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+1
for coach house!
amazing diner food and genuine diner "atmosphere".

you have to love their salad bar, as well :D

Garden State Gutter Cleaning
http://www.gardenstateguttercleaning.com/
800.508.5044

I just called them today as we had some leaking this morning due to the gutters probably never having been cleaned in the house we bought recently.

They cleaned and eventually replaced the gutters in our old place - it depends on how big the house is i think as to how much it costs.

If you want you can tell them the patton's in JC referred you.

hi everyone,

i'm sure this is somewhere on the list, but i'm lazy.

we have one gutter in back of our house, it's about 2 1/2 stories up, and i can't get to it safely.

i need a gutter guy to get up there, clean it out, and put in one of those things to stop gunk from clogging it.

anyone have any good experiences/recommendations?

thanks in advance!

Wow another two tower design. Very Jersey City original.

Whew! Workers cap chlorine leak

Wednesday, August 08, 2007
By LYSA CHEN
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

A chlorine leak in South Kearny injured an employee at the CSX rail yard on Fish House Road early Tuesday morning, but was contained within several hours by emergency crews, police said.

The leak was discovered by an employee at the rail yard around 3:40 a.m., Kearny Police Deputy Chief John Corbett said. Gas leaked from one of the pressure-release valves on a railroad car carrying liquid chlorine, he said, adding that the valve may have popped due to changes in temperature.

The employee who reported the odor was treated by paramedics and taken to a local hospital for observation, said Gary Sease, a CSX spokesman.

Air monitoring showed minor concentrations of chlorine close to the car, Sease said. No chlorine was detected at any distance, and no evacuations were necessary, he said.

Thomas Young, a truck driver for a water company that delivers at the rail yard, said signs warning workers of the leak were posted yesterday on doors at the rail yard. The signs cautioned people to stay upwind and at least 300 feet away from Track 6, he said.

"It is very dangerous down here," Young said. "We (truck drivers) carry so many different chemicals."

Plan for Square towers revised

Wednesday, August 08, 2007

The twin-tower development proposed for Jersey City's Journal Square is changing shape.

Originally proposed as two towers of more-or-less equal size, the latest design for of the mixed-use development to be built on the block adjacent to the Journal Square Transportation Center calls for a south tower between 35 and 40 stories and a north tower stretching 55 to 65 stories, according to the developer.

The City Council is scheduled to introduce the change at its meeting scheduled for 10 a.m. today at the Mary McLeod Bethune Center, 140 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive.

"Both towers have been designed to maximize views and unit layout," said Liz Opacity, spokeswoman for MEPT Journal Square Urban Renewal, LLC, the developer. "And the height difference is for aesthetics when you are looking at the towers."

Lowell Harwood, managing partner of Jersey City-based Harwood Properties - a partner in the limited liability company formed to undertake the development - said Monday the design change was made at the request of his development partner, Washington D.C.-based Multi-Employer Property Trust (MEPT), a national real estate equity fund.

MEPT referred all questions to Opacity.

Even though there is no change in the 1.2 million gross square footage of the development, Planning Director Bob Cotter said the design change would likely add more units to the projects, a number originally pegged at 1,034.

But, Opacity said, the developers are "still assessing the market and working on architectural drawings to determine the number and layout of units."

The $400 million development, to include multiple levels of parking and retail, is still considered a rental project, Opacity said, but "the feasibility of the condominiums will continue to be explored."

Jersey City Redevelopment Agency Executive Director Robert Antonicello predicted existing structures on the entire block would be leveled by the end of the year so construction can begin.

McDonald's, at 15-16 Journal Square, still hasn't relocated.

KEN THORBOURNE

New abatement formulas in works for rental projects

Wednesday, August 08, 2007
By KEN THORBOURNE
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

Bending to the realities of Jersey City's out-of-whack tax assessment ratio, the administration of Mayor Jerramiah Healy is considering a new menu of tax abatement options for rental developers, city officials said this week.

The city is considering offering the developers of rental housing three tax abatement options, Business Administrator Brian O'Reilly said at the council caucus meeting Monday: 10 years, paying 10 percent gross annual revenue to the city; 15 years, paying 12 percent; and 20 years, paying 14 percent.

