Hackensack, NJ Community Message Boards
General Category => Hackensack Discussion => Topic started by: irons35 on February 26, 2012, 08:14:22 PM
-
why is the bank building at 15 Main Street being torn down? such a beautiful building, such a waste...
[Editor's Note: I split this topic from "Real Estate News Thread" and Bob's recent post with the pictures below.]
-
Surprised that it lasted so long. It is functionally obsolete and has no parking. A relic of the past.
-
I understand that the cleared area will function as a non-city owned park. I hate to see old buildings go but this one has been dormant for some time.
-
So not only are we losing a historic building, the property goes from paying property taxes to paying little or no property taxes.
There's no need for a park there. We have the green, and the entire top deck of Court Plaza is effectively quasi-public parkland.
-
I just happened to see this as I was driving past this afternoon. I didn't have my camera with me, so I zoomed back home to get it.
I'm standing across Main St by the courthouse in the first shot and you can see Essex St on the far left. If you look right below the broken window, you can see what's in the second picture.
I wonder if the courthouse flag in the third image is at half-staff because of the demise of its longtime neighbor across the street.
In 4 through 6, I was looking for any debris that showed designs or architectural touches. There wasn't much.
7 through 9 were the only other standing structural remnants I could find.
I wonder how long it will be before the view of the courthouse shown in the last image is blocked by whatever replaces this pile of rubble (what IS replacing it?).
-
WHAT A DISGRACE. Thanks at least for photo-documenting the event.
When the Court Plaza was built, that bank building was left out of the footprint, but left with no parking. It's fate was sealed. It might as well have been condemned for the Court Plaza construction.
If the planners wanted to keep it, they should have designated parking for it. Instead they just left it there, functionally obsolete.
-
or, it could have been the gateway to Main St. put in a starbucks, cafe, something. instead, now you have no ratable and for what? another piece of greenery? there's a huge one across the street... a beautiful building gone.
-
Here's what the site looked like as of last Friday:
-
I'm sure there is a business plan. I'm sure something will be built. Even as a vacant lot, it's still a ratable that pays taxes, just not as good a ratable as a lot with a commercial building on it.
-
the business plan is to remove the concrete and plant grass. 33 Essex st was torn down also. nothing being built there either. ratables...
-
Sanzari, I believe David, is putting in a park to honor his deceased parents. I heard at a city meeting that he will deed the property to the city but he will maintain it. It will not be turned over to the city until it is complete.
-
If David is doing it to honor his parents, you can bet that it will be a first class open space.
-
Is this true? Is the city council really on-board with this? Yes, we need more parks in Hackensack, but not at that location. This new park doesn't serve any neighborhood, and "The Green" is very close by. There's no point to a park at that corner. That's a piece of property that's only good for economic development, creating jobs, generating tax revenue.
If the younger Sanzari wants to help with parkland in Hackensack, how about eliminating the diagonal street and making a cute little neighborhood park and playground at the NE corner of Hamilton Place and Prospect Ave. It would front up on a church at the corner. That's a neighborhood that really needs a park, there's not a spec of parkland in a half-mile radius. And that won't take any land off the tax rolls either.
-
Unfortunately that parcel is ill suited for economic development , job generation and new ratables. This piece of land is an irregularly shaped, 9,000 sq. ft +/- lot with it's length facing on Essex Street which is a County Road. If someone else were crazy enough to buy it for let's say a commercial use, they would need more variances than the recent medical proposal that got tanked on Summit Avenue. There is absolutely no way that the County would ever give approval for a driveway and it would be difficult and hopefully impossible to find a traffic engineer who would give testimony that access to the site could be safely granted. This would be true if Main Street is one way two way or three way.
This lot is smaller than two lots in the Fairmount area which are mostly rectangular. If one were to subtract whatever front yard, side yard and rear yard are required under the zoning ordinance, there would be little land left to build on and no way to meet the parking requirements.
Due to the size and location of this parcel, open space is probably it's highest and best use although a Sabrett hot dog wagon might be a good interim use.
-
You are 100% right, except for one thing.
The parcel could be used for office use as an expansion of the Court Plaza complex, either using the parking there (there is so much vacant space now), or the parking at the SE corner of Fair & Essex if the city wants it to be to parking code. That's where the bank parking was.
Now that it's been leveled, it would be next to impossible to get permits to build on that lot because the stream/CSO runs right through the property, in a giant underground pipe. The pipe runs between Court Plaza and Essex Street, and then angles in a strange way on Court Plaza property right behind the bank, and then directly under the former building. The CSO then runs under the courthouse complex where there is a narrow driveway/street between the two main buildings.
Probably the best use for the site would have been for ANOTHER bank to come in using the old building. It's proximity to the Courthouse makes the building attractive for that use.
-
ALFRED SANZARI ENTERPRISES DEVELOPS NEW PUBLIC GARDEN IN HACKENSACK, N.J.,
IN HONOR OF COMPANY FOUNDERS ALFRED AND MARY SANZARI (http://www.sanzari.com/alfred-sanzari-enterprises-develops-new-public-garden-in-hackensack-n-j-in-honor-of-company-founders-alfred-and-mary-sanzari/)
(http://www.sanzari.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Alfred-and-Mary-Sanzari-Garden-Rendering-2-640x359.jpg)
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.”
-
Class shows!
-
Another picture. I think it will look really nice after flowers and trees bloom.
-
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
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
I took a picture of the park last night:
-
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?
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
Hackensack receives public garden for $1 (http://www.northjersey.com/recreation/206878221_Hackensack_receives_public_garden_for__1.html)
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.
(http://media.northjersey.com/images/300*199/MC_HKSanzariGarden_051013_hk_tif_.jpg)
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
-
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.