reporter

August 24, 2022

09seccouncil01 — Local seniors meet with the Secaucus Police Department to discuss scams on February 26. Photo courtesy of the department.

Mayor Michael Gonnelli and the Secaucus Town Council have plenty of programs for seniors underway. Second Ward Town Councilman James Clancy made the announcement at the August 23 meeting of the council.

New senior walking initiative

The council invites seniors to its “Let’s go for a walk” program, Clancy announced. Residents are invited to walk with the town at the nearby American Dream mall. The program began earlier this month on August 1.

Going forward, the program will take place on the first and third Monday of the month at 10 a.m. Bus transport is provided.

“We invite our seniors to talk a walk through the American Dream” Clancy said. The events will be on September 12 and September 19.

Mayor Michael Gonnelli said that there will be people on site to take blood pressure during the event. For more information, call 201-865-4422.

Senior congregate meals return

Clancy also announced the return of congregate meals for seniors.

The meals will take place at the Community Center currently serving as a temporary Senior Center at 145 Front Street. The Senior Center at 101 Centre Avenue was demolished because the town is currently in the planning phase of constructing a new facility.

The suggested donation is $1.75 per meal. The meals take place every Monday and Thursday at 11 a.m.

Call 201-330-2094 to reserve a meal. Gonnelli said this was the day that the seniors had bingo there.

“You have lunch and you have bingo,” Gonnelli said.

For more information on these and other opportunities, go to secaucusnj.gov.

For updates on this and other stories, check www.hudsonreporter.com and follow us on Twitter @hudson_reporter. Daniel Israel can be reached at [email protected].

56-unit renovation of Canco Lofts Tower 1 approved in Jersey City

Hudson Reporter

August 24, 2022

09jccanco01_3 — Tower 1 of the Canco Lofts will see the addition of a five-unit penthouse on the roof. Image courtesy of lwdmr architects.

Renovations for Tower 1 of the Canco Lofts were unanimously approved by the Jersey City Planning Board last night, paving the way to refit the building with 56 units and a penthouse on top.

The applicant, Mana Contemporary Tribeca West Urban Renewal LLC, will undertake an interior fit-out of the east-most building in the former American Can Company complex. 51 of the units will be live-work units, while five are penthouse units; there will also be 28 parking spaces provided.

Mana’s attorney, James McCann, explained that the entire site complex was initially approved back in 2006 as a phased development, and was then converted into a master condominium in 2008.

McCann had project architect Eli Martin confirm that the original approval for it had allowed for 101 units, but was never developed. They also reiterated that they’re not asking to renovate the exterior of the building aside from potential waterproofing.

Going over the site plans, Martin explained that for the interior of the building, the corridors inside will be designed as an art gallery next to the apartment doors. “The idea is [that] these will be a living gallery space within Tower 1,” he said. “Tower 1 being very close and associated with Mana Contemporary.”

A rendering of what the interior of a unit will look like in Tower 1 of the Canco Lofts. Image courtesy of lwdmr architects.

Martin continued that on the first floor of Tower 1, new elevators will be added in the shafts and the exits will be improved. He reiterated that the existing ground floor in the tower was developed back then to as an entrance, lobby and concierge for Towers 2 and 3.

Floors 2 to 7 of the building will have nine live-work units each, with each unit being at least 51,550 square feet. Each one will have an open kitchen with potential loft storage above, a bathroom and roughing for a second one.

The aluminum windows will also be replaced to replicate the ones on the other towers, new wood flooring will be installed, and the ceilings will be restored.

The penthouse level will have five units, with a privacy screen between each one and the entire house set back 15 feet from the facade on the roof. Near the elevator lobby on the roof will be a 400 square foot terrace with planters and implanted trees.

Lastly, the basement level, which is continuous throughout all of the towers, will have 28 parking spaces and a trash compactor.

The board voted 7-0 to approve the site plans. “[I] commend Mr. Martin for his excellent drawings,” said Commissioner Steve Lipski. “I think this is going to be phenomenal to see another building get improved.

For updates on this and other stories, check hudsonreporter.com and follow us on Twitter @hudson_reporter. Mark Koosau can be reached at [email protected] or his Twitter @snivyTsutarja.

