Hoboken’s Fight Against Monarch Project Heads To NJ Supreme Court

HOBOKEN, NJ — A lawsuit over a development project on Hoboken’s waterfront that began during the tenure of ex-mayor Dawn Zimmer is headed to the New Jersey Supreme Court, Mayor Ravi Bhalla announced Tuesday.

According to Bhalla, the court has granted the City of Hoboken’s petition for certification asking it to review the denial of Hoboken’s appeal of the decision regarding the “Monarch Project” by the New Jersey Appellate Division.

That previous decision by the Appellate Division cleared the way for the development of two, 11-story high rise residential developments in uptown Hoboken.

• See related article: Hoboken vs. Shipyard: Legal Battle Headed To Supreme Court, Zimmer Says
• See related article: Hoboken Spends $1M Fighting Developer, Nears Settlement With Shipyard

The recent petition granted by the New Jersey Supreme Court is rarely given, which is a positive development for the city’s case, Bhalla said.

“This is excellent news for Hoboken and our waterfront,” Bhalla stated. “From the very beginning of my administration, we’ve held firm to the belief that any large-scale residential development on the waterfront would pose a risk to the public safety of our residents and first responders.”

“I’m thankful that the Supreme Court will allow us to make this argument, so we can protect our waterfront and preserve it for public, open space,” Bhalla continued. “Given this recent ruling, my administration will continue to explore any and all options to ensure the Monarch development does not get built and jeopardize public safety and our waterfront. Thank you to all of the members of the public who have spoken out and signed a petition in favor of preserving the Monarch property for a public park.”

According to a statement from the mayor’s office, city officials have been pursuing settlement negotiations over the past several months with Shipyard Associates, the property owners of the “Monarch Project” land, in an attempt to resolve the litigation.

Bhalla and city attorneys plan to brief the Hoboken City Council on the status of settlement discussions with Shipyard Associates, as well as the potential impact of the Supreme Court’s determination, during the closed session at the council meeting on Wednesday.

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