SW6 is an action plan to build a contiguous 6-acre park in the SW part of Hoboken. This plan was unveiled over 5 years ago to great accolades from many of our current elected officials, however, no land has been purchased for this 6 acre park as of yet. The request for these new open spaces are in no way conflicted with the SW6 plan, in fact, more green spaces would complement any future open spaces and the neighborhood as a whole.

While residents hope and wait for a more comprehensive park area (SW6) to be built as the focal point of a SW Redevelopment Plan, they also need smaller open spaces – some of their reasons are stated below:

”As a resident of this area, I believe the town needs to do something here. This intersection remains to be an eye sore in an otherwise beautiful neighborhood."

Because I have to look at that gross lot every morning when I leave my building. I would love for it to be an open space or even better a community garden."

”Procuring these plots will protect the last pieces of land in the SW from being turned into more high rise apartments."

”I have a dog and would love a dog park closer than the one at 4th and Bloomfield."

”Both properties are eye sores and there is not much open space at all in our corner of Hoboken but TONS of kids. It would be a great addition to the neighborhood and encourage cars to slow down."

Obviously, the residents are passionate about improving their neighborhood and quality of life. If you’d like to join their cause, please see the link below to sign the petition. In addition, Councilman Occhipinti has provided a link to the page where you can download HSPC’s 6-acre park plan, SW6.

Councilman Occhipinti’s letter:

Friends and Neighbors,

Hoboken needs leaders committed to creating safe places for our children to play and for all our families to enjoy.

Right now, we have the chance to make a real difference along these lines. And that’s why I hope you’ll click this link and sign our petition advocating for new open space at 1st and Jackson Streets.

We’ve already collected over 220 signatures in a little over one week. On March 20th, we’ll present this petition to Mayor Zimmer and the City Council at that night’s council meeting. I hope you’ll join us that evening to let your voice be heard during the Public Comments section at the beginning of the meeting.

I also want to clarify that advocating for new open space at these lots in no way infringes upon the goal for a large continuous park in the 4th Ward. These lots would be in addition to the SW6 Plan. You can find more information on the SW6 Plan by visiting SW6 Plan. (download here)

These two lots can be purchased now in addition to building the much-needed 6-acre park. By purchasing and turning them into green open space for the few thousand people in the SW part of Hoboken, it in no way minimizes or undermines the urgent need for a 6 acre park in that area. The $3 million grant from the Hudson County Trust Fund dedicated to open space in SW Hoboken is due to run out this summer. It was extended last summer by request of the Zimmer Administration.

To date, the Zimmer Administration has not spent a single dollar on acquiring new open space in the 4th Ward. They have two funding mechanisms, the $3 million Hudson County Grant and the $20 million bond authorization by the City Council approved in the spring of 2011. For years, residents have been taxed by both Hudson County and the City for open space with no new parks added to our neighborhoods.

In our urban landscape, we need as much open space as possible. Especially here in Southwest Hoboken. Let’s begin the process of acquiring the vacant lot and Nardine’s at 1st and Jackson Street as soon as possible.

I’m sick and tired of hearing people talk about open space and doing nothing about it. We need action from City Hall, not just more lip service.

Sign our petition today by clicking on this link.

Best,

Tim

P.S. To keep the momentum going, please forward this email to a few of your friends and neighbors right now. Facebook and Twitter are great way to spread the word, too!

Tim Occhipinti
4th Ward Councilman
(917) 721–3926
timothy.occhipinti@gmail.com

While HSPC was advocating that this block be part of the SW6 Park, Mayoral Candidate Dawn Zimmer had other plans. When the construction on Block 14 began in 2009, it was immediately followed by Zimmer’s press release, “Southwest Park Update from Mayoral Candidate Dawn Zimmer” in which she advocated for a steakhouse:

“As many of you may have heard, the property owner of Block 14 is building a steakhouse on his property in Southwest Hoboken. This land is a small part of the total property identified in the Master Plan as parkland for a large park in our neighborhood.”

“I do believe the steakhouse will provide a needed amenity in our neighborhood, since we barely have any restaurants in the 4th Ward. Hopefully we will be able to close Jackson Street for at least part of the day as part of an overall park plan, and this restaurant will provide “eyes on the future park” that will help ensure a safer park with more people around and watching. (The restaurant plans to serve breakfast, lunch and dinner).”

To see more about HSPC’s efforts for a 6-acre SW park, read the earlier article on Block 14 and HSPC’s efforts at Hoboken411.

For more information about the SW6 park concept titled “SW6: A Greener, Greater Hoboken” please download a copy of the report from <a href=”http://www.hobokenspc.org/?page_id=75″>this page.

The City of Hoboken is requesting that the county re-program the $3 Mil, originally earmarked for the Henkel-Cognis site, for SW park land acquisition.

This is pending the approval of the Hudson County Board of Freeholders who will hold their meeting in August.

The council said the re-programming of the $3 M in county grant funding for the SW park (as requested by Councilman Occhipinti) is the Mayor’s decision and they did not vote on it.

