Jersey City Rising

[JCMAN320]

Obama coming to Jersey City

As part of a campaign swing through the Garden State, Democratic Presidential candidate and Illinois Sen. Barack Obama is scheduled to be in Jersey City on Monday for a fund-raiser at the Liberty House Restaurant.

Mayor Jerramiah Healy and Newark Mayor Cory Booker are among the 100 or so expected to attend the noon to 1:30 p.m. luncheon — the entrance fee for which is $2,300 per person, organizers said.

Healy and Booker are expected to endorse Obama at an event in Newark before the Liberty House event, sources said. “Obama brings a refreshing element to the political fabric,” said Terry Dehere, a former NBA star who was recently elected to the Jersey City school board and who is one of 14 people listed as New Jersey supporters of Obama on the luncheon invitation. “Other than voting for myself, this is the first time I am really comfortable with my political choice.”

According to the Web site politicsnj.com, the other people listed on the Jersey City invitation are: Ed Albowicz, Joe Caufield, Frank Cretella, Jersey City Corporation Counsel Bill Matsikoudis, Victor Herlinsky, Paul Josephson, former City Councilman E. Junior Maldonado, Vice Chairwoman of the LibertyHealth System Board of Trustees Rosemary McFadden, Ken McPherson, Pamela Miller, Mike Murphy and Steve Valiotis.

Obama is also scheduled to make fundraising stops in Montclair and Princeton, as well as appear at a labor union town hall meeting in Trenton.

A Qunnipiac University poll taken from April 10 to 16 gave New York Sen. Hillary Clinton a 38 percent to 16 percent lead over Obama.

Ken Thorbourne

[New Guy]

I called the developer (Crowley Development Group) regarding a condo building going up on the corner of Baldwin and Academy in Journal Square. They were scheduled to start construction in the Spring. No movement yet. The developer said they will start construction in a few months. The project is still going forward. The same developer has plans to develop another lot off Academy street only a block away, closer to where Academy intersects Mill Rd. I believe.

Another condo was approved for Baldwin Ave a few blocks north of Academy just on the south side of the path tracks.

These Baldwin condos that are popping up are all basically running about 30 unit buildings, not huge, but larger than the existing housing in the area.

On Trenton vs JC -- Good analysis Ianmac 47 - Yes the "one" hotel in Trenton never seems to work out, and if it werent for American Standard and Trojan, I dont believe we would have any manufacturing at all.

[JCMAN320]

Tax abatement limitation bill clears state hurdle

Monday, May 14, 2007
KEN THORBOURNE
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

Over the objections of Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy, the state Assembly's Housing Committee narrowly passed a measure sponsored by Assemblyman Lou Manzo, D-Jersey City, to limit most tax abatements to 10 years.

The state Treasurer would have the right to allow up to a 20-year abatement, but only for areas in dire need of revitalization and situations in which the developer needs the long-term abatement to obtain financing, Manzo said.

State law currently permits tax abatements as long as 35 years. In Jersey City, 20 years has become the norm with developers paying 16 percent of gross annual revenues to the city. Unlike conventional taxes, these "payment in lieu of taxes" are not shared with the county or local public schools.

"It's good property tax relief news for Jersey City," Manzo said about the bill. "There is obviously a need for reform. We are not getting what we should from the abatements."

Citing the 30-year abatement granted the two-tower development planned for the heart of Journal Square, Manzo said that project and others in Jersey City will need long-term abatements. But, he added, tax abatement for projects on the waterfront aren't yielding the money or the jobs they promised.

In a letter sent to members of the committee, Healy argued Manzo's bill would have a "chilling effect" on redevelopment in the city.

"Without the city's commitment to long term tax exemption, projects like the Beacon, a residential and commercial reuse of the old Medical Center Building on Baldwin Avenue, and the American Can Co., a residential reuse of an abandoned factory, would not have been possible," Healy stated.

Both projects received 30-year abatements.

The measure now moves to the floor and a companion bill will be sponsored in the state Senate, Manzo said.

[investordude]

I hear people brag about having the highest property taxes in the US. Do people in NJ realize this is bad?

