Hoboken Moves Ahead With Eminent Domain Plans For Resiliency Park

Hoboken is moving ahead with plans to build an $18.3 million “Resiliency Park” on the six-acre BASF site… even if it takes eminent domain to get it done.

During their Wednesday meeting, the Hoboken City Council voted to approve a trio of ordinances on first reading - including two, multi-million bond issues – which provides tentative funding for the long-touted public works project.

The council also approved an ordinance that would clear the way to use eminent domain to force the sale of the BASF site, located at Block 113, Lots 1 to 6 and 27 to 32 on the municipal tax map.

According to city officials, the new resiliency park will include more than a million gallons of flood mitigation capacity, as well as a municipal parking garage, potentially with rooftop recreation or other public amenities.

Voting in favor of the ordinances were: Councilmembers Peter Cunningham, Jen Giattino, Dave Mello, Jim Doyle, Tim Occhipinti and Council President Ravi Bhalla.

Opposed to the ordinances were: Terry Castellano, Michael Russo and Beth Mason.

The property is currently owned by BASF (previously Henkel/Cognis), and the project is one of three resiliency parks planned as part of the municipal Rebuild by Design plan.

“This six-acre property is the City’s last remaining option for acquiring such a large amount of contiguous land for open space, and it would provide Hoboken with a unique opportunity to address three of our most pressing challenges – flooding, open space, and parking,” said Mayor Dawn Zimmer prior to Wednesday’s vote.

• See related article: Hoboken Ponders Eminent Domain Purchase For Resiliency Park

The trio of ordinances is scheduled for a public hearing and a final vote at the next council meeting on Sept. 16.

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