These abatements are a deviation from the 20-year abatement where a developer pays the city 16 percent of gross annual revenue.

The city is making the changes given the roughly 30 percent tax assessment ratio in the city right now, meaning that a property that could sell for $1 million is taxed as if it were worth $300,000.

Developers of new rental properties have been applying for short-term, five-year abatements, which phases in the payment of full conventional taxes over six years.

The city has to share conventional taxes with the county and local school system, while with long-term tax abatements, the city keeps virtually all of the "payments in lieu of taxes."

To help steer the developers to the long-term option, the City Council is scheduled to vote this morning to bump up the terms of five-year abatements so they're more expensive to developers than10-year abatements.

James McCann, a prominent real estate attorney in the city, endorsed the changes, but predicted the city would soon have to make them for condo developers as well.

Currently, condo owners locked into a standard 20/16 abatement pay slightly less than conventional taxes, McCann said.

THIS IS WHERE THE BIG $$$ ARE EARNED
Average North Hudson firefighter paycheck beats out other agencies' pay, records show Second of a series.

Tuesday, August 07, 2007
By JARRETT RENSHAW
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

Looking for a job in the public sector where you can make an above-average salary?

A Jersey Journal database analysis of state pension records shows that your best bet at making some cash lies at North Hudson Regional Fire and Rescue, where the average salary of $82,548 in 2006 was tops last year among the county's 53 government agencies.

The Journal analysis shows that half of the department's force earned more than $83,253 last year. In addition, 90 of the department's employees, or 28 percent, earned six figures last year.

The NHRFR average was $15,882 higher than the average salary of the No. 2 earners and $56,544 higher than the county's lowest-paid entity. The average Kearny municipal employee earned $66,666 last year, while the average Bayonne Parking Authority employee earned $26,004.

Officials from various government entities were quick to point out that the majority of employees' salaries - specifically public safety - are covered by union contracts that determine wages.

In addition, officials said a number of contract negotiations stalled and they were forced to go to arbitration, which leaves the municipalities at the mercy of a judge.

"Often, the arbitrator will look at nearby towns to set the salaries," said James Hughes, dean of the Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, adding that this system helps drive steady increases in salaries across municipalities.

"It's the state law, and perhaps it's the reason we have the highest property taxes in the country," Hughes said.

That was the case in NHRFR, where department co-director Jeff Welz said the salaries were set by a state arbitrator in 2004. The state arbitrator borrowed the department's pay scale from the highest level of the contracts from the consolidating towns, Welz said.

It's unclear how NHRFR stacks up against other fire departments in Hudson County, since a breakdown of these other departments was not part of the records provided by the state's Department of Treasury.

The only exception was the Jersey City Fire Department, which had very similar numbers to NHRFR - more than half of the employees in the city's Fire Department earned at least $82,000 last year.

The Journal analysis shows that NHRFR employees are more the exception than the norm in Hudson County.

Overall, the salaries of Hudson County's public employees fell short of their peers in the private sector, according to The Jersey Journal's analysis.

The average employee in the private sector earned $60,335 last year, while the average public employee in Hudson County earned $50,266, according to a comparison of federal Bureau of Labor statistics and state pension records.

However, Hudson County's private sector employees enjoyed much higher salaries than the state average of $51,367 last year. "The high-paying jobs on the waterfront increase those numbers," said Hughes.

The Journal analysis shows that the county's large number of high-paying public jobs - 1,324 public workers in the county earned more than $100,000 last year - helped increase the average, while the fact that half of the county's public employees earned less than $44,096 last year worked as a countervailing force.

Meanwhile, Hudson County's public salaries are roughly in line with their peers in the public sector across the state, with the average local public employee in the Garden State earning $50,649 last year and the average state employee bringing in $55,114, according to federal Bureau of Labor statistics.

In the case of Kearny, a closer look at the numbers shows that half of its 381 public employees earned more than $71,622 last year. In addition, 16 percent of the town's work force broke the $100,000 mark last year, the highest percentage among the county 12 municipalities, according to the Journal analysis.

The salary figures become more revealing when you take into consideration that the average Kearny homeowner bears the highest tax burden in the county, according to a recent analysis conducted by The Star-Ledger.

