Author Topic: 15 Main Street  (Read 23931 times)

Offline Editor

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Re: 15 Main Street
« Reply #15 on: March 11, 2013, 11:06:11 AM »
ALFRED SANZARI ENTERPRISES DEVELOPS NEW PUBLIC GARDEN IN HACKENSACK, N.J.,
IN HONOR OF COMPANY FOUNDERS ALFRED AND MARY SANZARI



Located Adjacent to Court Plaza Office Center, the Garden is Open to the Public

HACKENSACK, N.J., March 8, 2013 – Alfred Sanzari Enterprises has developed a new public garden adjacent to its Court Plaza office complex in Hackensack, N.J., to honor the legacy of Alfred and Mary Sanzari, co-founders of the real estate development firm. Located on the corner of Main and Essex streets, the 10,000-square-foot site will open this winter and be dedicated to the city as “The Alfred and Mary Sanzari Garden.”

The area was designed as a place to relax and enjoy nature for members of the community as well as Court Plaza’s tenants and area professionals. It is situated in a hub of corporate activity across from the courthouse, and Alfred Sanzari Enterprises is headquartered in the complex.

The garden features a fountain, brick and stone pathways and walls, benches and decorative lighting, all surrounded by lush plantings. Oversized stone steps and a bronze plaque inscribed with “Because of You” mark the garden’s entrance. Evergreen varieties provide interest during the winter months, and in the summer, seasonal flowers, perennials, shrubs and other foliage will enhance the garden’s aesthetic.

“We purchased this site from Bank of America and, after giving it some thought, I decided to have a beautiful landscaped area designed to honor my parents, hence the Alfred and Mary Sanzari Garden was built,” said President and CEO David Sanzari.

Designed by landscape architect Brad Meumann of Meumann Associates, the Garden is consistent with Hackensack’s Main Street Rehabilitation Plan, which was adopted by the Council in June, 2012. According to Stephen LoIacono, city manager, the Plan was intended to transform the City’s downtown into a walkable, livable and sustainable community.

“We are thrilled about the garden, and the Council has supported this project from the moment we heard about it,” LoIacono said. “The Garden is developing into something that is absolutely stunning, and it will be a wonderful gateway to Hackensack’s downtown area. We are extremely grateful for this gift from Alfred Sanzari Enterprises.”

A key ingredient in the success of Alfred Sanzari Enterprises always is its ongoing commitment to enhance the quality of life for residents in areas in which it is active. For David Sanzari, who conceived the idea of creating a garden, this addition to the city’s landscape is a fitting tribute to his parents and the principles on which the company was founded.

The Legacy of Alfred and Mary Sanzari
Alfred Sanzari was a lifelong resident of Hackensack, and he and Mary lived in the City for 70 years. They founded Alfred Sanzari Enterprises in 1945. The company was instrumental in the revitalization of Hackensack, and Sanzari was one of the first to build a luxury apartment complex on Hackensack’s “Hill” section in 1972, The Ivanhoe, which is still considered by many to be the premier apartment building in the county.

The Sanzari’s commitment to Hackensack’s transformation continued with development of the Court Plaza complex, and they also transformed an aging block of buildings on Essex Street into the spectacular 85,000-square-foot, four-story Alfred N. Sanzari Medical Arts Building.

Alfred Sanzari was described as a man with integrity who displayed confidence and sincerity when he dealt with people. Even after all of his success, Sanzari was never one to rest on his laurels according to real estate professionals who knew him, and he continued to work long hours every day of his 55-year career.

Today, Alfred Sanzari Enterprises owns and manages more than six million square feet of residential, commercial, industrial and mixed-use properties, including the landmark 1,000,000-square-foot Glenpointe mixed-use complex in Teaneck, New Jersey. The firm has established its reputation on the quality, design and construction of its buildings as well as its responsive, hands-on property management and the integrity of its founders.

“It is appropriate that we recognize Alfred and Mary Sanzari’s contributions to the local community by creating this garden in their honor,” noted Andrew Gerleit, Alfred Sanzari Enterprises’ vice-president of construction. “It is a beautiful site and a wonderful addition to the City of Hackensack, as well as to our Court Plaza complex.”
« Last Edit: March 11, 2013, 04:18:17 PM by Editor »

Offline Homer Jones

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Re: 15 Main Street
« Reply #16 on: March 11, 2013, 01:41:53 PM »
Class shows!

Offline Editor

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Re: 15 Main Street
« Reply #17 on: March 11, 2013, 03:23:33 PM »
Another picture.  I think it will look really nice after flowers and trees bloom.

