Hackensack, NJ Community Message Boards

General Category => Hackensack Discussion => Topic started by: Editor on February 23, 2011, 11:45:57 AM

Title: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: Editor on February 23, 2011, 11:45:57 AM
This topic was split from this one (http://www.hackensacknow.org/index.php?topic=978.msg3105).

________________
With Hackensack rail station gone, is historic status next? (http://www.northjersey.com/community/history/more_history_news/116716454_With_rail_station_gone__is_historic_status_next_.html)
Last updated: Wednesday February 23, 2011, 8:42 AM
BY MONSY ALVARADO
The Record
STAFF WRITER
HACKENSACK — The Anderson Street Railroad Station's designation as a landmark could soon be history.
 

(http://media.bergen.com/images/300*231/0223L_L1OLD_RST.jpg)
The Anderson Street Railroad Station in 1869, shortly after it was built. It was one of the stops on the Erie Railroad. The station was put on both the state and national registers of historic places in 1984. The New Jersey State Review Board of Historic Sites has been asked to de-register the building, which was torn down following a 2009 fire. But city officials want to preserve the state and national historic status and are pushing for a replica of the 19th-century structure to be built. A decision could be made Thursday.

"If there's a way to somehow recreate what was there, you can preserve the sense of place, and the sense of time," said Albert Dib, the city's historian. "That really was the center point of Anderson Street."

"It's been here for years and years, and anybody who is alive today and remembers it being here and then consumed by fire, everyone in the community recognized that something very valuable in the community was lost," he added. "You can call it purely sentimental, but you want things like that in your community."

Courtney Carroll, spokeswoman for NJ Transit, owners of the property, said the public transportation corporation made the de-registration request because "nothing remains of the original structure."

What's next
The New Jersey State Review Board of Historic Sites will meet at 10 a.m. Thursday at the state Department of Environmental Protection building, 401 E. State St., Trenton. The meeting will be held in the first-floor public hearing room.
 
(http://media.bergen.com/images/300*231/0223L_L1FIRE_RST.jpg)
The scene on Jan. 10, 2009, during a fire at the station, which was later torn down. City officials and historians want a replica of the station to be built. In a memorandum to the state review board earlier this month, Daniel D. Saunders, acting administrator of the New Jersey Historic Preservation Office, agreed.

"Since the complete destruction of this building renders it unable to convey its architectural and historic significance as a representative, 19th-century small town railroad depot, I request the board's concurrence with the request to de-register," he wrote.

The railroad station was built in 1869, and was one of the stops on the Erie Railroad. It was listed in the New Jersey Register of Historic Places on March 17, 1984, and in the national register on June 22, 1984.

The designation made the station eligible to receive grants and other funds set aside for historic preservation.

If the board votes in favor of the de-registration, the station would be removed from both lists, said Larry Hajna, spokesman for the state Department of Environmental Protection. The Historic Preservation Office is located within the DEP.

Hajna added that if a building replicating the old architecture was constructed, it would not qualify for a historic designation.

Hackensack Mayor Karen Sasso said NJ Transit has been asked numerous times to rebuild the station and it has been unresponsive.

"In the over two years since the fire there is only an oversized bus shelter to serve the many commuters who use that train stop," she wrote in a statement. "I renew my call to NJ Transit to rebuild the station, hopefully in a manner which maintains its historic status, so that the city can continue to be home to this treasure and so that our commuters can be served once again with a permanent structure which they deserve."

Carroll said NJ Transit is developing a plan for the site, but couldn't say whether the plans call for a station to be built, or whether it would have the earlier architectural design. She said NJ Transit officials plan on getting input from the city.

About 320 people use the station daily, Carroll said.

The station was the second oldest in the state system before the fire. A station in Ramsey is the oldest.

Also destroyed by the blaze was the Green Caboose, a thrift shop housed in the depot and run by the ladies auxiliary of Hackensack University Medical Center. Proceeds from the store benefited the hospital.

Dib, who will attend Thursday's state meeting on behalf of the city, said the railroad station was refurbished in 1998 and that there is detailed documentation on the architecture of the building if it was to be reconstructed again.

An image of the station can be seen on the city website's home page, and Dib said he can't bring himself to remove the photo. He said he's hoping to open a dialog with state officials.

"People have asked isn't it time for the picture to go, but my gut says no, leave it there, and see what we can do to get something else that is appropriate for that space and that is what we are going to try to do on Thursday," he said.

E-mail: alvarado@northjersey.com

Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: Editor on February 24, 2011, 05:31:46 PM
Hackensack train station closer to losing historical designation (http://www.northjersey.com/news/022411_Hackensack_train_station_closer_to_losing_historical_designation.html)
Thursday, February 24, 2011
BY MONSY ALVARADO
The Record
STAFF WRITER

TRENTON — The Anderson Street Railroad Station in Hackensack is closer to losing its historical designation.

The New Jersey State Review Board for Historic Sites voted Thursday in favor of recommending that the station be removed from the state and national list of historic places. Board members said the de-registering is necessary because the building, which was destroyed in a 2009 blaze, no longer stands.

 “We no longer have a particular artifact. It was listed, and if it doesn’t exist, the listing doesn’t exist,” said Philetus Holt, chairman of the board before the vote. “We can’t anticipate that some day, two years, three years, five years from now someone will build a replica. A replica is not necessarily historic.”

The board’s recommendation will be forwarded to Amy Cradic, assistant DEP commissioner for natural and historic resources. Cradic, who has been designated the state’s historic preservation officer, will make the final decision.

Historically, the officer usually acts on the recommendation, officials said.

After the vote to de-register, the board voted to recommend that the state Historic Preservation Office send a letter to NJ Transit, the owners of the property, encouraging it to be “sympathetic to the local historic district,” when it decides how they will replace the station.

Anderson Street has been designated a historic district by the city of Hackensack.

Albert Dib, the city historian who attended the meeting, argued that if the station was de-registered, NJ Transit would be allowed to build whatever type of building it wants on the site. Dib and other city officials have been pushing for NJ Transit to build a station similar to the one that burnt down. Board members were not swayed.

“Recreating missing artifacts is actually not part of what we would consider eligible anyway, that’s not part of our domain,” said Board Member David Abramson. “There is just no building there. I find nothing compelling, I’m sorry its gone, I wish it was there, but that doesn’t stop the municipality if the property is deregistered from doing whatever it wants in terms of setting zoning standards.”

Dib said he was pleased that at least a letter would be sent to NJ Transit.

 “Given the circumstances I don’t think there’s a whole lot that this board was empowered to do, authorized to do, or regrettably could do within reason, considering that there is nothing left of the original fabric of the building,” he said. “I just hope that NJ Transit would see fit to have a conversation with us about what type of possibilities exist to at least commemorate that space appropriately.”

