Hoboken Reporter, June 6, 2004

Dear Editor,

Recently, three communities became aware of an impending residential hi-rise project and were stunned to learn that it would loom up to forty feet above the Palisades and run parallel along the cliffs for nearly three hundred feet. Illogically, the proposed structure was poised to obstruct the wonderful vistas available to everyone who resides, jogs or drives by the point at which Hoboken, Jersey City and Union City meet: the cliffs above the coming Light Rail station at Ninth and Jackson Streets in western Hoboken.

We would like to thank the elected officials who responded to all three communities' pleas for common-sense intervention.

County Executive Tom DeGise met with concerned residents and involved the county planning department. Jersey City Mayor Glenn Cunningham and Union City Mayor Brian Stack met with constituents and expressed their concern. Heights Councilman Bill Gaughan sponsored a resolution asking Hoboken to respect the crest of the Palisades and the action was unanimously endorsed by the Jersey City City Council.

On April 21st, Hoboken Councilpersons Theresa Castellano, Michael Cricco, Carol Marsh, Michael Russo and Tony Soares were the majority who tabled an amendment critical to advancing the project as initially proposed.

In the latest development, New Jersey State Senator Bernard Kenny acted on constituents' concerns regarding security at the new Light Rail station by contacting the executive director of New Jersey Transit. Hoboken Mayor David Roberts has withdrawn his support for the project as Hoboken officials and New Jersey Transit weigh the feasibility of a park on the site, as advised by Hoboken's recently approved Master Plan and in anticipation of the various residential developments planned for the surrounding area.

Inter-municipal cooperation and its importance in the urban setting was the constant theme in all these endeavors. Residents of all three cities networked with one another and asked their representatives for help. Those representatives responded and, we hope, will continue to work with the citizens of all three municipalities to ensure the safety of Light Rail passengers, protect views to and from the Palisades and create additional open space in Hudson County.

We believe present and future Hudson County residents will appreciate the results of this communal dialogue.

Fund for a Better Waterfront, Hudson County Alliance, People for Open Government, Residences for Responsible Development, Riverview Neighborhood Association and Quality of Life Coalition