Offline Weegee

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Re: 15 Main Street
« Reply #18 on: March 11, 2013, 04:11:33 PM »
big tax hit the city took though.  in 2012 46425.00 was paid in taxes.  in 2011 it was about 70K before the property was reassessed.  in 2013 without a building on the lot, whats it gonna be 15K?  thats a huge difference. 

Year    Owner Information    Land/Imp/Tot    Exemption    Assessed    
2012    SANZARI 2011 LLC    500000                 0                1500000
            25 MAIN ST            1000000         
     HACKENSACK, NJ 07601    1500000         
 
2011    PEOPLES TRUST %BK/AMERICA RE-ASSMTS    544000    0      2338200
             101 N TRYON ST NC10010381                      1794200         
              CHARLOTTE NC 28255                                   2338200         
 

Offline Editor

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Re: 15 Main Street
« Reply #19 on: March 11, 2013, 04:26:03 PM »
Understandable.  But if the project serves to enhance the perception of the downtown and make it more commercially and residentially attractive, that will ultimately mean more and better ratables. Time will tell.


Offline Homer Jones

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Re: 15 Main Street
« Reply #20 on: March 11, 2013, 04:41:21 PM »
Yes, it is a lost ratable; but, due to the size and configuration of the property, there is no other use that could be realistically built on the site. Much better to have a modern beautification effort at the entrance to the City's central business district than an abandoned dinosaur of a building.

Offline regina

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Re: 15 Main Street
« Reply #21 on: March 11, 2013, 05:51:15 PM »
Forget about taxes. It is my understanding that property will be transferred to City with agreement that Sanzari will maintain it. It looks nice though. Again, you have to start somewhere. As long as it does not become a homeless hang out, I think it is an upgrade from what was there.

Offline Victor E Sasson

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Re: 15 Main Street
« Reply #22 on: March 13, 2013, 07:11:15 PM »
The building that was torn down was an art deco gem, and I was sorry to see it go. I also wondered why there was nothing about this in The Record.

[Personal attacked deleted by Editor].

I think the park or urban plaza is a nice touch for a building that was so poorly designed as to be unapproachable from the street.

And residents shouldn't let the loss of tax revenue blind them to the real problem in Hackensack -- tax-exempt entities like Hackensack University Medical Center and Fairleigh Dickinson University that resist doing the right thing and giving back to the city that accommodates them so graciously. Even the county could do more for Hackensack to compensate the city for the loss of tax revenue.

Let the negotiations begin.
« Last Edit: March 13, 2013, 11:13:24 PM by Editor »

Offline BLeafe

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Re: 15 Main Street
« Reply #23 on: March 30, 2013, 10:17:25 PM »
I took a picture of the park last night:



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Offline Etaylor

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Re: 15 Main Street
« Reply #24 on: April 10, 2013, 07:16:29 AM »
The building that was torn down was an art deco gem, and I was sorry to see it go. I also wondered why there was nothing about this in The Record.

[Personal attacked deleted by Editor].

I think the park or urban plaza is a nice touch for a building that was so poorly designed as to be unapproachable from the street.

And residents shouldn't let the loss of tax revenue blind them to the real problem in Hackensack -- tax-exempt entities like Hackensack University Medical Center and Fairleigh Dickinson University that resist doing the right thing and giving back to the city that accommodates them so graciously. Even the county could do more for Hackensack to compensate the city for the loss of tax revenue.

Let the negotiations begin.

Mr. Sasson, did you not attend legal classes at FDU? Do you want those classes to be more
costly by requiring them to pay more to the city?

Offline just watching

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Re: 15 Main Street
« Reply #25 on: April 10, 2013, 09:29:04 PM »
There is no question that the finished product is beautiful, and I love parks.  But the basic problem hasn't gone away. The Green is the entryway park to downtown Main Street, and this new park is redundant for that purpose.

There are parts of the city that are nearly devoid of parks, and some investment there by Sanzari would have been more worthwhile.  Prospect Ave, for instance. There are no parks for the entire length of the high-rise district and all the way to Ross Ave.  There's opportunities, for instance the north side of America Legion Drive, for a long narrow park.  Or the triangle of city owned land at Hamilton & Prospect. Or the LTACH property on Prospect Ave.  Calling all philanthropists, throw Hackensack some money.

