Author Topic: Area in need of Rehabilitation  (Read 398438 times)

Offline Editor

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Re: Area in need of Rehabilitation
« Reply #105 on: June 10, 2014, 10:43:02 AM »
Downtown Hackensack site slated for mixed-use tower after land assemblage
By Joshua Burd, June 9, 2014 at 2:11 PM

Another site in downtown Hackensack has been slated for redevelopment, with plans calling for a 14-story building with retail and more than 300 residential units.

Alexander Anderson Real Estate Group, a firm that’s based in the city, said it brokered the sale of the 1.5-acre parcel at 150-170 Main St. The site was assembled from multiple owners and consisted of seven buildings and one parking lot, the firm said.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed in a news release from Alexander Anderson, and the firm declined to name the developer that bought the site.

The property is the first assemblage to close on Hackensack’s Main Street since city officials in 2012 adopted a plan to revitalize its ailing downtown, the news release said. It’s also one of several sites slated for redevelopment now that the city has relaxed zoning laws and granted new height allowances, as the governing body seeks to reverse decades of decline from its days as the epicenter of Bergen County.

“The beauty of this assemblage is in how it was conceptualized,” Eric Anderson, CEO of Alexander Anderson Real Estate, said in a prepared statement. “When the rehabilitation plan passed, many talked about bringing large projects to Main Street in Hackensack, but there were no lots large enough to accommodate serious developers.”

The project is pending approval before city officials, a spokeswoman for the firm said. Alexander Anderson also is working on six similar assemblage deals elsewhere in the downtown, two of which are expected to close soon, she said.
« Last Edit: June 13, 2014, 09:07:33 AM by Editor »

Offline just watching

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Re: Area in need of Rehabilitation
« Reply #106 on: June 13, 2014, 12:45:04 AM »
Good project for Hackensack.  I only hope that their engineers have been apprised by city officials of the problems that occurred with the Paragon building, at State and Clay Streets.  The water table was so high on State Street that they could only have ONE level of underground parking.  They just couldn't dig deeper, so much water was coming in. They had to have an emergency Planning Board meeting to alter the site plan from two levels of underground parking to one level. 

Also, the bedrock was something like 150 feet down.  Don't remember the exact number. It won't be much less for Main & Mercer Streets.  I know bedrock in Hackensack is deepest along the Pascack Valley railroad line at around 200 feet deep. That is the original bed of the Hackensack River so many thousands of years ago.  People assume the bedrock is deepest where the river is now, but that is not true.

Offline Editor

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Re: Area in need of Rehabilitation
« Reply #107 on: July 12, 2014, 09:11:40 AM »
Hackensack approves plan to develop high-rise apartment complex
July 11, 2014    Last updated: Friday, July 11, 2014, 8:44 AM
By HANNAN ADELY
STAFF WRITER
The Record

Once construction begins, the 14-story building at 150-170 Main St. should be completed within two years.
HACKENSACK — City officials have given final approval for construction of a 14-story residential and retail building on Main Street, which they say will spur redevelopment and help transform the downtown into a modern center for living, shopping and entertainment.

The Planning Board approved the application on Wednesday for the construction of the 382-apartment building at 150-170 Main St., which will have 7,500 square feet of ground-floor retailing. The building is to feature a mix of studios and one- and two-bedroom units and amenities such as a pool and a rooftop garden.

"This is a great application for the town," said zoning officer Al Borrelli. "It's a real catalyst for redevelopment and for the city of Hackensack and for Main Street."

http://www.northjersey.com/mobile/community-news/hackensack-high-rise-gets-ok-1.1049879
« Last Edit: August 02, 2014, 09:00:09 PM by Editor »

Offline just watching

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Re: Area in need of Rehabilitation
« Reply #108 on: July 12, 2014, 08:45:54 PM »
Amazing. 

Shergoh Alkilani has a proven track record.  He built the new building on Linden Street, and some much bigger buildings in Edgewater.  If he says this will be built, it will be built.

