Hoboken Seeks Applicants for Rebuild by Design Citizens Advisory Group

This announcement is from the City of Hoboken. This is a positive step continuing on the good practice of Mayor Dawn Zimmer trying to include citizens in the loop for key initiatives like park design. People interested should apply by the end of January.

Hoboken Seeks Applicants For Rebuild By design Citizens Advisory Group

As the Rebuild by Design-Hudson River project enters the design phase, the City of Hoboken is seeking applications from members of the Hoboken community interested in participating in Hoboken’s Citizens Advisory Group (CAG) for the project.

Apply online at: https://hoboken.seamlessdocs.com/f/rbdcag

Hoboken NW Park Conceptual Layout

Applications should be submitted by January 31st, 2018. The volunteer term will be approximately 2 years, less if the design advances expediently. CAG members are expected to be full participants in the process, including attendance at a minimum number of meetings. A wait list will be created for interested citizens to replace any CAG members who are unable to fully participate in the process.

The Rebuild by Design Citizen Outreach Plan provides additional information on the purpose of the CAG:

The purpose of the CAG is to provide a forum for exchange of information between the Outreach Subcommittee and key citizens and citizen groups representative of that community. CAG members will be responsible for bringing issues and concerns to the table as well as sharing information from the Executive Steering Committee and NJDEP with their constituents, including members of vulnerable populations. The CAGs will be composed of representatives from a variety of communities within each town. The mayors and/or their representatives will be responsible for working with the NJDEP Constituent Services Manager to identify members of their communities who will populate the CAG in each of the three cities. Each CAG will communicate with the Outreach Subcommittee representative(s) of t heir town, who will bring issues and information to the larger Executive Steering Committee. CAG members will supplement the knowledge of local government officials or their delegates about the project areas and provide input on ideas, problems, observations and solutions. Specifically, CAG members will be expected to:

•        Share information about Resist, Delay, Store, Discharge project goals and objectives with their constituents;
•        Share the processes and procedures that will be followed in implementing the project;
•        Determine what community priorities or concerns exist about the project as it develops;
•        Bring the priorities, issues and concerns of the larger community to the attention of the Outreach Subcommittee, and
•        Share with the Outreach Subcommittee and project team what local networks DEP should use to establish and maintain a dialogue.

The role of the NJDEP will be to provide project updates, explain processes and procedures on the various phases of the project, solicit input from stakeholders and the public, and answer questions during CAG meetings. The role of the mayors will be to host the CAG meetings and general public meetings, and work with the NJDEP Constituent Services Manager and RBD Project Team on the logistics and scheduling of meetings. At major milestones, the three municipal-level CAGs may convene to meet together as one large group, identified as the Regional CAG. The NJDEP will notice all Regional CAG meetings on the NJDEP’s OFHRRM website and inform the public signed up for the NJDEP email listserv. All the NJDEP’s Regional CAG meetings are by invitation only to Regional CAG members; however they are open to the public to observe.

To Pool or Not to Pool - Councilwoman Tiffanie Fisher advocates for your input on NW Resiliency Park

Here is a note that went out to Hoboken residents regarding whether or not we should have a pool at the NW Resiliency Park or not from Councilwoman Tiffanie Fisher. The City of Hoboken has a website where residents can provide input as to the features they want at the new park.

Dear friends and neighbors -

Do you want a pool in Hoboken (or not)?

If the your answer is Yes, then please fill out the survey in the link below by 11/30 for the NW Resiliency park and select "swimming pool" as your answer to the question about which features you want to see (answers are listed alphabetically so you will find it towards the bottom of the list).

If your answer is No or you don't care about a pool, please fill out the survey anyway and tell us what you would like to see in the park.

Click on the link: http://nwpark-cityofhoboken.opendata.arcgis.com/ to learn about the park, and then click the red "Take Survey Now" button. Also, please plan to come to the public meeting on 11/30 at Wallace from 7-9pm to learn more and share your thoughts.

When I campaigned in 2015, I added "advocating for a pool" to my platform not because it was important to me (I am not really a swimmer), but because so many people I met said it was important to them.

