Author Topic: Area in need of Rehabilitation  (Read 398221 times)

Offline Editor

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« Last Edit: February 16, 2016, 05:21:42 PM by Editor »

Offline Editor

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Offline BLeafe

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Re: Area in need of Rehabilitation
« Reply #197 on: February 29, 2016, 03:40:54 PM »
Wherever you are in Hackensack, you've probably heard the incessant piledrivers on Main St, just south of Mercer.

Last week, I could see two of them from my apartment - a half-mile away (the courthouse is a mile away).

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Offline BLeafe

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Re: Area in need of Rehabilitation
« Reply #198 on: March 01, 2016, 07:40:12 PM »
I was in the area, so I shot the scene - stills and video, which I just posted on YouTube (I'd forgotten how much I used to enjoy shooting heavy metal).

Be sure to crank up the volume to get the full effect.


Click to enlarge pix.







Like music? Like photography? Step into my office: http://xrl.us/BobL - - - - - - - http://xrl.us/BobsDarkness

Offline Editor

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Re: Area in need of Rehabilitation
« Reply #199 on: March 01, 2016, 09:45:13 PM »
Music to my ears.


Offline Homer Jones

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Re: Area in need of Rehabilitation
« Reply #200 on: March 01, 2016, 10:22:27 PM »
In the long term the noise beats out "The Sounds of Silence."

Offline Editor

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Re: Area in need of Rehabilitation
« Reply #201 on: March 02, 2016, 11:22:33 PM »
http://www.nj.com/bergen/index.ssf/2016/03/hackensack_targets_city_lots_for_redevelopment.html

The rest of the downtown rehabilitation is well underway. There are about 700 units of housing under construction, and on Thursday, developer Heritage Capital plans to start interior demolition of the 10-story former Bank of America building on Main Street to clear the way for 127 more residential units.

"The influx of residents from this and other residential projects in the area will have tremendous positive economic impact on Main Street," Mayor John LaBrosse said of the Heritage development.


Offline BLeafe

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Re: Area in need of Rehabilitation
« Reply #202 on: March 03, 2016, 12:18:08 AM »
Whoever builds on 20 Bridge St should be required to use this building name:


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Offline Editor

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Offline just watching

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Re: Area in need of Rehabilitation
« Reply #205 on: March 13, 2016, 09:27:32 AM »
interesting article. This is relevant to all the construction in downtown Hackensack. 

http://www.nytimes.com/subscriptions/Multiproduct/lp8QH64.html?articleId=6&WT.mc_id=2016-CPLTEST-FB-MC4-7

Offline Editor

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Re: Area in need of Rehabilitation
« Reply #206 on: March 23, 2016, 11:13:23 PM »
http://www.northjersey.com/news/hackensack-proposes-23m-in-infrastructure-projects-to-support-redevelopment-1.1532074

The city council proposed four major infrastructure projects Tuesday at a total estimated cost of about $23 million, including the conversion of Main and State streets to two-way roadways, the construction of a new sports center at Johnson Park, renovations to a city recreation center and various road improvements.

Related article: http://www.northjersey.com/news/bergen-county-leads-population-growth-trend-halts-flow-to-other-parts-of-n-j-1.1532063
« Last Edit: March 24, 2016, 03:33:28 AM by Editor »

Offline NJ_Native

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Re: Area in need of Rehabilitation
« Reply #207 on: April 06, 2016, 03:02:11 AM »
Hackensack, like many NJ towns, has tried to take advantage of the shift toward city living without truly understanding how successful urban locations form. The public investments, such as the PAC park, are great; but, tearing down older building stock with space for affordable small businesses to build luxury towers is all kinds of wrong. Cities are attractive when people can feel a sense of place and identity being there - destroying historic buildings slowly turns Hackensack into any generic NJ town. In addition to the architecture lost on Main Street, nearly 10 or so retail spaces have been eliminated. Because of the building's age, these spaces were affordable for local businesses. The project plans retail space for a restaurant or two small shops, which will likely be leased at much higher premiums that only chains can afford - and, again, chains = generic. Someone mentioned the developer wanting to include retail but couldn't do so.. that's almost certainly not the case. Just like he had no intention of preserving the clock or facade, he had no intention of adding more retail space in an untested market considering the extra costs associated with retail.

As far as preservation goes, the city absolutely could have required the developer to preserve any or all of the old buildings; this is common practice when a developer seeks assistance from the city: they must give back to the public through preservation, open space, etc.

Hackensak is attempting to build the "there" in downtown which is its fatal flaw. Residential usually isn't developed until an area becomes attractive due to the mix of businesses and attractions nearby. Building these luxury towers first without the market for the kind of retail needed to support its residents is a tough sell, and will simply promote continued use of cars to go elsewhere to shop.

The town is doing a terrible job in vetting these projects' designs. The Main Street project is one of the widest towers I have ever seen and is completely dominating and out of scale to the downtown. This should have been broken into 2 towers. More retail space should have also been required. Meanwhile, it's clear that they are planning in a vacuum. Otherwise, developing standards for State Street would have been prioritized to facilitate urban-oriented uses and live/work residences to support Main St. retail. Because of this lack of vision, the State Street project was approved despite including no commercial space AND presenting a bank wall to the new PAC park. Unfortunately, this is why that park is destined for failure. Public space needs surveillance to maintain safety, through patios, residential porches, etc. The park is surrounded by nonactive uses, creating the perfect place for crime and loitering.

The City needs to prioritize preservation, develop design standards for State and River, and create a plan for connecting downtown to the waterfront. Additionally, there are several schools nearby - dense student housing would bring retail demand without the pressures of luxury projects.

Offline Editor

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Re: Area in need of Rehabilitation
« Reply #208 on: April 06, 2016, 09:21:06 AM »
Sense of place is very important.  Bear in mind the city was able to preserve the old Masonic Temple and adaptively reuse the building for the new Performing Arts Center.  That was a strategic decision.  The building would otherwise have been torn down.  Older buildings are being preserved to the extent they can be.  210 Main, Hackensack's first skyscraper, is an example of that.  It is being adaptively repurposed for residences.

I, like many others, would have liked to have seen 170 Main preserved as well.  After touring the building, it became increasing clear that it was truly beyond redemption. The interior suffered from a multitude of "unsympathetic changes" over the years and would have required cost-prohibitive alterations just to make it safe and habitable. It sat vacant for 18 years for that very reason.

Retail is also important and there will be plenty of retail on Main Street, mixed with other uses, that will now be supported by residents that weren't here before.  The new Creative Placemaking efforts and other cultural offerings will go a long way towards ensuring that residents have reasons to come and stay.  Apparently, many developers already feel that Hackensack provides the right mix to support the demand and they are setting their price points accordingly.

Uses at Atlantic Street Park will be ancillary to the new, adjacent Performing Arts Center.  The Park will be monitored and enjoy regular and frequent programming.  Crime will not be an issue here.

All projects are being done in accordance will a very carefully planned, award-winning Rehabilitation Plan which I would urge people to read.

http://www.njfuture.org/smart-growth-101/smart-growth-awards/2014-smart-growth-award-winners/hackensack-downtown/

http://www.hackensack.org/filestorage/6876/8403/8786/8788/Redevelopment_Plan_Amendments.pdf


« Last Edit: April 06, 2016, 06:39:16 PM by Editor »