The carpenter Gothic-style station was built in 1869 and was one of the stops on the Erie Railroad. It was listed in the New Jersey Register of Historic Places on March 17, 1984, and in the national register on June 22, 1984.

The designation made the station eligible to receive grants and other funds set aside for historic preservation.

NJ Transit made the request to de-register the station, Courtney Carroll, a spokeswoman for NJ Transit said earlier this week. She said the company is developing a plan for the site, and will reach out to city officials for their input in coming months.

E-mail: alvarado@northjersey.com
Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: just watching on February 25, 2011, 06:25:20 PM

Thank you, Albert, for taking up the cause of this train station.  It is also my hope that an exact replica will be rebuilt.  This time without the used goods store.
Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: BLeafe on February 25, 2011, 08:53:32 PM
Hackensack train station closer to losing historical designation (http://www.northjersey.com/news/022411_Hackensack_train_station_closer_to_losing_historical_designation.html)
Thursday, February 24, 2011
BY MONSY ALVARADO
The Record
STAFF WRITER

...“We no longer have a particular artifact. It was listed, and if it doesn’t exist, the listing doesn’t exist,” said Philetus Holt, chairman of the board before the vote...

I have an artifact. I pulled it from the rubble when I took the next-day pictures posted earlier in this thread. Albert may recall me sending the below image to him.

The top part shows the piece before I cleaned it off and the middle part is after. The piece of black material on the far right came from something in the rubble pile - probably from The Green Caboose.

Unless someone's got something better, doesn't this deserve a partial historical designation?

It's like having a moon rock - it ain't the moon, but..................


Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: Editor on February 26, 2011, 09:26:22 AM
Latest story below.

I realize this is an uphill battle.  I also realize that a replica is not a historic structure.  But I do think it is historical in the sense that a replica would continue the historic narrative in that setting.  It would preserve the relationship of the the railroad with the the surrounding community.  Historic purists might not see it this way but as long as you make it clear that any new structure is not original and is intended for "interpretive" purposes only, I don't see a problem.  In addition, from a purely aesthetic point of view, the station just works very well on that space and could have any number of adaptive uses including a visitor center, coffee shop, transit information center, etc. Any "replica" would not have to slavishly adhere to the original plans but could be built to spec so long at it possessed the most important visual and functional elements of the original station. 

I just hope the Straphanger Saloon folks haven't gotten too used to the additional parking spaces.
__________________________________________

State moves to remove Hackensack train station destroyed by fire from historic list (http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/02/state_moves_to_remove_hackensa.html)

HACKENSACK — Officials are moving forward to end a historical designation for a Bergen County railroad station that was destroyed by fire.

The Anderson Street Railroad Station in Hackensack was razed after the blaze in 2009.

The New Jersey State Review Board for Historic Sites voted Thursday in favor of recommending that the station be removed from the state and national lists of historic places.

(http://media.nj.com/ledgerupdates_impact/photo/9323094-large.jpg)
Hackensack Anderson Ave. train station in 1910.

Board chairman Philetus Holt told The Record newspaper the step is necessary to prevent someone from building a replica that would not be historic.

Hackensack officials have been encouraging NJ Transit to be sympathetic to the historic district when it replaces the Gothic-style station that was built in 1869.

The board's recommendation will be forwarded to the state's historic preservation officer, who gets the final say.
Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: just watching on February 26, 2011, 10:16:07 PM
After reading the last post, I have a thought, and I could be totally wrong about this.

Maybe removing the official designation removes a mountain of red tape and costly architectural services needed to rebuild the station as a replica of the old one.  The station can still be rebuilt in nearly exact form, and with less oversight, less bureaucracy, less nonsense, and most importantly, less cost.  Is this correct, or am I missing something >>> ?
Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: Editor on February 27, 2011, 07:14:30 PM
It's really hard to say at this point. We should be careful that whatever is built in the near future doesn't preclude us from doing something better later.  The best case scenario is to build something better sooner.
Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: Homer Jones on February 27, 2011, 07:28:18 PM
Just keep in mind that when you deal with the SHPO and and others in that department, you are dealing with a bunch of self serving nut jobs.
Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: BLeafe on February 27, 2011, 09:50:03 PM
Just keep in mind that when you deal with the SHPO and and others in that department, you are dealing with a bunch of self serving nut jobs.

That's an understatement!

When Nextel wanted to put a dozen cell antennas on my building, SHPO is the brilliant bunch who decided that placing them well-hidden (and below me) on the facade was too visible (cell antennas aren't supposed to be visible on historic buildings and they considered my building historic), so they looked at the building's blueprints and determined that human beings couldn't possibly live in the penthouse - only elevators live there - even though I had already been living there for 14 years.

Even after finding out that the penthouse has a tenant and has had tenants for the previous 75 years, they allowed the antennas to be placed up here and grossly violated their own visibility standard because the antennas can be seen from Teaneck.

"No adverse effects", they told the FCC and that's why we have the ugliest roof in town.

The Bergen County Historical Society and the Bergen County Board of Freeholders both passed resolutions against the super-visible antennas and every politician around asked SHPO to change their recommendation to the FCC - that's all they had to do and the antennas would be gone.

They ignored and stonewalled everybody and everything.

SHPO is the WORST government agency in the state.....and you've really got to be bad to earn THAT title!




.
Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: Homer Jones on February 27, 2011, 10:04:17 PM
This is the same crowd that may declare your air conditioner a natural wildlife refuge in the fear that if you turn your air conditioner on and your pet hawk is a male, he may be sterilized from the exhaust; or, if the bird is a female , you may be destroying it's reproduction capability.

If you see any park rangers in the 'hood you better run across the street to Sears and pick up a few fans for the summer.
Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: BLeafe on February 27, 2011, 10:58:37 PM
I'm not worried............I don't live here, remember?

SHPO can go after the elevator instead.............and it probably won't be the first time they've done that.

Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: Editor on April 07, 2011, 08:23:41 AM
Train station taken off historic list
Thursday, April 7, 2011
The Record

What's new: The Anderson Street Railroad Station in Hackensack is no longer a state landmark. The station, which burned down more than two years ago, was officially removed from the state historic list by Amy Cradic, assistant commissioner for natural and historic resources for the Department of Environmental Protection. Cradic, who is designated the state's deputy historic preservation officer, sent a letter last week to Paul Loether, chief of the National Register of Historic Places, asking him to remove the Hackensack railroad station from the national list, too.

"Due to its destruction by fire on January 9, 2009, the Anderson Street Railroad Station has ceased to meet the register's criteria for evaluation," the letter reads.

Background: The New Jersey State Review Board for Historic Sites was asked to de-register the building, which was razed after the fire, by the owner of the property, NJ Transit. City officials had wanted to preserve the state and national historic status because they wanted a replica of the structure to be built on the site.