North Bergen approves redevelopment plan for portion of Bergenline Avenue

Hudson Reporter

August 24, 2022

09nbredev01 — James Vincent Bicycles (left) and the Mariah Condominiums (right). Image via Google Maps.

North Bergen is looking to redevelop three properties in a prime area of Bergenline Avenue between 85th and 87th Streets.

The township has approved a redevelopment plan for properties including 8619, 8515, and 8505 Bergenline Avenue. The properties are directly across the street from James J. Braddock North Hudson County Park, facing eastward toward New York City.

Mayor Nicholas Sacco and the Board of Commissioners approved an ordinance adopting a redevelopment plan for the properties at its August 17 meeting. This is the latest step in the process of redeveloping the site.

The first step was taken back in 2021. The Board of Commissioners passed a resolution authorizing a redevelopment study in November of that year.

The area was subsequently designated an area in need of redevelopment by both the Planning Board and then the Board of Commissioners. Following the adoption of a resolution delineating the area for redevelopment in May of 2022, the Board of Commissioners also directed the Planning Board to draw up a redevelopment plan.

The Planing Board reviewed and recommended the plan be advanced in July of this year ahead of the Board of Commissioners meeting on the 13th, when the ordinance was introduced. Now, the Board of Commissioners have approved the plan after a public hearing and vote on the matter in August.

Delineating the redevelopment area

The Mariah Condominiums at 8515 Bergenline Avenue currently contains a five-story, 20-unit residential building constructed in 1950. The building has had multiple, ongoing reports of non-functional basic utilities such as heat, hot water, an elevator that has been non-functional for years, and multiple fire safety violations which have remained outstanding for more than a year.

The township has been forced to address a number of these life and safety issues, such as paying to repair the chimney and boiler. These costs were then assessed as liens against the owners of the building, however they have not been paid and the total amount of the liens currently exceeds $30,000. The property also currently has a lien from the North Bergen Municipal Utilities Authority in excess of $100,000 due to nonpayment of water fees.

The building’s condition continues to deteriorate, with visual signs of structural problems, and the township regularly receives numerous complaints illustrating a pattern of sanitary, safety, and accessibility violations that have not been corrected by the property owners. These include, but are not limited to, a lack of heat and hot water, a need for chimney and boiler repairs, infestations of mice and roaches, a lack of preventive maintenance and testing of fire alarms, extinguishers, etc., combustibles near an egress, and a non-operational elevator.

The township contends ongoing negligence in maintaining basic facilities has created an unwholesome, unsafe, and unsanitary living environment for residents. Township officials are considering condemnation proceedings on this property alone in order to facilitate redevelopment of the entire parcel.

The other properties included in the Area in Need of Redevelopment include 8619 Bergenline Avenue and 8505 Bergenline Avenue. According to the township, 8619 Bergenline Avenue is an undeveloped lot that has been approved for a 10-story, mixed-use development with two ground floor commercial spaces, garage parking, and upper floor residential units. Meanwhile, 8505 Bergenline Avenue contains two attached commercial retail buildings, including a two-story and one-story building.

Bicycle business included if interested

During the public hearing, no members of the public spoke, but Sacco asked Castro if James Vincent Bicycles at 8505 Bergenline Avenue was included in the ordinance. Castro confirmed it was included in the redevelopment plan, but that no final site plans had been submitted by a redeveloper that includes the site.

“Formal plans have not been submitted yet,” Castro said.

“They haven’t decided yet,” Sacco said of the bicycle business. “I think they were offered to be a ground floor store” Castro confirmed that: “If they were interested.”

“If they want to they can,” Sacco said. “No one is forcing them to be involved… The key is no one is being forced to do anything they want or don’t want.”

After the meeting, Castro reiterated to the Hudson Reporter that while the property is included in the redevelopment plan, that does not mean it will be redeveloped. The redevelopment plan allows a redeveloper to propose something on the site, but it would need to acquire the property first.

“The redevelopment plan includes it, but just for consideration,” Castro said. “So if the bicycle shop decided that they wanted to sell, then it would be included. So it was included just in case. Nobody’s going to push them out. They can remain if they so choose.”

