Jersey Journal, November 15, 2002

At the Nov. 6 council meeting, an amendment to the original Redevelopment Plan (adopted 1989) for the Southern Waterfront was introduced. The council was given a quick briefing, shown preliminary renditions, the vote was taken, it passed, and I abstained. I totally agree with reconfiguring the footprint to reduce density, bulk, setbacks and add view corridors. If it ended there it would be OK, but unfortunately it doesn't.

When Mayor Russo was elected in 1993, a panel of 18 residents, including then Councilmen Dave Roberts, were appointed to serve on the Hoboken Waterfront Corporation. He created this panel to oversee the details of the development.

I have requested a similar panel be appointed with the same mandate to move the last piece of the plan forward. I find it totally unacceptable to take a step further without public input, consensus or public concerns and comments from the various interested groups. It is unconscionable to even entertain a 16- or 17-story glass building (ala Newport) set in the middle of the existing brick and masonry structures that exist now.

There are a total of six amendments. Item #6 has components A-B-C-D and all are available at the City Clerk's Office. Item #6 component A says it all, "providing bonus height provisions to accommodate a narrow building envelope open space at grade." I asked how many stories are you adding, the answer was 16 or 17. Item #2 providing for more glass to be incorporated in the facade. I saw the preliminary rendition and it is a large glass structure mirroring what is being built along Jersey City's waterfront.

In closing, to date my request has been denied. The amendments will be on the Nov. [18], 2002 agenda for the second and final vote. Please make your feelings known to the mayor and your councilperson. Thank you for taking the time to read my concerns.

Councilwoman Theresa Castellano
Hoboken