In February, the review board met and voted to recommend that the Carpenter Gothic station be de-registered, saying it was necessary because the structure no longer exists.

The station was built in 1869 and was one of the stops on the Erie Railroad. It was listed in the New Jersey Register of Historic Places on March 17, 1984, and in the national register on June 22, 1984.

What's next: Officials from the National Register of Historic Places must decide whether to remove the station from the national list.

— Monsy Alvarado
Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: Editor on May 11, 2012, 09:37:29 AM
Hackensack train station's building will be rebuilt
Friday, May 11, 2012
BY MARK J. BONAMO
MANAGING EDITOR
Hackensack Chronicle

City officials announced that the Anderson Street train station would soon be rebuilt, more than three years after a fire destroyed the historic building. City Manager Stephen Lo Iacono said at the April 18 City Council meeting that he was notified of that by NJ Transit.

The original carpenter Gothic-style station was built in 1869 and was one of the stops on the historic Erie Railroad. It was listed in the New Jersey Register of Historic Places and the national register in 1984. The station was destroyed by a 2009 fire and was removed from the National Register of Historic Places in May 2011.

Hackensack officials were lobbying NJ Transit to construct a new station since the fire. Although city officials do not have full details yet regarding what NJ Transit, which operates the station as part of the Pascack Valley Line, plans to do, they’re pleased progress was made.

"The train station gives the neighborhood a sense of place and service to the commuters who are using it," Lo Iacono said.

Lo Iacono noted that NJ Transit would be sending initial plans in the next few weeks for city officials to review. Officials at NJ Transit could not be reached for comment.
Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: Prospect Avenue Coalition on September 05, 2012, 07:09:31 AM
993 NJTransit Invitation to Bid on Construction of the Anderson Street Station ends at 2 pm on September 6th (see attached).
Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: just watching on March 30, 2013, 08:43:42 AM
$571,000 to build a building to size of a house ????  I don't get it. 

$30,000 should cover the footings and foundation.  Frame it out is not much more than a house. Maybe $10,000 more than a house in order to make the one big open room.  Fiber cement board exterior is nothing special, that's on most new construction houses in upscale areas. It costs about $1.70 per sf material, and $1.25 labor. Maybe $4000 more for slate-looking shingles, but unsure what the shingles will be on this structure.  Flooring material of all types is cheaper than ever these days.  It's hard to imagine that it would cost more than $200,000 to build a nearly exact replica of the old train station. On the high side, $250,000.
Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: Homer Jones on March 30, 2013, 09:04:49 AM
And that probably the low bid.
Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: BLeafe on March 30, 2013, 09:30:10 AM
Two articles:


Former Hackensack train station to be rebuilt

Friday March 29, 2013, 2:22 PM
BY  JIM NORMAN
STAFF WRITER
The Record

For rail commuters who remember the Anderson Street station house in Hackensack that was destroyed in a fiery explosion four years ago, it will be déjà-vu all over again. Almost.


(http://i45.tinypic.com/t5kgaf.jpg)
TARIQ ZEHAWI / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Construction has begun to build a shelter at the Anderson Street Transit Train Station in Hackensack to replace the one that burned down several years ago.

New Jersey Transit, which operates on the Pascack Valley Line between Spring Valley, N.Y. and Hoboken, has started work to replace the beloved former landmark building, which had been in continuous use since it opened in 1869.

“It won’t be an exact replica of the old station,” said Nancy Snyder, a spokeswoman for New Jersey Transit, “but it is designed to evoke the feeling of the original building.”

Unlike the building that was burned to the ground, the new one will not be made entirely of wood, Snyder said. Instead, it will have a façade featuring a low stonework base, topped by walls made of cement board that is textured to look like wood, she said.

But like the old building, the new station will have the same 46-foot by 20-foot waiting room, and it will be topped by a similarly pitched shingle roof, she said.

The interior of the new station will be equipped with benches for people waiting for trains. But don’t look for a ticket agent wearing a green eyeshade and sleeve garters; instead, automated ticket vending machines will be installed.

When the original building was destroyed, it had the distinction of being the second-oldest rail station in New Jersey, after the Main Street station in Ramsey.

When it was built, the track it sat next to was a spur from the Passaic Street station on the Hackensack and New York Railroad.

Through a succession of railroad consolidations, it was turned over to New Jersey Transit in 1983 and placed on the National Register of Historic Places the following year.

NJ Transit succeeded in petitioning for its removal from the list of historic sites while design work on the new building was underway, because the rail agency did not want to be locked into an exact duplication of the old structure.

The new building is expected to cost $571,000, Snyder said.

Email: norman@northjersey.com







NJ Transit breaks ground on new building at Anderson rail station in Hackensack

Friday March 29, 2013, 4:33 PM
BY  JENNIFER VAZQUEZ
NEWS EDITOR
Hackensack Chronicle

HACKENSACK - The original Anderson Street Railroad Station building, that was destroyed in a fire in 2009, is getting a second chance.


(http://i45.tinypic.com/vkeao.jpg)
TARIQ ZEHAWI
Workers start on constructing a new facility at the Anderson Street Railroad Station. The original building was burned to the ground in 2009.

The NJ Transit-funded project to replace the building will cost approximately $571,061, said Nancy Snyder, a spokeswoman with the public transportation system. NJ Transit owns the station.

The updated facility will include a waiting room with three walls, with the opening facing the tracks; a covered area leading to Anderson Street; ticket machines inside the waiting room and historical lighting.

"We have broken ground," she said. "We are expecting for the project to be completed sometime late fall."

The original carpenter Gothic-style station was built in 1869 and was one of the stops on the Erie Railroad. It was listed in the New Jersey Register of Historic Places and national register in 1984 only to be removed from the Register of Historic Places in 2011 since the building on the property no longer existed.

According to City Manager Stephen Lo Iacono, before the fire destroyed the original building, the Anderson Street station was the "second oldest one in the state of New Jersey."

"We've been pushing for the station to be rebuilt," Lo Iacono said. "NJ Transit replaced it with an overhead."

Lo Iacono said that the overhead is the type of covering found at a bus stop and was the most immediate structure built after the fire.

"We are happy about this construction," Lo Iacono said. "We've been waiting for a long time. We can now get commuters out of the weather."

According to Snyder, the time between the fire in 2009 and the project breaking ground, roughly four years later, was necessary since all the work leading up to the new construction occurs in phases.

"It takes time," she said. "There was damage assessment, dealings with the insurance company before we could move the proceedings forward. It all comes in phases. We had to send out for bids, then we had to choose a general contractor."

Email: vazquez@northjersey.com


Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: BLeafe on March 31, 2013, 05:40:13 PM
And so it begins.................

Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: BLeafe on April 07, 2013, 05:27:38 PM
Week 2.

