Mayor Ravi S. Bhalla today urged the Hoboken City Council to adopt the Garage B Redevelopment Plan, which aims to revitalize the current municipal parking garage located on Second Street between Hudson and River Streets and transform it into a mixed-use development of workforce and affordable housing.
“We are in a housing crisis in Hoboken. We need bold action and leadership – now. The Garage B Redevelopment Plan represents a historical step in addressing the shortage of affordable housing in Hoboken,” said Mayor Bhalla. “This plan addresses the need for a modern parking facility, but more importantly, increases our stock of affordable and workforce housing by hundreds of units to ensure that our community remains inclusive for residents of all income levels. It is our responsibility to address the growing housing crisis. Essential, frontline workers, including teachers, city employees, firefighters, and police officers, deserve to afford to live in the City they serve. Essential workers should not be victims of gentrification and lack of affordable housing in Hoboken. This is not what our City is about. The character of Hoboken is one where everyone is welcome, and this project advances this important objective. By leveraging our proximity to Hoboken Terminal and embracing sustainable development, we are creating a vibrant space that will benefit both current and future generations.”
Under the proposed redevelopment plan, a developer would replace Garage B, a 40-year-old facility, with a state-of-the-art municipal parking garage, along with new ground-floor retail spaces and a mix of workforce and affordable housing.
The residential component of the proposed redevelopment would include a minimum of 20 percent affordable housing for low- and moderate-income households. The remaining residential units would be designated as workforce housing for households earning no more than 120 percent of the regional median household income, providing essential housing opportunities for police officers, firefighters, teachers, nurses, municipal workers, and others.
“The PBA and PSOA strongly support the Garage B workforce housing project, as it provides a vital opportunity for officers, teachers, firefighters, and other public servants to afford to live in Hoboken,” said PO. Andrew Perez, President of the Hoboken PBA, and Lt. Jonathan Mecka, President of the Hoboken PSOA. “The reality is that it’s becoming increasingly expensive to live and work here. With luxury developments dominating the region, we should jump at this opportunity to create a project dedicated to workforce housing with 20% affordable units. Additionally, while not directly related to this specific project, we urge the City to address the urgent need for a new HPD headquarters, as the current facility is deteriorating and will soon be unsustainable.”
Additional permitted uses for the upper floors include government offices, schools, and recreational facilities. In addition, co-working spaces or shared office spaces would be permitted on the upper floors, and permitted accessory uses on the site would include bike parking, public plazas, and other open spaces.
The draft redevelopment plan calls for the creation of a vibrant, transit-oriented community due to the site’s location near Hoboken Terminal as well as ground floor retail to enhance the pedestrian experience along Hudson Place and River Street for both residents and visitors.
Under the proposed redevelopment, the designated developer would also need to include a modern public parking garage that will maintain or exceed the current number of spaces at Garage B. The new garage would replace the aging structure, reducing the City’s long-term maintenance costs while continuing to generate revenue. Along with the parking improvements, the plan includes pedestrian safety upgrades through the Vision Zero initiative.
Sustainability is another key focus of the plan. The redevelopment would incorporate energy-efficient designs and modern construction standards to ensure long-term sustainability while improving the City’s infrastructure. The new building’s architecture would be designed to blend in with the surrounding area, particularly through the use of strategic setbacks and materials that ensure light and air are preserved.
The proposed plan also calls for the preservation of the existing mural fronting Hudson Street. Specifically, the redevelopment plan calls for integrating elements of the mural into the new development, incorporating photographs or pieces of the mural into the design of the new building.
Additionally, the proposed plan provides for new opportunities for public art installations, further enhancing the cultural and artistic vibrancy of the area while maintaining the mural’s connection to the community.
The Garage B site was previously designated as a “Non-Condemnation Area in Need of Redevelopment,” and the adoption of this plan marks an important step in the City’s efforts to revitalize the area.
The Hoboken City Council is scheduled to vote on an ordinance on final reading to adopt the proposed plan during tonight’s Council meeting at City Hall, 94 Washington St., at 7 p.m.
Pending the Council’s approval, the City would then issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) to qualified developers for concept plans that align with the redevelopment plan, and a public process would be held before a redevelopment agreement is finalized with the selected developer.
“32BJ SEIU proudly supports the Garage B Redevelopment Plan, which will create good, family-sustaining jobs and provide much-needed affordable housing for Hoboken residents,” said Ana Maria Hill, NJ Sate Director and Vice President, 32BJ SEIU. “This plan is a significant step toward ensuring that working families can continue to live and thrive in our city. We encourage the City Council to seize this opportunity to invest in our community’s future by approving the redevelopment plan and supporting Union labor and equitable growth for all.”
“The Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters supports the City of Hoboken Redevelopment Plan, which prioritizes good-paying, family-sustaining union jobs while addressing the need for affordable housing,” said William C. Sproule, Executive Secretary -Treasurer of the Eastern Atlantic States Council of Carpenters. “This project ensures that experienced union tradespeople will build safe, high-quality housing that meets the needs of the community. We applaud the dedication to moving this plan forward and encourage the City Council to approve it, securing a stronger future for Hoboken.”
“This redevelopment project is a critical step toward ensuring that the workforce who support our communities and make them run have access to housing - that they can afford - within those same communities. This is exactly the type of project we need throughout the State to address the housing affordability crisis here in NJ,” said Mark Longo, Director of ELEC 825, The Labor-Management Fund of Operating Engineers Local 825
“Hardworking men and women like those we represent at Local 825 and so many others, such as teachers and police, deserve to live, not just work, in great places like Hoboken, with all of the amenities the community has to offer. Projects like this are an innovative solution to addressing affordability,” said Greg Lalevee, Business Manager of Operating Engineers Local 825
To view the proposed redevelopment plan, CLICK HERE.