Since then I have raised this issue at just about every conversation we have had concerning the new NW Park on the 6 acre former BASF site (4 of which are now the pop-up park). There are also many other features to consider as well for this park. I am currently on the subcommittee for the park and helped interview and select the planning and engineering group that will design the new park.

I have to say, what we saw in their presentations was pretty amazing with ideas for undulating terrain, trees, hills, and plenty of active space. All on a few city blocks in our urban village. So please be part of the process. And part of the vision. The survey takes less than a minute to fill out. Let me know if you have any questions.

TiffanieFisher
2nd Ward Councilwoman

Northwest Resiliency Park Design Session November 30th 7-9pm at Wallace School

From the City of Hoboken: 

Residents are invited to a public design charrette to work together with the Northwest Resiliency Park project team on design concepts for the park. The public charrette will be held on Thursday, November 30th, 2017 from 7pm to 9pm at the Wallace School Cafeteria, located at 1100 Willow Avenue.

Residents are also invited to complete the online survey for the Northwest Resiliency Park at www.hobokennj.gov/nwparksurvey.

 Hoboken’s largest park will provide recreation and public space for our community. It will also be a fundamental part of Hoboken’s resiliency strategy by integrating green infrastructure and innovative stormwater management measures to mitigate flooding from rainfall events. In 2017, the City of Hoboken opened a temporary pop-up park at the site which will remain in place during the design process for the permanent park. The park is located between Adams Street, Madison Street, 12th Street, and 13th Street.

Update on Open Space Projects and Monday City Council Meeting 11/13/2017

Update on Open Space Projects and Monday City Council Meeting

This message from the City of Hoboken provides updates on three open space projects – the expansion of the Southwest Park, acquisition of the Union Dry Dock site for public purposes, and design of the Northwest Park. Two of the projects involve matters that will be considered at the upcoming Council meeting. Please note next week’s City Council meeting will take place on Monday, November 13^th at 7:00pm.

Union Dry Dock
The City Council will consider an ordinance on second reading to authorize the use of eminent domain if necessary for the acquisition of the Union Dry Dock site. The City was just advised by NY Waterway that a subsidiary of NY Waterway had acquired Union Dry Dock for $11.5 million with the intention of using the property as a repair facility for its ferry fleet. NJ Transit advised the City today that it will be entering into an agreement with NY Waterway for the option to purchase the property. The authorization of eminent domain provides the City with the tools necessary to facilitate negotiations and does not mean that eminent domain will be implemented.

“Now more than ever, the City needs all the tools available to be in the strongest position to negotiate in the best interest of our residents,” said Mayor Dawn Zimmer.

Southwest Park
The City of Hoboken is seeking to acquire Block 10, Lots 1-7 and 30-36 for the expansion of the Southwest Resiliency Park for open space and stormwater management. The City’s first appraisal determined a value of $3.975 million, which the City Council previously approved as an offer price to the property owner. A second appraisal determined a value of $5.3 million. An ordinance to accept the second appraisal and authorize a new offer amount was approved on first reading by the City Council and will be considered for second reading at Monday’s Council meeting.

“This appraisal will enable the City to move forward with acquiring the property to create a larger Southwest Park separate from the redevelopment process,” said Mayor Dawn Zimmer.

Northwest Resiliency Park
Residents are invited to complete the online survey for the Northwest Resiliency Park at www.hobokennj.gov/nwparksurvey.

The project team will also host a public design charrette to work together with the community on design concepts for the park. The public charrette will be held on Thursday, November 30th, 2017 from 7pm to 9pm at the Wallace School Cafeteria, located at 1100 Willow Avenue.

Hoboken’s largest park will provide recreation and public space for our community. It will also be a fundamental part of Hoboken’s resiliency strategy by integrating green infrastructure and innovative stormwater management measures to mitigate flooding from rainfall events. In 2017, the City of Hoboken opened a temporary pop-up park at the site which will remain in place during the design process for the permanent park. The park is located between Adams Street, Madison Street, 12^th Street, and 13^th Street.