Maybe if I do this every week, we can make a flip book at the end.

Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: BLeafe on April 14, 2013, 01:22:51 PM
Week 3



Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: Editor on April 14, 2013, 04:49:38 PM
A flip book would be really cool if you could stand in exactly the same spot.

Remember these?

Best Western Hotel Demolition (http://www.hackensacknow.org/index.php/topic,2143.msg6820.html#msg6820)

Solar Panel Installation Bergen County Plaza Parking Deck (http://www.hackensacknow.org/index.php/topic,2321.msg7145.html#msg7145)
Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: BLeafe on April 14, 2013, 05:44:57 PM
A flip book would be really cool if you could stand in exactly the same spot.

That's what I've been trying to do. The framing can't always be exactly the same, but it's fairly close so far.

As long as that space between the fence and the side of the Straphanger stays open, it just might work.

Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: BLeafe on April 21, 2013, 01:14:12 PM
Week 4

Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: Homer Jones on April 21, 2013, 01:54:20 PM
Out of the hole by next week.
Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: just watching on April 21, 2013, 08:34:28 PM
The foundation / footings wall is not rectangular as I expected.  And what's that secondary foundation wall, the wall within a wall?
Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: BLeafe on April 27, 2013, 11:55:18 AM
Week 5

Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: BLeafe on May 04, 2013, 01:36:25 PM
Week 6

Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: BLeafe on May 12, 2013, 01:21:20 PM
Week 7

Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: BLeafe on May 19, 2013, 02:40:16 PM
Week 8

Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: Editor on May 19, 2013, 03:23:45 PM
I just learned what those orange things are at the end of rebar.  Anyone want to guess their purpose? 

No Google searches!
Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: regina on May 19, 2013, 03:48:12 PM
Because they are orange I am thinking safety.
Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: Editor on May 19, 2013, 04:11:24 PM
Right. They are "mushroom caps" required by OSHA to prevent accidental impalement, - a fairly common occurrence I'm told.
Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: regina on May 19, 2013, 08:41:13 PM
Impalement is fairly common? Wow! I would not have guessed that.
Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: Editor on May 19, 2013, 10:40:15 PM
http://www.mutualindustries.com/blog/preventing-most-common-casualty-construction-sites-rebar-accidents

"OSHA statistics show that 61% of construction accidents were due to impalement from rebar."
Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: regina on May 19, 2013, 10:46:52 PM
Ouch!
Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: BLeafe on May 26, 2013, 01:27:42 PM
Week 9

Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: Homer Jones on May 26, 2013, 01:38:26 PM
It's a good thing that this contractor wasn't working on the World Trade Center.
Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: BLeafe on May 26, 2013, 04:03:31 PM
The "speed" seems to be about par for the neighborhood - look how long it took to get 29 Linden built - PLUS, there's a bar less than 10 feet feet away, so all things considered..................

Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: Homer Jones on May 26, 2013, 04:21:32 PM
Wouldn't count on doing many HDR photo shoots at the site in the near future if I were you.
Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: BLeafe on May 26, 2013, 05:08:13 PM
It's already optimistically penciled-in for a 2017 end-of-construction shoot.

Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: Homer Jones on May 26, 2013, 08:08:40 PM
And President Christie will cut the ribbon.
Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: just watching on May 27, 2013, 07:41:33 PM
The rest of it will go quicker. Nobody appreciates the amount of work that goes into the foundation and slab.
Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: BLeafe on June 01, 2013, 01:30:10 PM
Week 10.............progress! Looks like there may be a vertical component to this project soon.

The first picture is my usual view - now mostly blocked out by building materials.

Holding my camera as high as I could over the fence, I took the second picture. It's slightly off from my usual angle, but - given the obstructions - this'll have to be the flip book shot for this week.

The last 3 shots are other/better views from different angles.

Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: BLeafe on June 08, 2013, 01:27:55 PM
Week 11.........stagnation

You know those photo puzzles where they show two pictures that look identical and ask you to find six differences between them? Try that on the second photo vs. the same photo from last week.


1. The sun is not shining.

2. A car has been added to the background.

3. There are puddles and the ground is wet.

4. Umm..........there are no shadows? ("Sorry - that's related to #1")


That's it......I got three. I doubt there ARE six.

Anybody see anything else?

Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: Homer Jones on June 08, 2013, 04:19:45 PM
If there is a bonus provision in the contract to finish the job early, that money is probably pretty safe sitting in the bank.
Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: BLeafe on June 16, 2013, 01:35:06 PM
Week 12



Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: BLeafe on June 22, 2013, 01:29:50 PM
Week 13

Movement!


Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: BLeafe on June 29, 2013, 12:49:00 PM
Week 14

VERTICAL movement!

Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: BLeafe on July 06, 2013, 07:50:16 PM
Week 15


Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: just watching on July 07, 2013, 09:10:43 AM
Strong masonry construction, but I see that the structure is deficient in windows.  Maybe it's not going to be very attractive.
Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: Homer Jones on July 07, 2013, 12:25:45 PM
Not exactly an authentic reproduction of the earlier stations but a lot better than a Plexiglass bus shelter.
Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: BLeafe on July 13, 2013, 01:47:30 PM
Week 16


Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: Homer Jones on July 13, 2013, 02:03:33 PM
She's looking better every week.
Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: BLeafe on July 20, 2013, 01:18:54 PM
Week 17

Dunno what the ditch in the second picture is for, but I'm sure that one of our building experts does.

Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: Homer Jones on July 20, 2013, 01:36:04 PM
The big change here this past week is that somebody moved the orange bucket. In week 16 it was sitting on the right side of the opening in the back and in week 17 it is moved over to the left. Now that is some kind of progress!
Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: BLeafe on July 27, 2013, 01:00:04 PM
Week 18

The orange bucket has been traded in for a stick in the ground (and a couple of spares).

Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: Homer Jones on July 27, 2013, 06:16:10 PM
Yeah, and they upgraded from an orange bucket to a white bucket. Now, that's what you call progress.
Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: BLeafe on August 03, 2013, 01:44:18 PM
Week 19

I know it looks like nothing much is getting done, but - to be fair - most of the recent work is being done on the other side (second pic).


Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: Homer Jones on August 03, 2013, 02:45:31 PM
Ah, from the front view we can see that the station is rapidly nearing completion and one can begin to visualize this architectural masterpiece.
Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: just watching on August 03, 2013, 06:43:51 PM
I am much less than impressed.  And to think, I could have bid $500,000 and made a fortune.  Someone at least, is making a fortune on this one.
Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: irons35 on August 03, 2013, 08:24:37 PM
so far, 2 maybe 3 days worth of work... makes you wonder...
Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: Homer Jones on August 04, 2013, 09:11:43 PM
How does any contractor make a "fortune" setting a couple courses of block on a floor slab,doing a little site work and moving a bucket back and forth?
Nice work if you can get it.
Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: BLeafe on August 10, 2013, 01:16:02 PM
Week 20


Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: BLeafe on August 17, 2013, 01:21:19 PM
Week 21

Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: BLeafe on August 24, 2013, 01:34:09 PM
Week 22


Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: Homer Jones on August 24, 2013, 08:19:25 PM
If you were shooting film instead of digital, you would probably need another roll of 24 to finish this "photo essay."
Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: BLeafe on August 25, 2013, 02:19:01 PM
At this rate of "progress", I would need a brick.

