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Anchorage Cove - 88 unit townhouse project

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Editor:
ANCHORAGE COVE: The project was approved by Hackensack Zoning Board of Adjustment on August 24, 2004. Three residents spoke in favor of the project: Eric Martindale, Ted Dunn, and Kathleen Salvo. Nobody spoke against the application, and the project was approved unanimously. Groundbreaking is anticipated in the Spring of 2005. Minor NJDEP permits are still required. The project will include a segment of the Hackensack Waterfront Walkway, built 16-feet wide, and to the standards of the NJDEP.

WHAT IS THE LIKLIHOOOD THAT IT WILL ACTUALLY BE BUILT: About 14 years ago, the same builder, Mr. Trobiano, built a mid-rise building on Moonachie Road known as Lilton Manor. This is widely known as the most upscale multi-unit complex in the First Ward of Hackensack. Since Trobiano has already completed one nice project in Hackensack, it is widely believed that Anchorage Cove will actually be built, as opposed to other approved projects that can’t get financing or couldn’t be sold to someone with financing. This is important, since Hackensack has a history of being plagued with half-built projects lying abandoned for many years. As long as the housing market stays strong, it will be built.

ONE DEFICIENCY TO THE PROJECT: Eric Martindale requested that the site plan be amended so to include a one-story 20 x 30 foot multi-purpose community room with an adjacent patio area. Initially, this can be used as a sales office for the developer. Eventually, it can be used for condo association meetings, block watch meetings, holiday parties, etc. The idea is that the multipurpose room will help create an internal sense of community and foster neighborliness. Two sites were suggested: (a) on the north side of the "point" of the internal courtyard, or (b) at the southeast corner of the site, with a patio facing the river. At this time, it is not believed that this feature will be added.

Mr. Trobiano said after the hearing that the lack of a multi-purpose room also became an issue at his other project, Lilton Manor, and the condo owners there who wanted it couldn’t get a majority to agree to fund its construction. Had it been built with the project, it wouldn’t have been an issue.

NEXT STEP: Although the project is approved, a few relatively minor details of the site plan will be amended. The applicant will present them at the next meeting.

Photo #1: (Below) Artists rendition of the 88-unit project. There are 44 townhouses, each with two units. One unit occupies the first floor and half the second floor, totals 1350 square feet, and has 2 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms. The other unit occupies the third floor and half the second floor, totals 1810 square feet, and has 3 bedrooms and 2½ bathrooms. Units are expected to sell between $300,000 and $500,000, with the highest selling prices along the water. There are 12 homes with a direct river view.



Photo #2: (Below) Architects rendering of the front of the units. Extra care was given to architectural details around the windows. The exterior surface will be brick up to at least 8 feet, and vinyl siding above that.



Photo #3(Below): Architects rendering of the rear of the units. Notice the architectural detail over the garage doors.



Photo #4(Below): Site plan map prepared by the engineering firm. Notice that the rear yards of all the units contain the garages, and all the rear yards face on the internal loop roadway. The front yards face either: (a) South River Street, (b) the interior courtyard, or (c) the Waterfront Walkway. The architects felt that this was an important quality of life aspect of the site plan.



This is in direct contrast with the townhouses currently under construction at the corner of Prospect and Anderson Streets. That applicant insisted on creating an interior parking area with the front doors and garages all facing the asphalt heart of the project. Each unit will have a tiny private rear yard, many of which will face Anderson Street or Prospect Avenue.

For Anchorage Cove, although landscaping occupies a relatively small percent of the site, the applicant made much larger than required landscaped buffers along the Waterfront Walkway and along River Street, in addition to creating a triangular central courtyard over 200 feet long, and about 70 feet wide at its base.

Editor:
For a detailed analysis of Anchorage Cove, please see the prior post which was amended by Eric Martindale.

ericmartindale:
A lawsuit has been filed against the variance granted by Nappa.  Nappa owns the property 2 lots south from the subject site. It is a vacant lot about 5 acres between oil tanks and the self-storage facility, across from Wysocki Place.

They had approval to build a 150-unit townhouse community, but the permits expired. In 2004, Mayor Zisa wanted the project to come back to the Planning Board, since the original approval was from 1987 or 1988. For whatever reason, Nappa declined. They built the foundation of one townhouse, probably without approval, and did no more work on the site.

Nappa reportedly is furious that his project was derailed, and another property owner (Trobiano), who has long-standing political connections in Hackensack for decades, was approved. The strip is not zoned for multi-unit development, but many people in Hackensack (including Joseph Zisa, at the time the attorney representing Anchorage Cove), would like to see multi-unit along the river.  Personally, I think River Road in Edgewater is the model for South River Street in Hackensack, with a mixture of national retail chains, condo towers, and townhouses.

Since these lawsuits seem to take about 9-12 months to resolve, it'll be a while before there is a groundbreaking.

Rumor also has it that earlier in September, a decision was made by BP to build the ong-awaited gas station and Wild Bean Cafe' at the Puntasecca property (River Street and East Kansas Street). They had been wavering on the project since it was approved, but now they will break ground soon.  This rumor is unconfirmed, if anyone knows more please post the info. This is the biggest blight in Hackensack, and I can't wait till the property is redeveloped.

ericmartindale:
Just an update.  Work is underway regarding remediation of soil contamination. A plume had spread south from the PSE&G property along the river.  There used to be a power plant there, possibly a coal-gasification type of plant (ugggh).

Work on the condo's won't start till the remediation is done.  The small building onsite was demolished many months ago. I haven't heard anything recently about Nappa's lawsuit against Trobiano. The council recently vacated Water Street, which was part of the siteplan. The street will be replaced with a sidewalk allowing access to the proposed riverfront pathway that is part of the project.  Not too long ago, Nappa's lawyer was objecting to the vacating of Water Street, part of their BS case against Trobiano.  I'm not a friend of the Trobiano's, in case anyone is wondering.  And I doubt they are fans of me. But I do support this project, and that's what counts. 

What's best for Hackensack should always ahead of personality issues and politics.

An even larger and more luxuriuos townhouse development is before the Planning Board (May meeting). For 97 units to replace the Mazda dealership (site of the 1988 Ford fire that took the lives of 5 firemen). 

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