Each of these questions has been Tweeted to Hoboken's online community, which includes many in City Hall (I'm flattered to count the Honorable Mayor Zimmer and City Council members among my "followers").
Please feel free to answer them in the comment thread below. If you want to answer via Twitter, I ask that you use the #5Q4H hashtag, so everyone can follow the discussion... and, hopefully, learn the answers.
I'm especially keen to hear from elected officials and others on the city's payroll.
 1. Hoboken's Bridge to Nowhere Why have we had to wait so long for the Pier C Park to open? It was built to near completion months ago. Now, work seems to have stopped and it tempts pedestrians from behind chain-link fencing. |
 2. Collapse Why weren't funds also allocated to repair the walkway collapse just North of the new waterfront promenade that skirts the Stevens physical plant? It's an eyesore going on several years now and it seems a planning bungle to build something new while ignoring the washout just adjacent to it. |
 3. Restless Why can't we make public restrooms a requirement of developer-built parks? These developers have the resources to cover their construction and general upkeep. So why don't they? |
 4. Docked What's the current redevelopment plan, if any, for the old Hoboken Ferry Terminal? Surely this aging beauty deserves a better fate than a parking lot for city vehicles. |
 5.Your Turn Who will be the first Hoboken official or politician to answer any of these questions for Hoboken? Speaking for myself and others, we'd love to learn more about the fate of our fine city. |
Again, you don't need to be a politician or city official to answer. Please feel free to fill me in. Or just add some questions of your own. I'll put them in the next installment of 5 Questions 4 Hoboken.
Thanks.
I'd like to chime in on #3 - The park at 15th and Park (I believe it was developed by the Hudson Tea Building - please correct me if i'm wrong) not only has no restroom but my kids play soccer in the adjacent field and they had to go to the bathroom so we went into the building. "Non-residents are not allowed to use the restroom," I was told by the person at the front desk. "But i'm potty-training a 2-year old and my 4yo needs to go also ..." "I'm sorry, ma'am. Non-residents are not allowed to use the restroom." Talk about *insane* policies and bad public relations. I'm just glad i have a chance to vent here ;-)
ReplyDeleteFor the record, I do know that maintaining the restrooms in the city-run parks can be difficult due to vandalism and high usage. It's certainly not an easy task. But yes, it very definitely needs to be a priority. I am not a fan of having to break out the portable potty for my kids at the park, but if I don't, it means i can only stay about 45 minutes, max.
Regarding #3, nature has never called me while enjoying that park but it's a good question. Maybe the smaller structure that is/was the Hoboken Covd Boathouse has a restroom that could be used. There's also the Hoboken Yacht Club @the Shipyard Marina just a couple minutes walk away that has restrooms but not sure they're open to the public.
ReplyDeleteI will raise this issue with the City attorney who is in the process of negotiating the contractual terms of the deed of conveyance of this park to the City, and see if it can be made a condition.
This is too long to Tweet but thanks for rasing the issue.
Ravi Bhalla
Regarding #4, the proposed development of 40 to 80 residential towers was a concept almost uniformly rejected by residents. We will make sure that development at this and other sites are informed by residents and our interest, not the financial interests of developers.
ReplyDeleteRavi Bhalla
On Pier C, my expectation is that it will be open by the fall. Delays were necessary to address safety concerns among other issues.
ReplyDeleteRavi Bhalla
Regarding #2, the pier collapse, the City Council passed a multi-million bond ordinance to finance the repair of the pier. The Administration has also retained an engineering firm to begin the process and is actively seeking federal appropriations to help the City cover the cost of repairs.
ReplyDeleteRavi Bhalla
Thanks Ravi.
ReplyDelete