Offline Homer Jones

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Re: 15 Main Street
« Reply #26 on: April 10, 2013, 10:40:11 PM »
I totally disagree with the rationale of your last statement. If David Sanzari wants to spend well in excess of a million dollars to honor his parents while at the same time eliminate a blighting influence in the downtown area, I do not think that it is appropriate for anybody to tell him how and where he should have spent HIS money to honor HIS parents.
Enough said.

Offline just watching

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Re: 15 Main Street
« Reply #27 on: April 11, 2013, 10:03:54 AM »
Anyone is free to disagree with anyone else's posts.  They can say the former building was "blight" or an art deco gem that contributed tax dollars, for example.

As far as Sanzari doing what he wants, the CITY has the right to tell him what he can or cannot do. Sanzari can't just do whatever he wants to honor his parents.  Yes, it is true that the city government approved this project. However, if a member of the public thinks that the park is redundant because The Green is 100 feet away, that person does have the right to voice that sentiment.

If that property was going to be coming off the tax rolls, I would have rather seen Sanzari gift the art deco building to the City of Hackensack, to be used as a museum. The museum needed only a fraction of the parking lot that the former bank used at Essex & Fair Strets.  The City still has no museum.  And perhaps a way could have been made to honor his parents in that regard. 
« Last Edit: April 11, 2013, 10:08:51 AM by just watching »

Offline Editor

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Re: 15 Main Street
« Reply #28 on: May 10, 2013, 02:38:52 PM »
Hackensack receives public garden for $1
Friday, May 10, 2013
BY  JENNIFER VAZQUEZ
NEWS EDITOR
Hackensack Chronicle

HACKENSACK — The City of Hackensack officially accepted a donated public garden on April 9.


Alfred Sanzari Enterprises decided to deed over a public garden, located on Main Street, to the City of Hackensack for the amount of $1. Sanzari Enterprises President and CEO David Sanzari requested the garden be named in honor of his parents — the 'Alfred and Mary Sanzari Garden.'
BERNADETTE MARCINIAK/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER


Alfred Sanzari Enterprises decided to deed over a public garden, located on Main Street, to the City of Hackensack for the amount of $1. Sanzari Enterprises President and CEO David Sanzari requested the garden be named in honor of his parents — the 'Alfred and Mary Sanzari Garden.'

The "Alfred and Mary Sanzari Garden," located at 15 Main St., was donated to the city for the sum of $1.

Alfed Sanzari Enterprises is the entity who owned the property and decided to deed it to Hackensack.

According to City Manager Stephen Lo Iacono, Sanzari Enterprises approached the city about a year ago with the idea.

Sanzari Enterprises President and CEO David Sanzari said it felt like something he had to do in honor of his parents, Alfred and Mary — the namesake of the garden.

"They raised a family here," he said. "They built a business in Hackensack. We love the city of Hackensack. It was just nice to give back to the community. My parents would have loved this."

Though the garden was first thought upon as an "oasis" for employees who work at Court Plaza, according to Sanzari it felt natural to open up the court yard garden to the public — providing the city with an entrance into the business area which is currently an area of redevelopment.

"I wanted to beautify that corner for the Court Plaza and also because that area is the main entrances to the business area of Hackensack," he said.

According to the resolution, garden was deeded over to Hackensack for $1 — a formality allowing the city to proclaim it as a public property.

"This allows for the city to proclaim it as a park," Lo Iacono said. "But [Sanzari Enterprises] will maintain its upkeep."

Though the garden is rather small, a press release from Alfred Sanzari Enterprises, the garden was designed by landscape architect Brad Meumann of Meumann Associates and "features a fountain, brick and stone pathways and walls, benches and decorative lighting, all surrounded by lush plantings."

"It is a small and intimate property," Sanzari said. "Renovation of the property was completed in February, March 2013."

The garden, and all of its designs, adhere to the guidelines set forth by the adopted rehabilitation plan for the city’s downtown area, according to Lo Iacono, who also stated that the latest edition to the city’s downtown is "outstanding."

"[Sanzari] eliminated a vacant house that was on that lot," he said. "It was an eyesore, really, and transformed it into this beautiful public garden dedicated to his mom and dad. This enhances the area tremendously."

Email: vazquez@northjersey.com

Offline regina

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Re: 15 Main Street
« Reply #29 on: May 12, 2013, 07:35:59 PM »
We went by the park late this afternoon, from Hudson to Essex, and saw puddles of water all down the steps onto the sidewalk on Main Street. Either the fountain leaked, or overflowed, or kids were playing in it. That is going to be something to watch over the summer months. Kids are going to be attracted to that fountain.