I'm not sure the abatements are needed in NJ but clearly this will hurt cities like Newark that haven't gotten revitalized yet. If New York is offering abatements, this makes a place like the Bronx or eastern Brooklyn more attractive than Jersey City for attracting redevelopment.

[investordude]

Correction - I'm not sure the tax abatements are needed in Jersey City, but I think it makes Newark less attractive than the South Bronx or eastern Brooklyn, in terms of attracting redevelopment capital.

[citybooster]

Those who develop in areas in vital need of development can still get 20-year abatements,which are long enough.I believe all deals made to the present will still count,so if a developer and the city have already agreed to a 20-year abatement,it would still be permitted.

I wonder if the recent Grove Pointe developers reconsideration of their original 20-year abatement,in which they calculated they'll wind up paying a lot more than they had anticipated if they didn't alter that agreement means these long term abatements may not be such a great deal for the developers,maybe the 10-year route allows everyone more flexibility.I think the city's reluctant reworking of the deal for Grove Pointe suggests the city may be more addicted to the concept of long term abatements than the developers are....as the city doesn't have to dilute the infusion of cash from each abatement payment through having to share it with the county or contributing to the education budget.The long term abatement system is like a drug,the city itself gets more out of it and must get more of them.


The Beacon and American can projects would have qualified for 20 year abatements anyway,located in areas in most immediate need of development.the downtown waterfront is the least in need of this overused enticement....that land is worth so much no one can lose money to build there...it is a sure thing now,not a risk as amenities improve dramatically,so many new developments and neighborhoods springing up constantly,the infusioon of residents with lots of purchasing power....the time to pull back and strictly limit new abatements is now,anyway.Good for Louis Manzo!

[RYinNJ]

Although property taxes are very high in jersey, it is the case in mostly wealthy towns such as in Bergen County. In this case you pay for excellent public schools and a police response rate of two minutes on average. It also should be noted that Bergen County is the safest big county in America. We pay our public employees salaries that allow them to be able to work and live in the towns they serve. In return our teachers and police are amongst the best and most professional. So yes our taxes are high, but we recieve great services in return. Better then most areas in the country!
SORRY THIS IS not REALLY RELATED TO JC!

[JCMAN320]

Investordude I never head any body brag about havign alot of taxes, but what we are proud about here in NJ is that we are the wealthiest state in the country per capita.

NY, NJ, and CT (not in that order) all have the top 3 highest property taxes in the US so there should be a push for all 3 of these states to help lower them.

[JCMAN320]

New culinary arts building for HCCC

Hudson County Community College officially opened its new Culinary Arts building in Jersey City today.

The college has one of only two programs in the New York Metropolitan region accredited by the American Culinary Federation Accrediting Commission. It has expanded its program, which will now be housed in a 72,000-square-foot Georgian Revival-style, five-story, steel frame and masonry building on Newkirk Street.

The third floor has two hot-food kitchens and two bakery kitchens and the fourth floor has two Garde Manger kitchens for cold-food preparation, an ice-carving studio and a fish-and-butchery room.

The building also has a Hospitality Suite.

The building will have 4,600 square feet dedicated to the Business Conference Center, where contract training will be offered to area businesses and industries.

Construction on the Culinary Arts Building began in March 2004 as part of Hudson County Community College’s $200 million capital expansion and improvement program. It is the first building that the college has ever constructed from the ground up.

Ramon Luna.

[tbal]

It looks like ianmac was right about 209-217 Newark Ave...from the May 17th Zoning Board agenda, it appears the land is under the control of a new developer and that the new developer does want to build a larger building on the site...in any case, about a week or two ago they finally patched up the sidewalk around the lot and inserted at least two construction markers within the lot itself...perhaps they will begin construction as soon as approval is granted for the revised plans...