(A “brick” of film is film shipped as a single wrapped package. A brick usually contains 20 rolls of film in the case of 35mm film.)

Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: BLeafe on August 31, 2013, 01:20:21 PM
Week 23

Make that two bricks.............


Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: regina on August 31, 2013, 11:37:31 PM
It's like one of those can you see the difference photos. Only differences I see in 2nd photo from last week & this is plywood, pallet & sky. First photo looks the same. At this rate, it will be out of date by the time it is built
Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: BLeafe on September 03, 2013, 03:00:21 PM
Since I usually shoot this on weekends when there's no activity, I decided to go over to the site today - a Tuesday - and ask one of the busy workers when completion was expected (and to take a picture while I was there).

Did Labor Day get extended?

No sense going back tomorrow - it might be a holiday, since Wednesday is Sunday at Carvel.
Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: Homer Jones on September 03, 2013, 03:16:26 PM
I thought that Wednesday was Prince Spaghetti Day.
Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: BLeafe on September 03, 2013, 03:45:33 PM
I'm guessing there's not one of these in the Jones household:

Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: Homer Jones on September 03, 2013, 04:26:56 PM
And I am prognosticating that there won't be one either. Still saving up to by my set of Ginsu knives, a juicer, a first alert and a Mutual of Omaha plane crash life insurance policy.
Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: BLeafe on September 03, 2013, 06:07:43 PM
You left out a biggie: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkrfpw4JsAA

(ignore the first 30 seconds)
Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: Homer Jones on September 03, 2013, 07:10:04 PM
Glad you picked up on that one. It proves my theory that the world is coming to an end as well as it should be. As further proof of this and with similar relevancy to the bamboo steamer, google "lucifer telescope, aliens"
The Vatican actually has a telescope operating in conjunction with the University of Arizona on top of a mountain range in Arizona which is manned by Jesuit astronomers and scientists. The purpose of the telescope is to detect extraterrestrial life.
Now to end this discussion, if you were an extraterrestrial with the capability of flying to other galaxies, would you set foot on a planet where they hawk bamboo steamers and throw in a set of wind chimes? Probably not.
Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: BLeafe on September 03, 2013, 09:12:00 PM
The Vatican actually has a telescope operating in conjunction with the University of Arizona on top of a mountain range in Arizona which is manned by Jesuit astronomers and scientists. The purpose of the telescope is to detect extraterrestrial life.

To bring us back to our starting point.................has the Vatican got a telescope that detects any beings - extraterrestrial or otherwise - working to build the Anderson St Station?

A month ago, irons35 indicated that what he saw in the photos amounted to about 2-3 days of work.

What say you now, Mike?
Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: irons35 on September 03, 2013, 09:44:48 PM
I think its completely pathetic, and a microcosm of what public works projects have become in this country.  low bid crap work.
Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: just watching on September 04, 2013, 07:49:03 AM
THe contractor is using this project as "fill" for his schedule.  He has other projects (Private Sector projects) that have time commitments, and whenever he isn't busy, what the hell, lets work a day on the Anderson Street train station.
Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: Homer Jones on September 04, 2013, 02:37:28 PM
I presume that somewhere within the New Jersey Transit bureaucracy there is a project manager for the Anderson Street Station whose responsibility is to make sure that the station is built in accordance with the plans and specifications that the contractor was the successful low bidder on.
Keep in mind that the Empire State Building was constructed in 54 weeks and the Anderson Street project is in it's 5th month.
Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: BLeafe on September 04, 2013, 04:31:10 PM
Friday March 29, 2013, 4:33 PM
BY  JENNIFER VAZQUEZ
NEWS EDITOR
Hackensack Chronicle

"We have broken ground," she said. "We are expecting for the project to be completed sometime late fall."

I hope that's this year.

Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: BLeafe on September 06, 2013, 03:43:27 PM
Week 24

NEWS FLASH!!  WORKERS ON SITE!!  ACTUAL INFORMATION!!

I drove by the site yesterday and early this morning - same ol', same ol' nada.

But on my way back later this morning, I saw PEOPLE there! One was a worker painting an interior wall yellow and the other appeared to be a supervisor talking on a cellphone (see picture below).

I walked around to the Straphanger side and got the second man's attention (he said he was with NJ Transit):

"When's this gonna be finished?"

"That's a good question."

"Got a good answer?"

I told him I hadn't seen anyone working there for a while and he said that there was a big holdup because of a debate over a midstream change in the roof design. Apparently, that's now been resolved and we should see lots of activity soon because there's now some pressure to get it done quickly.

He then said something about the governor doing a photo op at the opening of the station before the election and I guess you don't wanna disappoint a guy who's stronger than the storm.

Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: Homer Jones on September 06, 2013, 09:34:10 PM
Gubernatorial in 2013 or presidential in 2016? Just curious.
Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: BLeafe on September 15, 2013, 01:56:21 PM
Week 25

Stonework! Color!

1. The back view

2. We got culcha!

3. Flats (blue), corners (red), accessory (green)

4. Flavors: Alpine Ledgestone Chardonnay and Watertable (something) Sill Mocha

5. The view from Anderson St

6. Stonework closeup

Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: Homer Jones on September 15, 2013, 02:50:06 PM
According to the boxes we could be looking at the City's new culture center.
Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: BLeafe on September 22, 2013, 11:45:46 AM
Week 26

The third picture shows that word on the box that I couldn't make out last week: SWT.

Didn't she play "Hot Lips" Houlihan on "M*A*S*H"?

Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: BLeafe on September 28, 2013, 01:48:08 PM
Week 27

Is anybody liking these stones on the building? I thought we were gonna get a yellow station like we had.

I'll have to see the finished product, but right now this seems like a lot of extra expense.

I hope I'm wrong.

Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: just watching on September 28, 2013, 05:53:39 PM
BLEAFE, would love to see you take and post pictures of the big 222 units going up on State street next to the Cultural Arts Center.
Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: BLeafe on October 06, 2013, 10:40:28 PM
Week 28

Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: just watching on October 07, 2013, 10:33:33 AM
The cultured stone is nice, but I had been hoping they would built an exact replica of what burned down.
Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: BLeafe on October 12, 2013, 01:26:07 PM
Week 29

No change.

Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: BLeafe on October 20, 2013, 12:45:21 PM
Week 30 (!)

