January 2000

Zoning Board to Reconsider 1600 Park Avenue

The Hudson River Club is back. Developer Sandford Weiss of Manhattan Building Company will bring his 18-story project, at 1600 Park Avenue, before the Hoboken Zoning Board of Adjustment at 7:00 P.M. on Tuesday, January 18, 2000.

Nearly a year ago, amidst community protests and prior to the May City Council elections, Mayor Russo promised that only a scaled-back version of this development would be considered. In his December 1999 "Pride in Hoboken" column in the Hoboken Reporter, the mayor announced that development in Hoboken has resulted in $66 million in new ratables last year. As a result, he stated, his administration has planned a series of initiatives designed to slow development and reduce density.

Contrary to this newly stated policy, 1600 Park Avenue would result in a phenomenal increase in density by exceeding the height limit by 104 feet (10 stories) and increasing the lot coverage from a 65% maximum to 74%. The new proposal for 344 residential units is only 7 fewer units than the previously proposed 351-unit development. Residential development is not a permitted use at this location, thus, a use variance is required. In an attempt to further increase the profits for this development, Weiss has proposed a facade with only 55% masonry rather than the 75% required.

The traffic study conducted by the developer during Thanksgiving week of 1998 assumes a 1% growth rate in traffic for this region. But major projects approved in Hoboken in the past several years will increase the number of housing units in town by 25%. The developer's traffic study also failed to consider two major intersections adjacent to this proposed project: 19th and Willow and 19th and Park, both leading to the entrance of the Lincoln Tunnel to Manhattan. Public meetings held last year regarding this project heard numerous complaints from Hoboken residents regarding the traffic woes at the north and south ends of town during rush hour.