Author Topic: 430 Union St history  (Read 15528 times)

Offline BLeafe

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430 Union St history
« on: May 30, 2013, 05:23:18 PM »
The formal name of the building is the Park Lane. I took the first picture (on the front of the building by Ward St) circa 1988.

You may recall that I wrote this in the "Some good cell antenna news" thread:

When the building opened around 1928, there was a restaurant in the basement that was THE place for the City's bigwigs to meet. The restaurant's chef lived in the penthouse.


The second picture shows what was on the restaurant's doors. The doors are still there.

The third picture shows something I just recently found out about and saw for the first time today. It was at the end of a small, dark, basement hallway that had been blocked off. It was the restaurant's "GENTS" room. I haven't found a "LADIES" room yet.

I have a couple of other "PL" images that I'll post when I dig them out.

So I can tell you about 1928 and after 1988, but nothing in-between, so if anyone has any info from that 60-year gap, please post.



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Offline just watching

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Re: 430 Union St history
« Reply #1 on: June 04, 2013, 09:30:05 PM »
According to Richard Rankin, whom I believe you also know, I can give you some information he told me. The "restaurant" was a Speak-Easy during Prohibition.  The neighborhood was called "Holy Square", in reference to the Park and surrounding churches.  And most of the residents were members of First Presbyterian, First Baptist, 2nd Reformed, and Holy Trinity.  The Park Lane building was THE most fashionable and upscale building in Hackensack during it's day, and probably into the 1940's.  It was considered very high-end, and many people relocated there from NYC.  It wasn't until larger buildings were built with new safe-looking elevators and parking (in Hackensack and elsewhere) that the building went from high-end to moderate. However, during that time there were a great many elderly residents living there who had lived there for decades. And now it is fair to say that it is a working class immigrant building, filled with hard-working people.

Note also that Park Lane was somehow exempted from Fire Escape regulations, but it remains in NON-COMPLIANCE with the specifics of those regulations.

Offline irons35

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Re: 430 Union St history
« Reply #2 on: June 04, 2013, 09:34:23 PM »
it is a fire resistive building. does not need fire escapes, as high rises do not.

Offline just watching

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Re: 430 Union St history
« Reply #3 on: June 04, 2013, 10:40:58 PM »
I understand you are with the fire department, so your input is valued here.

I was under the impression that multi-unit buildings 3 stories or higher need to have 2 internal staircases in order to evacuate during a fire, and that elevators don't count.  And that if there is only one staircase, there has to be a metal exterior fire escape.  430 Union Street has only one staircase, so if Mr. Irons can please explain a little further, why is the building exempt from the codes.  Thank you in advance.

Offline BLeafe

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Re: 430 Union St history
« Reply #4 on: June 04, 2013, 10:43:43 PM »
The neighborhood was called "Holy Square"

Note also that Park Lane was somehow exempted from Fire Escape regulations, but it remains in NON-COMPLIANCE with the specifics of those regulations.

My understanding is that the neighborhood was called "Church Square".

The fire escape situation was addressed and resolved in 1995 when the landlord was offered a choice between installing fire escapes or installing a stairwell smoke suppression system.

The latter was chosen.

« Last Edit: June 04, 2013, 10:46:38 PM by BLeafe »
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Offline BLeafe

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Re: 430 Union St history
« Reply #5 on: February 25, 2019, 02:38:20 PM »

The second picture shows what was on the restaurant's doors. The doors are still there.


As of a couple of days ago, the doors are NOT still there, thanks to our history-clueless new landlord.

I was hoping they had been put aside, but I was just told that they were put in the garbage and taken away.

And I KNOW they understand that I'm concerned with the history of the building............you'd think that maybe they'd at least ask me about what to do with the doors.

Just total thoughtlessness...............
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