The actual resolution on last night’s council agenda: Resolution of support for the use of Eminent Domain in the Southwest portion of Hoboken (submitted by Administration)

The City Council approved the resolution 5-4:

Bhalla: Yes
Castellano: No
Cunningham: Yes
Giattino: No
Marsh: Yes
Mason: No
Mello: Yes
Occhipinti: Yes
Russo: No

Comments from council members (in no particular order):

Councilman Tim Occhipinti:

“The 4th Ward residents have waited longer than 3rd ward residents for a park. Sinatra already has $12 M in bonding and there has been no movement on the SW park. Our Freeholder, Romano, will support the money [$3M] being re-programmed for the SW. Bring us the evidence that you need to use eminent domain. Councilman Mello, if I support this, which Corporation Counsel says has no bearing, will we put forward the re-programming of funds to the SW?”

Councilman Dave Mello:

“Previous councils showed no willingness to use eminent domain. This kills the Administration’s leverage to go into negotiations. Nobody wants to use their bombs, but it helps in peace negotiations. We need to get the property prices close to appraised values.”

Councilman Michael Russo:

“This eminent domain pigeonholes us. You don’t need a resolution to use eminent domain. We always have the ability to use eminent domain.” Regarding the $3M grant, Russo felt the money would be better spent on the 6th & Jackson property which he described as more shovel-ready. “It might not be appropriate to put the $3M into the SW and rush this process. The Administration and Directors should find another place to put the funds which will then remove this resolution [eminent domain] from the table.”

Councilwoman Carol Marsh:

“I don’t take eminent domain lightly. I do support this.” Regarding the $3M grant, Marsh felt that if the funds are used on Sinatra Field, then “we are eating $3M in land acquisition funding.”

Councilwoman Beth Mason:

“This is unnecessary and not the way to do it. We need to do it with transparency with the property owners. We only heard about this three hours before tonight’s meeting.” Regarding the $3 M in grant funding, Mason inquired with Director Forbes if the money could be split between the SW park and another project in need. Director Forbes did not have the answer for that.

Councilwoman Theresa Castellano:

“This is a very sneaky underhanded tactic [eminent domain] to take property. There’s been no proper notice to the public or the property owners. This is a tactic by the Administration to say we voted against parks.”

Councilman Peter Cunningham:

“I was against eminent domain five years ago on the 11th & Grand property. It was a bad project. This project [SW] has a benefit to all residents of the city by providing parks and flood mitigation. I’m in support of seeing this done. And flood mitigation is what I support.”

Council President Ravi Bhalla:

“i can think of at least two members who support putting the funds towards the SW park, but they haven’t offered the tools necessary to move that forward.”

Councilwoman Jen Giattino:

(We had no audible quote from her regarding eminent domain but she did inquire if the $3M grant would need to be spent in a one year period. She did say she wants the $3M to go towards Sinatra Field.)

No land has been purchased. No park plan has been created. No southwest study has been created; if it has been created, the Administration hasn’t released it despite promising to do so over a year ago.

Please read Mr. Occhipinti’s full statement and see Hoboken 411, The Hudson Reporter, and Hoboken Patch for another historical perspective on Southwest Park news:

(HOBOKEN) – 4th Ward Councilman Tim Occhipinti called on Mayor Zimmer and Councilman Mello to consider rerouting $3 million in unused grant money from the Hudson County Open Space Trust Fund. The application deadline to reprogram funding is Wednesday, July 20th, 2011 and the actual grant expires on August 13, 2011.

“The Southwest Park can become a reality and over the past few months the City has made progress towards the creation of the park,” said Occhipinti. “We have a golden opportunity to put unused money towards a much-needed project in the often-neglected 4th Ward and I’m afraid we are going to lose out.”

This year Hudson County is giving municipalities a “one-time” chance to re-program unused funding from the Open Space Trust Fund for eligible projects. The City of Hoboken is currently seeking to redirect this funding and can seek an extension for this grant, only if the City has demonstrated progress towards a project.

“We need to double our efforts to create a park in the 4th Ward and the Administration has no plans or intentions to move this project forward. That’s $3 million that could be redirected for land acquisition purposes for the Southwest Park,” said Occhipinti.

“I’m urging Mayor Zimmer and Councilman Mello, both 4th Ward residents, to make this park a priority. This has the potential to be a missed opportunity to create new open space. Zimmer and Mello should be tireless advocates for this project and I urge them to uphold their commitment to creating open space and improving the quality of life for our residents.”

Tim Occhipinti serves as the 4th Ward City Councilman for the City of Hoboken. Occhipinti recently won re-election to the City Council and currently serves on the Quality of Life Sub-Committee.

Time to put in your 2-cents!

This is a great opportunity to voice your opinions to the county and let them know what kind of open space you want to see in Hudson County. Yes, this includes Hoboken. HSPC has heard from over a thousand people who want to see recreational and passive park space built in the southwest part of Hoboken as part of the SW6 plan. We’ve heard people ask for soccer fields, more swings, more water amenities, and then we’ve also heard from those who want more playgrounds, dog runs, and quiet gardens. Well, we know people have very strong opinions on what they believe a park should be and everyone should be heard.