Offline Editor

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Re: Area in need of Rehabilitation
« Reply #109 on: August 02, 2014, 08:58:47 PM »
Hackensack officials: abatements necessary for city’s growth
August 1, 2014    Last updated: Friday, August 1, 2014, 12:31 AM
By Jennifer Vazquez
NEWS EDITOR
Hackensack Chronicle

HACKENSACK — Though the city council took action to establish a short-term tax abatement plan earlier this year, a presentation at the July 21 Committee of the Whole meeting outlined the necessity for long-term agreements.

During the presentation, Brian Nelson, the city's redevelopment attorney, detailed the need, and desired outcome long-term tax abatement agreements, also known as Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOTs), would have on Hackensack and the city's redevelopment and rehabilitation goals citing that abatements are "a necessary tool to encourage redevelopment."

http://www.northjersey.com/news/officials-abatements-necessary-for-city-s-growth-1.1060756?page=all

Offline Editor

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Re: Area in need of Rehabilitation
« Reply #110 on: August 04, 2014, 02:17:56 PM »
New round of debate set on N.J.'s liquor licenses
August 3, 2014, 7:42 PM    Last updated: Monday, August 4, 2014, 1:58 PM
By LINDA MOSS
Staff writer
The Record

Proponents of an overhaul of New Jersey’s liquor-license laws are expecting to gain some traction this year after decades of proposals and legislation kicking around unsuccessfully.

Assemblyman John Burzichelli, D-Gloucester, has been circulating a rough draft of a bill that would update the state’s liquor laws. He’s been talking about the issue with “select groups” of stakeholders, including restaurant owners and real estate developers. In New Jersey, liquor licenses range from $50,000 to more than $2 million, which critics say is putting a damper on economic development.

Advocates say a change in the laws — which could include issuing more licenses — would spur restaurant openings throughout the Garden State and boost redevelopment projects in ailing urban and suburban downtowns.

http://www.northjersey.com/news/changes-eyed-for-n-j-liquor-license-laws-1.1061599?page=all

Offline Whitey

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Re: Area in need of Rehabilitation
« Reply #111 on: September 02, 2014, 12:23:18 PM »
150-170 Main Street

The Planning Board has approved this 14-story residential and retail building on Main Street.  I put retail in italics because although the building will front on Main Street, only part of the ground floor will have retail space.   The redevelopment zoning code apparently requires 7,500 square feet of retail and that is what the developer has provided.  The remaining frontage on Main Street will apparently be a display window of some kind, but there will be no retail space behind the window.

Since the whole objective of the redevelopment plan is to revive retail on Main Street I find it amazing that the Planning Board would approve the application as proposed.

Offline just watching

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Re: Area in need of Rehabilitation
« Reply #112 on: September 03, 2014, 10:47:02 AM »
I was unaware of this.  Thank you for pointing out the problem. 

Offline BLeafe

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Re: Area in need of Rehabilitation
« Reply #113 on: September 03, 2014, 10:50:16 AM »
Letter To The Editor in today's Record:


Plan needed for Hackensack future

As a general in the Revolutionary War, George Washington chose Hackensack for his headquarters in 1776 so he could map out a path to victory. His time in Hackensack would prove to be a turning point in the war that helped boost morale as the Battle of Trenton that followed became the first victory for the Continental Army.

It is no surprise that Hackensack continues to be at the center of it all, situated along major train lines, bus routes, airports and roadways, and it is less than 10 miles from New York City. Hackensack is not only the headquarters of the Bergen County government and judiciary systems, but it houses one of the nation's Top 30 hospitals, Hackensack University Medical Center.

While Hackensack boasts a population of 43,000, that number more than triples each day as the many other companies and institutions that call this city home open for business. In recent years, I have been privileged to watch Hackensack take significant steps to improve the quality of life for residents and commuters alike. The city's Upper Main Street redevelopment plan to develop mixed-use residential and retail buildings, expand parking and create green spaces will attract even more businesses and residents to this city.