12. Case: Z02-003.1 Site Plan Amendment
Applicant: FTD Newark, LLC
Attorney: Charles J. Harrington, III, Esq.
Address: 209-217 Newark Avenue
Block: 311 Lot: 68 (f/k/a 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 54B, 55A, 57B, & 60A)
Zone: NC Neighborhood Commercial District / R-3 Multi-Family, Mid-Rise District
For: Amendment to Final Site Plan to revise facade and floor plan and to add a 6th story rooftop common room. Applicant also seeks relief from a condition of final approval disallowing full residential units on the fifth floor level."c" Variance: % coverage of rooftop appurtenances "d" Variance: Height

[citybooster]

I had read here a couple months back about Harborside 4 being on the Jersey City Planning Board's agenda,but heard nothing about any decision on construction,proposed revisions,nothing at all since.Also,the whole mess going on with the Toll Brother's proposed three tower development,(The former Manischewitz factory)in which no one,city or developer,seems to be forthcoming with the neighborhood residents regarding any notification or consultation about the project...I saw something in another forum recently regarding the devastating impact this development would incur in the Arts district,and it really turned me agaoinst the whole project.Now I read about the Butler Building being converted to a 40-50 story residential tower...isn't that the huge,hulking 8-story complex right next to the former 111 First Street site?

I love the rising towers that bejewel the skyline of Jersey City,but the incursion into the Arts district(including the apparent scrapping of a gorgeous ,fitting development like the Hudson for something allegedly at least twice as tall,sticking out like a sore thumb in that area) is wrong headed and short sighted.Giviing different neighborhoods differnt,unique characteristics,quirks,appeal would really add to the future attractiveness of Jersey City for tourists and perspective residents.Build big like the Metropolitan,the Koolhaus vision,Trump,etc.....but promote diverse,vibrant neighborhoods of all sizes.

[z22]

Although property taxes are very high in jersey, it is the case in mostly wealthy towns such as in Bergen County. In this case you pay for excellent public schools and a police response rate of two minutes on average. It also should be noted that Bergen County is the safest big county in America. We pay our public employees salaries that allow them to be able to work and live in the towns they serve. In return our teachers and police are amongst the best and most professional. So yes our taxes are high, but we recieve great services in return. Better then most areas in the country!
SORRY THIS IS not REALLY RELATED TO JC!

I thought NYPD is the best PD in the world!

[investordude]

Sure, affluent areas tend to have decent public schools and low crime in New Jersey, just like they do elsewhere. But if you're arguing New Jersey has great services, I would definitely disagree. Public universities in NJ are bad, infrastructure is old and decaying despite unusually high tolls, racial segregation is worse than most of the country, and crime in poor areas like Camden and Newark is a national embarassment.

I realize there are wealthy people in New Jersey and, fair or not, they get decent services just like they would everywhere else - I just think they shouldn't be proud their taxes are high. Your bragging about how great your "rewards" are for paying high taxes confirms there's a sort of pride in taxing yourself to death. That's bad for New Jersey and the region.

[ianmac47]

Harborside 4 is moving forward from what I can tell. Like all large projects it moves slowly. But with vacancy rates in the city dropping and rents in midtown rising, I think this project will likely break ground sooner rather than later, probably this summer. Right now the site is a parking lot.

EDIT: Here is the site, which is on Columbus:
http://newyorkssixth.com/newyorkssix...e-plaza-4.html


Also, this is the Butler Brothers building:
http://www.newyorkssixth.com/directo...warehouse.html

There are only rumors now that the owner, having seen the Koolhaus building is looking to knock down the building to build a tower. There are not yet concrete plans to do that yet.

As far as the Newark Ave project, all I can say is thank goodness they want to modify the facade; below is a rendering they had posted for a number of months at the property, and its awful.

http://newyorkssixth.com/newyorkssix...rk-avenue.html

[JCMAN320]

Investor the public universities are not bad at all. Rutgers is a very good school and NJCU has the best co-op programs in the nation. I mean to paint such broad strokes is a little un fair. Public education in New Jersey is ranked as one of the best in the nation with of course problem areas in urban areas but overall thepublic school system in Jersey is ranked very high, I should know because my mother is a public school teacher. We also have the highest graduation rate in the nation.

The infrastructure in the urban areas needs an upgrade but no different than the outer boroughs.

It's a no brainer that the problems in Camden and Newark are rediculous and very sad, but it will turn around. Overall I do enjoy living in New Jersey.