Stinky Sunoco Site Prompts Emergency Measures In Hoboken

HOBOKEN, NJ — Hoboken officials are taking immediate steps to curtail an odor at an uptown redevelopment site, they said Tuesday.

The stench coming from the Sunoco gas station at the north end of town isn't dangerous, officials said in a message to residents, but workers will take several steps to address it.

The Sunoco station near the north end of the city has been undergoing redevelopment since early this year. It will be turned into residences and retail space.

Officials said Tuesday, "The city of Hoboken is aware that residents have noticed a strong odor coming from the former Sunoco site at the corner of 13th Street and Willow Avenue, where environmental remediation work is currently underway as part of the property's private redevelopment."

The city said that the Fire Department, OEM, Health Division, Hudson Regional Health Commission, and a Licensed Site Remediation Professional have all been overseeing the project on behalf of the state Department of Environmental Protection.

"[They] have all visited the site and air quality testing has been conducted," officials said, in a message to residents. "The results of those tests showed that air quality levels remain within acceptable standards ... the odor is not considered hazardous and does not pose a risk to public health or safety."

But workers will take the following steps to reduce the odor, starting immediately, the city said:

• Excavated soil will be stockpiled on site on Tuesday with additional plastic sheeting before they are removed for disposal by the end of this week. (Removal of the stockpile may result in additional odors, the city noted.)
• The licensed professional is conducting continuous air monitoring using specialized equipment in the area.
• Soil stockpiles are being covered with plastic sheeting when not actively being moved, contaminated soils are transported off-site for disposal as quickly as possible, and excavated areas are backfilled to minimize emissions.
• If monitoring detects sustained elevated readings above established action levels, work will stop immediately for further measures.

"While the odor has been deemed nonhazardous, the city is actively working with the property owner, environmental professionals, and regulators to ensure that conditions continue to be monitored, the odor is reduced, and the remediation work is completed as quickly and safely as possible," the city said.

"Remediation activities are expected to continue in phases this summer," the city noted.

Will Be Residences

The site at 1301 Willow Ave. is set to become residences, according to developers.

The prominent corner, a block from Trader Joe's and less than a mile from the Lincoln Tunnel, will see a six-story mixed-use building rise.

It will include nine units of housing, 1,200 square feet of retail space, parking, and rooftop amenities after the remediation is finished.

The proposal, reviewed by Nishuane Group, received variances for density and height after two Zoning Board hearings, the company said.

"[It's] consistent with the surrounding land use pattern and represents a great example of infill development, replacing an auto-oriented use with a more pedestrian-friendly, mixed-use building that contributes to the ongoing transformation of the North End," the group said in a post.

More Information

Those with complaints about the odor at the site can contact the Hudson Regional Health Commission at 201-223-1133 or the NJDEP toll-free number to report environmental emergencies and non-emergencies with any concerns, 1-877-WARN-DEP, the city said.

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