One time when I drove by the site during the week, I actually saw someone inside, so I guess that accounts for the moved ladder and plastic garbage bag.

It's not looking good for a pre-election gubernatorial visit to open the station this year or for commuters hoping for shelter from winter weather.

Like the Yankees, maybe near year.

Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future) - a ROOF!
Post by: BLeafe on October 26, 2013, 12:15:12 PM
Week 31

I usually do these weekly shoots on the weekend when no one's around, but when I passed the site yesterday and saw workers and a roof framework, I hit the brakes and turned into the Rite-Aid lot.

After the usual two photograph angles, I've added 3 others.

Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: Homer Jones on October 26, 2013, 12:38:56 PM
Are you sure that you didn't Photoshop the roof into the picture?
Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: BLeafe on October 26, 2013, 02:22:40 PM
I wanted to get some shots while I could still see some sky through the roof, so I went to the site today and they're actually working on a Saturday(!), so maybe the pre-gubernatorial election visit push is in effect.

If you're in the area tomorrow, go by the site. If workers are there, The Governor can't be far behind.

I'll post the pix when I finish editing them (sans PhotoShopping).

Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: just watching on October 26, 2013, 07:57:21 PM
I saw it today too.  Was wondering why there is a 1 x 6 under the main roof support beams, above the cement columns.  You pic #8501 shows it best.
Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: BLeafe on October 27, 2013, 01:21:46 PM
Here are some more photos from yesterday.

I hope the "binding agent" in the last one is temporary.

Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: BLeafe on November 03, 2013, 04:30:01 PM
Week 32

Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: BLeafe on November 09, 2013, 11:21:13 AM
Week 33

Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: BLeafe on November 16, 2013, 12:22:44 PM
Week 34

Included are two roof-progression pix I took during the week from across the street.

Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: just watching on November 16, 2013, 07:58:14 PM
That contractor is profiting hundreds of thousands of dollars on this job. It's just insane.  I wish I had bid it.  And I would have had it done months ago.
Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: BLeafe on November 24, 2013, 12:00:18 PM
Week 35

Good news! According to this NJ Transit notice (3rd pic) that I found duct-taped to the bus shelter at the station construction site yesterday, the project should be completed by last September.

I'm surprised NJ Transit didn't rip this sign down on October 1.

Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: Homer Jones on November 24, 2013, 12:34:29 PM
Back to the future.
Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: BLeafe on December 01, 2013, 01:25:18 AM
Week 36

Nine months............this baby should be born by now.

I spoke to a supervisor who said they should be done by Christmas. It won't be open by then, but construction should be finished.

Today's third picture appears to show a line of rocket launchers being installed.

Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future) - Cement!
Post by: BLeafe on December 08, 2013, 04:17:53 PM
Week 37


..........and wood trim and window frames, but mostly cement.

Two cement trucks were there yesterday, as were lots of workers. Last week's rocket launchers are now barriers to protect the building from runaway cars that drive between the station and the bar next door.

Below are the usual two angles and 5 others.

Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future) - Siding!
Post by: BLeafe on December 15, 2013, 01:47:19 PM
Week 38


......and weather protection for the workers.

No more yellow station?

Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: BLeafe on December 16, 2013, 02:40:31 PM
For the first 9 weeks of construction, I only posted the one view from the back corner towards Anderson St. When that view looked pretty much the same for a couple of weeks, I started also posting the View FROM Anderson St in Week 10 because that's where the changes were more visible.

I had shot the Anderson St view from Week 1, but didn't post it. I just dug out those first 9 weeks of that view and posted them today. The angle wasn't consistent because there wasn't a tarp covering the fence initially and when they put that up, I had to move from the center to the corner and hold the camera above the fence.

So now - if anyone cares - every weekly post shows both angles............except for Week 24, for which I have no back view for some reason.

Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future) - a look inside
Post by: BLeafe on December 21, 2013, 10:55:07 AM
Week 39

The fence separating the station and the Straphanger Saloon has been uprooted and the side/back areas are now paved. A car or truck will be able to fit between the bar and the station's vehicle barriers.

The fence had been the line of demarcation behind which I was able to shoot, so they let me come inside its former perimeter yesterday -- even though they were still paving there.

The friendly foreman I met a couple of weeks ago came up to me and said, "Hey, history guy - wanna see the inside?"

"Sure"

And that's how I got the interior shots shown below. For a change, I didn't even have to ask.

A good part of the side facing the tracks will be permanently open (right side of fifth pic), but there will be some heat provided by the unit on the beam over the opening. If snow or rain are blowing in from the east, it'll come right inside.

The sixth pic faces Anderson St and the last one shows the ceiling and the small heating unit on the beam in the lower right. The floor still has to be resurfaced.

I didn't take too many pictures because there were few places to put the camera on or against to steady it for the long exposures I needed, but there wasn't much variety to capture anyway and men were still working inside as I shot.

The bus shelter will be removed and the ticket machine will be placed inside. The work won't be finished by Christmas - as the foreman had guesstimated previously - because of a problem with wires or cables that ran under something they weren't supposed to, so it took time to deal with that problem.

The exterior color is the final color, so there will be no yellow railroad station.

I thought that would have been an appropriate nod to the past.

Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: BLeafe on December 29, 2013, 01:47:58 PM
Week 40

There's not much new on the exterior - save for a couple of black-banded lights on the side - and it'll probably be that way until the station opens.

Thinking about that open side...............what's to keep a flock of pigeons from taking up residence on the interior overhead cross beams and pooping on the commuters?

Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: Homer Jones on December 29, 2013, 02:50:51 PM
Sound like a job for your hawk or whatever that bird was that hung out on your air conditioner. But then again, since the facility is owned and operated by New Jersey Transit, we could be talking about a civil service job here. Instead of medical benefits under Obamacare, he might be eligible for veterinarian - not veteran - benefits .Stranger things have happened.
Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: Editor on December 29, 2013, 07:12:19 PM
I have to say I like what I'm seeing.  I was afraid it was going to be a "glorified bus shelter".  No, it's not the old station but NJ Transit kept the same footprint and a similar "look and feel". More importantly, this is now a functional train station that commuters can actually use.  The old station was a thrift shop not meant for waiting passengers. 

I hope the new station isn't vandalized.  Probably a good place for security cameras.

Bob- thanks for photo journal.  I look forward to seeing the progress, even if I do drive by everyday.
Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: Homer Jones on December 29, 2013, 07:32:05 PM
The cameras are a great idea; but, the place has to be "lit up" inside and outside not only for resolution but for the perception of security by the passengers. The City is trying to encourage a passenger friendly environment here and it might be worthwhile to coordinate train arrivals and departures with police patrols in the area.
The same concept holds true when the 210 Main Street property becomes marketed and occupied and commuters are walking from the Bus Transfer station to  their new homes at 210.
Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: BLeafe on January 04, 2014, 11:57:13 PM
Week 41

Snow was added this week.

Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: BLeafe on January 11, 2014, 09:03:37 PM
Week 42


Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: just watching on January 12, 2014, 08:54:24 PM
I see exposed hardware on the upper facade facing Anderson St.  The hardware for the truss, complete with bolt heads. I hope that isn't the final product, and I hope it won't rust.
Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: Homer Jones on January 12, 2014, 09:52:37 PM
Looks  from here that the exposed bolts are a design feature. Presumably they are stainless steel.
Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: BLeafe on January 12, 2014, 10:42:50 PM
I think you're right, Homer.

It's my understanding that what you see is what you'll get........hopefully with an "Anderson Street" sign on it (there was a rumor that the designer didn't want anything covering his creation).



Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: BLeafe on January 17, 2014, 08:00:12 PM
Week 43

As expected, nothing new to show on the outside, but I was shown something new for the inside.

A NJ Transit guy whom I had met before, showed me a sample of what the floor will look like (third picture). I told him I didn't think it would hide the pigeon poop very well.

He said he thought the station would open at the end of the month, but wasn't sure.

Another NJ Transit guy showed up. I asked him about an Anderson St sign for the front of the station. He looked surprised - I got the impression that there was no discussion about putting one up. He immediately emailed someone at NJ Transit and gave him my contact information.

I think I'm gonna charge a consulting fee.

I also asked him who are they gonna get for the opening to replace the governor, who might have other things on his mind.

I suggested lining up Springsteen in a hurry. Have him debark from a train with his acoustic guitar and start singing the second half of "The Land of Hopes and Dreams" - all the "This train..." stuff (no "Downbound Train" - check out the lyrics), cut the ribbon, and get back on the train.

Short and sweet.


Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: Homer Jones on January 17, 2014, 09:08:33 PM
Come on Bob:
Bruce and Christie doing Downbound Train and S and G doing Bridge Over Troubled Waters.
And to close it up, Dylan and Christie looking at Bruce and singing " You've got a lot of nerve to say you are my friend...."
Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: BLeafe on January 18, 2014, 12:25:58 AM
Considering how long it's taken NJT to complete this project, good luck trying to get them to organize your mini-Woodstock in 2 weeks.  ;)

Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: Homer Jones on January 18, 2014, 06:23:30 AM
Good point. Maybe for ten grand  Lindsay Lohan will cut the ribbon.
Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: BLeafe on January 18, 2014, 01:15:17 PM
For ten grand, LL should wear the ribbon (only) AND do the ribbon-cutting.

Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: Homer Jones on January 18, 2014, 01:25:32 PM
And $20.00 photo ops with or without the ribbon.
Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: just watching on January 18, 2014, 06:31:09 PM
not interested in seeing that skanky LL in a ribbon only.
Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: BLeafe on January 21, 2014, 12:50:14 AM
Might be funny in the middle of winter.....................

Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: BLeafe on January 25, 2014, 10:48:32 AM
Week 44

When I got there yesterday, one of the supervisors said he wanted to show me something inside.

The exterior plastic sheets are weighted down and there were a couple of large heaters cranked up, so it was comparatively pleasant in there. Workers were putting in the flooring and large yellow-and-black striped vinyl sheets (to walk on) were placed where the workers weren't.

The only exterior change was the addition of a nice row of icicles on the west side.
 
You can forget about an end-of-the-month opening.............and no one would venture a guess on an approximate date. Also, I've yet to hear from the NJT person who I was told would contact me about the "Anderson Street Station" sign for the front of the building that I'm told wasn't in the design plans, but I found out yesterday that it wasn't an NJT employee - it was the architect.

Hmmm......................



Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: BLeafe on February 02, 2014, 01:25:28 PM
Week 45

I went to the site on Friday with a couple of pictures of the old station's road-facing "Anderson Street Station" sign to show what existed and to stress that it still needs to be done on the new station, but no one was there.

Maybe they went to Super Bowl Boulevard.

Nothing new to show, but - in an attempt to distract you from that fact - I've included a picture of a train coming in while I was there.

Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: BLeafe on February 09, 2014, 11:50:28 AM
Week 46

A couple of workers were inside the building when I got there, but the foreman and NJT supervisor weren't around, so I didn't get to push the sign issue. I haven't heard back from the architect, but I'm not surprised.

I brought a picture (third photo below) that I found online to show to somebody in authority. The message would have been that this shouldn't be the last image we have of an Anderson Street Station sign.

That sign, by the way, was a New Jersey Transit sign, as you can see in the fourth photo. I would think that they have an obligation to replace it, but "it's not in the plans" is the last thing I've heard about it.

Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: Homer Jones on February 09, 2014, 03:51:46 PM
I don't believe that the placement of a sign similar to the one in your photo #4 would destroy the integrity of this architectural gem.
Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: BLeafe on February 15, 2014, 01:25:22 PM
Week 47

The only exterior visual change this week is the increase in snow.

The foreman says that there will be a series of inspections next week, including the CO. Once they get that, the station can open at any time.

With regard to the Anderson Street Station sign, I found out that the name of the NJ Transit person to contact is a gentleman named Bob Nott, who's either the project manager or the principal architect (or maybe both).

I found his office phone number (not an easy online search) and left a voicemail.

Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: Homer Jones on February 15, 2014, 08:49:54 PM
I'm impressed with the progress.
Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: BLeafe on February 22, 2014, 12:35:21 PM
Week 48

Big exterior changes: a little less snow, some standing trim and a snow shovel in back, and..........uh.........it was a little foggy yesterday.

Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: BLeafe on February 25, 2014, 08:35:35 PM
I drove by the site today and it looked very different - activity, exterior and some interior lights on, and the weather sheeting was down - so I parked and took some pix. Besides the usual 2 views, I've included 2 others. I also noticed that some guy in black on the far left photobombed the third shot. He seems to be holding a small camera and he.............oh wait...............nevermind.

I spoke to John the foreman and he had some news: the Anderson St Station sign is now in the plans (why it was ever a question in the first place is beyond me).

Some inspection was going on when I was there and another inspection didn't go too well - I think it was because the gutters aren't up yet. The hope now is "a couple of weeks" until opening. I'm hoping it's before the end of March, so I don't have to start a second year of this (it was supposed to be 5-6 months).

I didn't realize that the front was going to remain so open. It looks more like a vulnerable shelter than a train station. It'll be interesting to hear what the commuters have to say about its functionality - especially in inclement weather.

So, Mr Editor.............has Hackensack got anything planned for the grand opening? Any celebrities cutting a ribbon that says, "Better late than never" on it?

Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: itsmetoo on February 26, 2014, 08:27:54 AM
Is there a lobby?  If so, how many people do you estimate that lobby will hold?
Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: BLeafe on February 26, 2014, 11:25:14 AM
I'm guessing by "lobby", you mean an enclosed area that's not open to the elements like the front is. The answer is "not exactly".