This is your chance to tell the county planning board what you think:

The Hudson County Division of Planning and Open Space Advisory Board are pleased to announce the 2011 Open Space Survey. We welcome public input to guide the Reexamination of the County’s Open Space, Recreation, and Historic Preservation Plan. This survey should take approximately 5 minutes. Both surveys will remain open until July 1, 2011.

Click here to take the Open Space Survey in English

Entre aqui para tomar la "Open Space" encuesta en Español

As the year comes to a close, we regret to report no progress has been made on the development or acquisition of parkland in Southwest Hoboken. Six years is too long for the City to do nothing but talk about building a park. By now, significant progress should have been made and we share your frustration.

However, we are now again at a critical moment to ensure creative and sound development in Southwest Hoboken including flood mitigation and a 6-acre park. The current administration says it will soon unveil the latest redevelopment study. Now is the time to contact our elected officials to demand they fulfill their years of promises to the residents of the 4th Ward.

In the Fall of 2007, the Hoboken Southwest Parks Coalition unveiled SW6: A Greener, Greater Hoboken. It’s a plan, a roadmap really, to assist our elected officials in creating the redevelopment plan for the Southwest. You can download our 60-page plan and read a full history of HSPC’s work for a park at www.hobokenspc.org.

What does the City need to do now?

• Finish the SW Redevelopment Study which is years overdue
• Re-route Paterson Avenue as promised in the Hoboken Master Plan
• Negotiate for parkland acquisition as promised by elected officials almost three years ago
• Research and aggressively seek out alternative funding sources for land acquisition and the development of the park
• Be innovative and think outside of the box instead of following the same recipe that has proven to be disastrous for Hoboken’s open space needs
• Use Hoboken’s Open Space Trust Fund to buy parkland now

A beautiful 6-acre Southwest Park in Hoboken is not a dream but a recreational opportunity that must be attained now or will be lost forever. Please contact your elected officials today and tell them the City needs to fulfill its promises now.

Sincerely,

Nishant Amin
Christopher Gizzi
Sara Stojkovic

Executive Board, Hoboken Southwest Parks Coalition

RESOLUTION REAFFIRMING THE CITY COUNCIL’S COMMITMENT TO CREATING A SOUTHWEST PARK AND DIRECTING THE PLANNING BOARD TO COMPLETE THE SOUTHWEST REDEVELOPMENT STUDY

Excerpt:

“WHEREAS, September 19th, 2009 marked the second anniversary of the introduction of “SW6, A Greener, Greater Hoboken,” a plan that was the first of its kind, created by community activist members of Hoboken Southwest Parks Coalition; and

WHEREAS, the SW6 plan which proposed a 6 acre park and included flood remediation measures and neighborhood “green building” targets was widely accepted by the public and unanimously endorsed by the City Council at the time of its introduction; and

WHEREAS, all current City Council members have publicly committed to the creation of additional park and recreational space within the City of Hoboken; and

WHEREAS, events of the past few weeks have brought to the forefront the dire need for active space to service youth athletic programs citywide; and

WHEREAS, members of Hoboken Southwest Parks Coalition on behalf of the City of Hoboken did submit to the Hudson County Open Space Trust Fund an application for grant funding to be applied to the purchase of land in Southwest Hoboken for park space, and were awarded a grant of $500,000; and

WHEREAS, the City of Hoboken has since submitted a grant application to New Jersey Green Acres for additional funding;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Hoboken, Hudson County, State of New Jersey, does hereby renew its commitment to the furtherance of the objectives put forth in the SW6, A Greener, Greater Hoboken plan; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Planning Board is hereby directed to take up the southwest redevelopment study that was underway, rectify any outstanding issues impeding the progress of that study and return the completed study to the City Council for its consideration at the earliest reasonable date.”

Please attend the council meeting and show your support for the SW park! City Council chambers, City Hall, 94 Washington St.

Recently HSPC announced that we were successful in acquiring county funds for park land, however it has come to our attention that applications for more high-rise buildings in the SW area are moving forward. For more information on the current Zoning Board application go HERE.

Some good news to report: The City’s grantwriter, Stephanie Hottendorf, has followed up on HSPC’s collaboration with the City with another grant application for Green Acres funding. Stephanie essentially duplicated the application HSPC wrote for the county (to acquire funding for SW6), requesting an additional $3,000,000 grant. Times are not good for grant awards, however, we may get something, and a big thanks goes to Stephanie for putting the application together and submitting it on time.

On behalf of the city of Hoboken, HSPC completed the grant application in March, and gave a presentation to the board in April. The board was inundated with grant requests from 12 municipalities in Hudson County, all competing for a finite amount of distributable funds in what is currently one of the worst economic climates for charitable giving.

What does this mean for Hoboken?

HSPC secured $500k (one of the largest grants given this year) to help start the process of park land acquisition in southwest Hoboken.

This is great progress and HSPC will continue to work with our new Mayor to put other funding mechanisms in place for the SW6 Park.