Court Rules Against Ferry Company On Hoboken Lawsuit

HOBOKEN, NJ — An ongoing, increasingly bitter battle between the City of Hoboken and NY Waterway took its latest turn on Monday when the Hudson County Superior Court dismissed the ferry company’s lawsuit against the municipality.

Last month, NY Waterway filed suit against the city, asking that the court allow it to resume an effort to build a ferry repair and maintenance facility on the Hoboken waterfront. The proposed facility would be built at the Dry Dock property at 901 Sinatra Drive, which NY Waterway purchased for $11.5 million in 2017.

Despite the company's claims that it would enhance transportation, public security and property values on the Hudson River waterfront, some local community members have dug in their heels against the proposed location of the new facility, demanding that the area be used for open space instead.

• See related article: Hoboken Mayor Wants To Revisit Eminent Domain For Dry Dock

The company got dealt a blow on Monday when the court dismissed its lawsuit.

“The court has spoken and we will comply,” NY Waterway founder Arthur Imperatore said Monday.

Spokespeople with NY Waterway declined further comment.

Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla said the decision “affirms that no one is above the law.” Bhalla downplayed the company’s previous claims that the proposed ferry facility is needed to help bridge a glaring transportation gap in the area.

“As we’ve said all along, NY Waterway manufactured the claim of a ‘regional transportation crisis’ without Union Dry Dock and I’m thankful the Hudson County Superior Court characterized the claim as ‘unsubstantiated,’” Bhalla stated.

“Hoboken remains committed to acquiring Union Dry Dock for public, open space, and I’m thankful this decision puts us one step closer to making this a reality,” the mayor added.

Ron Hine of the Fund for a Better Waterfront called Monday’s decision “a significant victory” for the Hoboken community.

“By suing the City of Hoboken and attempting to ignore our local laws, NY Waterway is proving yet again that it would not be a good neighbor,” Hine said.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection granted NY Waterway the necessary permits for the project last year. However, last February, the City of Hoboken issued a stop work order to NY Waterway, throwing a monkey wrench into the company's plans.

• See related article: Hoboken Nonprofit, Ferry Company Clash On Dry Dock (Op-Eds)

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