More Waterfront Access To Open Up In Hoboken This Year

HOBOKEN, NJ — It's the longtime goal of many Hoboken activists: More access to the city's formerly industrial waterfront.

And the state of New Jersey has mandated that all waterfront developers from Bayonne to the George Washington Bridge continue contributing to a linked waterfront walkway.

Now, Hoboken plans to offer a little more public access to the northernmost part of its riverfront, near 15th Street and Shipyard Lane.

The city announced Friday that construction will begin right after the President's Day weekend on short-term improvements to increase accessibility near the former Monarch development site on the north waterfront, which was once slated for two residential towers.

Private developers Ironstate Development agreed to a settlement with the city in 2021 to instead build inland so the property could be used by the public.

During the estimated two-month construction period, the city said, they will install a paver walkway along the west side of the site along Shipyard Lane between Frank Sinatra Drive and 15th Street to connect the existing waterfront walkway on those streets.

The city will also remove the former fenced-in trash area, upgrade site fencing, and remove debris.

The city also plans to provide access to the Hudson River estuary at Weehawken Cove next to the site to allow for paddle sports and relocate the Harborside Park boathouse container to the former Monarch property, they said.

The land swap Monarch Settlement with Ironstate Development, negotiated by the Bhalla administration, also included the city’s acquisition of 800 Monroe for the purpose of a public park.

“Hoboken is committed to upgrading our waterfront all the way from Pier A to Weehawken Cove, and I’m glad to share that these short-term improvements will further beautify our northern waterfront area,” said Mayor Bhalla on Friday.

He added, “We are able to take on these improvements thanks to our historic acquisition of the Monarch property two years ago, a possibility that seemed remote a decade ago."

The announcement was sent out on the same day that local activist group Fund for a Better Waterfront sent a message critical of the city's recent agreement relative to the central waterfront, in which the City Council voted to allow NY Waterway to dock 20 of its ferries as the city prepares to build a park. See the FBW response here.

Land Historically Used For Shipbuilding

Some of the formerly industrial shipyard property on the north waterfront was developed by Ironstate into parkland, residential housing, and a space for the Hoboken Historical Museum two decades ago.

Find out more about the history of the shipyards in Hoboken at the Hoboken Museum website here.

Find out more about Hoboken's project here: https://www.hobokennj.gov/resources/former-monarch-site-improvements.

The city held a virtual public meeting to discuss the short-term improvements to the northern waterfront on Tuesday. See the presentation and recording here.