Revitalizing Hackensack's downtown will bring in new talent and provide a much-needed boost to the local economy. This continued transformation will make Hackensack an even better place to live and raise a family, while attracting new visitors to our great city.

But we must not slow down. We must take this critical opportunity to expand the revitalization efforts under way in Hackensack. We need to continue strengthening our economy through smart investments and planning that will help this great city achieve its full potential as a thriving, sought-after urban core.

I have no doubt that these efforts will be smart investments in the city's future, because I have seen how the investments we made in HackensackUMC over the years have transformed our hospital into one of the nation's leading premier health care facilities.

I joined the Hackensack University Medical Center family more than 30 years ago and have been at its helm for the last five years. As the largest employer in the city, I can tell you that the HackensackUMC family is proud to call Hackensack not only our headquarters, but our home.

Hackensack's best days are ahead of it as long as we work together. I call on local elected officials, business leaders and other stakeholders in the community to host a summit about the future of our great city and how we can keep moving revitalization efforts forward.

HackensackUMC is invested in Hackensack, and I look forward to partnering with stakeholders in our community to ensure that redevelopment efforts are successful in the months and years to come.

Robert C. Garrett

Hackensack, Aug. 29

The writer is president and CEO of Hackensack University Health Network.

http://www.northjersey.com/opinion/opinion-letters-to-the-editor/the-record-letters-wednesday-sept-3-1.1079810


« Last Edit: September 04, 2014, 12:05:40 AM by Editor »
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Offline just watching

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Re: Area in need of Rehabilitation
« Reply #114 on: September 04, 2014, 11:30:05 AM »
That's interesting.  And where was HUMC when the city needed a partner for the trolley-bus that ran Main, Anderson, Prospect, and Essex ?  That could have made the difference in making it economically viable.  And with better mass-transit, there would be less employees looking for parking spaces at HUMC.  Isnt that their biggest problem ?

Offline regina

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Re: Area in need of Rehabilitation
« Reply #115 on: September 05, 2014, 10:18:10 PM »
Re: 150-170 Main Street - The display window is at the very end of the building. Part of the parking garage is behind this area. Stairs and street level entry are also located there. A display window was a better choice than a brick wall.

Offline just watching

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Re: Area in need of Rehabilitation
« Reply #116 on: September 06, 2014, 12:40:57 AM »
If someone can tell us what is the footprint of the building, either in dimensions or square feet, that would help readers decide if 7500 sf of retail is enough.

Offline Editor

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Re: Area in need of Rehabilitation
« Reply #117 on: September 06, 2014, 02:00:17 AM »
As I understand it, there is a 5 foot elevation change from north to south along Main which somehow limits use of the ground floor (perhaps to parking). I have not seen a detailed plan yet.  At any rate, I'm not thrilled with 7,500 square feet of retail space for a project this massive.  But let's not lose sight of the fact that this will bring hundreds of additional patrons to the downtown.

« Last Edit: September 06, 2014, 11:04:00 PM by Editor »

Offline Homer Jones

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Re: Area in need of Rehabilitation
« Reply #118 on: September 06, 2014, 08:31:20 AM »
Please don't forget that if this project is built as envisioned, and if 7,500 sq. ft of retail space is insufficient, then new businesses will gravitate to this general area in an attempt to meet the demand. The new merchants will have to lease and occupy space in vacant  properties which can only have a positive effect  on the Main Street retail corridor.
If this scenario occurs, landlords and property owners can become more selective when leasing their properties rather than leasing the space to anybody just to meet expenses.
Right now the supply exceeds the demand. The goal should be for the demand to exceed the supply. Economics 101.

Offline regina

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Re: Area in need of Rehabilitation
« Reply #119 on: September 06, 2014, 03:04:55 PM »
It is a beautiful building with about 300 feet Main Street frontage. All documents are available at the Building Department. I don't know if this photo does it justice but it shows the proposed facade and use on Main Street

 

anything