Castro confirmed that if the redeveloper did not acquire the property because the owner chose not to sell, they can still move forward with final site plans for the other lots in the redevelopment plan that are under their control. Final site plans may be heard by the North Bergen Planning Board in the future. For more information, go to northbergen.org.

For updates on this and other stories, check www.hudsonreporter.com and follow us on Twitter @hudson_reporter. Daniel Israel can be reached at [email protected].

What happens if Amy DeGise resigns from the City Council?

Hudson Reporter

August 23, 2022

09jcdegise01_1 — Councilwoman Amy DeGise has faced numerous calls to resign after her hit-and-run but now is faced with a scheduled court date.

If embattled Jersey City Councilwoman Amy DeGise resigns from her seat on the City Council, who will choose her successor this year – the voters this Nov. 8, or Mayor Steven Fulop’s allies on the council?

The answer: it all depends on the timing.

DeGise, who is an at-large freshman councilwoman, has resisted numerous calls to step down from her post after her involvement in a hit-and-run last month, where she struck a cyclist without stopping and didn’t report it to police until six hours later.

If DeGise resigns at any point, state laws says that the vacancy would have to be filled by the City Council within 30 days via a council-voted appointment. Mayor Fulop would command a 6-2 supermajority on the City Council, and his allies would be able to appoint an allied council member to fill DeGise’s seat.

But then there’s the factor of when she could resign. According to Deputy City Clerk John Hallanan, if DeGise were to resign before Sept. 6 of this year, a special election would occur this November and Jersey City’s voters, who elected DeGise at-large, would choose whether to keep her successor or not for the remainder of her term.

If DeGise resigns after Sept. 6, the person appointed to her spot would serve until the 2023 general election, when a special election would be held to fill the remainder of the term and when the appointed successor would potentially run with all the advantages of incumbency.

Even if DeGise stepped down now, potential candidates would have a very small window of opportunity to file.

According to Hallanan, state law says that candidates for municipal offices must be filed on or before the 64th day before a regularly scheduled election. Because election day this year is on Nov. 8, the 64th day before would be Sept. 5; but that’s Labor Day, so Hallanan said that Sept. 6 would be treated as the filing deadline.

Hector Oseguera, a former congressional candidate and progressive figure in Hudson County, said that there is a possibility that the Sept. 6 deadline could be waited out so that Fulop can appoint someone to that seat. He added however that progressives aren’t counting on that scenario.

“It’s not a good idea for us to essentially wait it out with them, and expect them to ask her to resign after that date,” he said, later adding that they’re still focusing on getting DeGise to step down.

Councilman Frank Gilmore, who’s one of the two only council members that have called for DeGise’s resignation, also said that that scenario would be a “smart move” on behalf of the political establishment that DeGise is part of.

“That way, that individual will gain some form of grounding, have some form of support and to give them [the] ability to create networks and stuff like that,” he said.

One factor that would also have to be accounted for in-case DeGise resigns before Sept. 6 of this year is getting the 100 petitions needed to qualify for a special election. With just two weeks before that day, it would be a short window from now to gather the necessary signatures.

When asked if 100 signatures is possible under the time frame, both Oseguera and Gilmore said that it’s “reasonable”.

“I don’t think it would be difficult for anybody to get 100 petitions signed for a special election,” said Oseguera. “I really don’t see that as a high burden.”

The last time a special election was held in Jersey City was in 2020, when a vacancy occurred following the death of Ward D Councilman Michael Yun in April of 2020 due to complications from COVID-19.

The council at the time appointed Yousef Saleh to fill Yun’s seat. Saleh went on to win a special election in November of 2020 to finish the remainder of Yun’s term, and then the year after won a full four-year term in the general election.

Another option available if DeGise decides to stay on her seat would be to force her out via a recall election, as once suggested by Councilman James Solomon. But there are multiple stipulations to initiate a recall.

The first is that a recall can’t be launched until she finishes her first year in office on Jan. 1, 2023. The second is that petitioners would need to gather enough signatures totaling 25 percent of the registered voters who live in said official’s electoral district. As DeGise is an at-large councilwoman, that means 42,523 signatures would be required.

For updates on this and other stories, check hudsonreporter.com and follow us on Twitter @hudson_reporter. Mark Koosau can be reached at [email protected] or his Twitter @snivyTsutarja.