If you go back to the Week 39 posting of December 21, 2013, I discussed a large opening on the east side of the enclosed-looking back section. If you look at the last picture (above), you can see that opening and a car on the other side of the tracks.

I'm not sure how many people would comfortably occupy that back area. A better question might be how many people can be jammed against the interior west wall when rain and snow storms blow in from the east.
Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: Homer Jones on February 26, 2014, 04:31:09 PM
The lobby will hold enough people comfortably on a warm, sunny day; but, not enough people on a cold, rainy or snowy day.
Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: BLeafe on March 01, 2014, 01:30:42 PM
Week 49

I added two shots of the open eastern side.

It'll be interesting to hear what the commuters think of this replacement railroad station, whose original cost estimate was $571,000 for a 6-month job.

I wonder what the final amount will be for this project - a station that at this point seems more like a carport with a doorless garage in back and took a full year (as of mid-March) to complete.
Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: BLeafe on March 08, 2014, 01:36:08 PM
Week 50

I haven't seen anyone there all week, but the floor covering is off, so there was some activity.

Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: BLeafe on March 11, 2014, 05:30:18 PM
Update

Saw some workers there today, so I stopped in.

The gutters have been installed and the building is awaiting its final inspection. Once the CO is issued, the fences will come down and the station will open. Again, the guess is "two weeks".

The "Anderson Street Station" signs, however, may not be here for 4-5 weeks. If there's a Grand Opening ceremony, it won't occur until the signs are up, so the station will open without any fanfare.



Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: BLeafe on March 15, 2014, 12:35:47 PM
Week 51

Little by little...........

Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: BLeafe on March 22, 2014, 11:42:40 AM
Week 52

New this week: little blue and white signs.


Any week now..................
Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future) - OPEN! (sort of)
Post by: BLeafe on March 28, 2014, 01:50:20 PM
Week 53 (one year as of this Monday)

They got the CO earlier in the week and the fences came down this morning. They're still finishing up things inside (installing the ticket machine, etc.), so the few commuters I saw at 10:30am were still waiting outside in the light drizzle.

As soon as I got there, a train was pulling in (southbound trains have the engine in the rear), so this may be the first photo of a train arriving at an un-fenced-in new Anderson St Station.

However, the thing I've been waiting for is the fence finally coming down.

I'll post more photos later.

Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future) - OPEN! (sort of)
Post by: BLeafe on March 29, 2014, 01:25:22 AM
Week 53 (continued)

The Anderson St Station sign is still "a couple of weeks away". I saw the plans and two signs will be in front (the other one is Braille).

Pix:

1. The usual back view, plus the Rent-A-Fence truck

2. The usual front view, except I now don't have to hold the camera high over the fence to get it. In the rear right, another section of fence is being carried to the truck and someone's on a ladder making lighting adjustments.

3. You can see a couple of benches for commuters and work still going on in back.

4. Ceiling, lights, heaters, but no "Do Not Perch or Crap" signs.

5. All of a sudden, the lights were turned on.

6. Less than a minute later, the heaters also came to life.

7. The open side view

8. Front and side

9. A no-nest-construction zone

10. Welcome to the new Anderson Street Station

Title: Re: Anderson Street Station - OPEN!
Post by: BLeafe on April 06, 2014, 03:50:19 PM
Week 54

This is the next-to-final version (the final will be when the "Anderson Street Station" sign is put up).

Everything is now where it should be - the workers, the fences, and the bus shelter are gone, it's being used (though not when I shot this at 11am), and the first of the 346 dispensers of various publications has popped up ("El Especialito", in third and fourth pix).



Title: The New Anderson St Station - built in under a minute!
Post by: BLeafe on April 06, 2014, 04:44:12 PM
I just dragged it out for a year for effect.

This isn't exactly the flipbook I envisioned in Week 2, but it'll do. It's 54 weeks in 54 seconds. I didn't cut out any weeks of inactivity.

When the "Anderson Street Station" sign goes up, I'll add it into this for a final version.

Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: Editor on April 06, 2014, 09:54:38 PM
Nice work Bob.  It's interesting to see how everything comes together,- eventually. 

Title: Re: Abstraction Street Station
Post by: BLeafe on April 19, 2014, 12:20:23 PM
This was a mistake.

As you may know from the HDR (High Definition Range) photography topic, HDR involves multiple tripoded photos of the exact same thing taken at different exposures and run through an HDR program to create an interesting image.

Last night, I decided to take some photos for 5 HDR's of the new Anderson St Station before the building's signage is put up.

Working with groups of 3 photos per image, I accidentally selected a trio that were adjacent to each other, but two (normal and overexposed) were from one group and one (underexposed) was from another.

The two prominent ones were taken from the northeast angle and the dark one was from the southeast. This resulted in 2 views of the building next door and crisscrossing tracks. The Rite Aid Pharmacy sign is on the side of the Straphanger Saloon and the station has way too many pillars, but it works.

The partially-visible "STAND BEHIND YELLOW LINE" won't be of much help, but the much bigger problem will occur when Susie-Q and Erie trains arrive simultaneously.


WARNING: A whole new world has opened up - I may do more of these.


Click to enlarge.
Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: Homer Jones on April 19, 2014, 07:25:45 PM
Great photo-- if the station had a sign on it, we would know where the photo was taken.
Title: Re: Abstraction Street Station
Post by: BLeafe on April 20, 2014, 12:00:48 AM
Here ya go...........

Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: Homer Jones on April 20, 2014, 08:47:33 PM
Now I know. The police  wrote the guy's name on the south bound tracks after the 5:17 into Hoboken Photoshopped the photographer from digital into departed.
Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: Editor on April 21, 2014, 08:33:09 AM
Prior to Homer's post, I had written: "I'm sure this is what it looks like to some people coming out of the Straphanger at 2am".  I then deleted my own post fearing it may be misconstrued by both drunks and artists alike.  Rather than have Homer's comment stand out of context, I reinserted it. 

Bottom line: I really like the abstraction. Very trippy.
Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: BLeafe on July 07, 2014, 04:23:24 PM
The "Anderson Street Station" signs, however, may not be here for 4-5 weeks.

Make that "almost 4 months".

The sign is up, but I have no idea when that occurred because of all the New Jersey Transit people who said they'd let me know when it happened, not a single one bothered.

What a surprise.  ::)

Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: Homer Jones on July 07, 2014, 04:51:03 PM
Lookin' good!
Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: just watching on July 12, 2014, 07:19:13 AM
8th wonder of the world.   

I think the others were built quicker.
Title: Re: Anderson Street Station (Future)
Post by: Homer Jones on July 12, 2014, 10:29:37 AM
I guess that we can take the word "future" from the heading.