Hoboken Mayor Urges Council To Use Eminent Domain: Southwest Park

HOBOKEN, NJ — Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer is urging the City Council to approve the use of eminent domain for the Southwest Park project, which she says is “unlikely to happen” without it.

The proposed flood resistance park in southwest Hoboken - which officials said is designed to hold 200,000 gallons of storm water runoff and may one day serve as a “model for green infrastructure resiliency parks in New Jersey” - was slated for completion in summer of 2017.

So far, the city has started construction on the initial phase of the two-acre project, which sits on a $4.5 million acre of property purchased in December. But according to Zimmer, city officials are hitting a roadblock in their attempt to buy another acre of property that is crucial to the project.

Acting in advance of a Wednesday public hearing, Zimmer released a statement about the possibility of using eminent domain to help the city “negotiate a fair price” with the property owner due to a multi-million difference of opinion about what the property is worth.

“The property owner, who has left the property vacant for years, is demanding $13 million or high density development,” Zimmer wrote Sunday. “In order to negotiate a fair price, I need the council to authorize the use of eminent domain.”

The park is designed to expand across Harrison Street to a separate acre of property currently owned by the Hoboken-based Academy Bus company, NJ.com reported.

However, Academy and city officials have a wide gap between their valuations of the property; the company wants $13 million, while city officials say the property is worth between $4 and $5 million.

• See related article: Hoboken Breaks Ground On Southwest Park, But Will Eminent Domain Follow?

“The parkland acquisitions in Northwest and Southwest Hoboken would not have been possible without eminent domain as a negotiating tool," Zimmer stated. "Without this authorization, the expansion of the Southwest Park is unlikely to happen.”

The mayor urged residents to come to the City Council meeting at City Hall (94 Washington Street) at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 18 to speak during the public portion at the beginning of the meeting, as well as the council meeting at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 1.

THE PROPOSED PARK

According to a city news release, when complete, the park will feature passive recreational space, a dog run, moveable cafe tables, a pop-up market zone, restrooms, multi-level seating for small performances, free public Wi-Fi, and a lawn with child-friendly interactive park features. It will also include green infrastructure (rain gardens, shade tree pits, porous pavers, a cistern for rainwater harvesting and reuse) and an underground detention system to reduce stormwater run-off and localized flooding.

• See related article: Hoboken Seeks $4.8 Million Loan to Construct Southwest Resiliency Park

The project is slated for completion in summer of 2017. Park renderings, project updates, and additional information are available here.

Artist rendering of the proposed Southwest Park, City of Hoboken

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