"The great bulk of local expenditures have to do with salaries, so if you have the highest salaries, chances are you have the highest taxes as well," Hughes said.

Kearny Mayor Alberto Santos said the high taxes are due to the fact the town has yet to recover from the loss of its industrial sector. "Our rate of growth in our ratable base has not kept up with our increases in expenditures," Santos said.

In Jersey City, more than half of the city's employees earned at least $77,448 last year, the highest median salary among the county's 12 municipalities.

"We are the second biggest city in the state and the largest in the county, so we need experienced, professional people who can handle the day-to-day problems in the city," Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy said.

how come not one mention of the VIP?

maybe i am biased, as it's just around the block from me. the dinners are usually so-so, but the breakfasts are delicious. i recommend the 'waffle special'.

i've tried Al's before...that's the one on Communipaw, right? the open tuna melt sandwich was decent, but that was years ago.

if you're ever out in harrisson/east newark, do make a point to find the excellent Tops Diner.

of the jc ones, white manna, but if we could extend the boundaries by a few blocks then coach house hands down

G-P is letting us down, so I fill in:

JJ article

In Jersey City, more than half of the city's employees earned at least $77,448 last year, the highest median salary among the county's 12 municipalities.

"We are the second biggest city in the state and the largest in the county, so we need experienced, professional people who can handle the day-to-day problems in the city," Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy said.


Yeah, where are they Jerry? All we see is a bunch of overpaid clowns lining their pockets with our taxes and making excuses.

Hello...I read another thread on this a few weeks ago and decided to fight 2 tickets. One for cleaning and the other, for parking on the red. I was excused for both. So it's definitely worth it. Please have photos to hand in or any documentation. I said that there may have been construction and that's why I couldn't find any parking. The street cleaning one, I said I was not able to go out due to my son. At least, the court can reduce the fine.

Thanks for all who posted about this in the other thread.

I second the Colonette!

What was the Brownstone before it burned down?

Gotta go with Al's but can't neglect to mention the Colonette.

The 305.

I love the idea of fighting it in theory, however in my experience fighting tickets in other counties is that it takes a long time to stand in line, speak to the prosecutor, and even then you only have a 50-50 chance of not succeeding & having court fees on top of that (maybe not in hudson county, I'm not sure...).

On top of that, you have to ask what your time is worth. If you have alot of spare time, go for it.

I think JC Parking authority routinely gives out bogus tickets because they know that people rarely will fight them. Good luck if you do fight it!

You need to look at the state statute and or the New Jersey drivers? manual. If there is a law re: how many feet you must be from a corner/intersection and you parked within that limit (IMO) it?s not worth it. If it is only a local law and the signs and or/paint is not clearly visible ?.fight it!

Take pictures that bolster your case, be earnest and respectful and the ticket just might be dismissed.

Why pay, what, $70?

Might as well try. If nothing else, they may charge you the minimum which can sometimes be half of what you'd pay at the window.

I recently had a parking ticket stuck in my driver's side mirror, apparently for parking in a red zone. This was at Erie & 3rd, near the corner, but about 10 feet back from the marked crosswalk. If you look closely during the day, you can see faded rusty red paint on the curb extending even farther from the crosswalk. The signs appear to indicate that parking is permitted (ie, no signs like "No Parking Here to Corner"). I, and many others, have parked there before. This is my first ticket. (I'm a resident w/valid parking permit.)

Is it worth trying to fight it? If yes, any thoughts on approach?

Al?s diner-# 1 for breakfast and really good burgers

I live fairly close to Miss America, but I've never been. I like Al's Diner mostly because of memories of my pre-JC days when my friends and I use to stop there on the way home rom the city.

Please help us save 148-150 Palisade Avenue, a circa-1873 mansion atop the Palisades cliffs, by making a few simple phone calls. Help send a clear, strong message to Christ Hospital, the site's insensitive owner, and elected officials who have taken a back seat this summer while the teardown trend in Jersey City continues. Thank you! -John Gomez

Please call:

1) Barbara Davey, Christ Hospital VP of Public Relations. 201-795-8200. Ask for her directly or leave a message.

2) Councilman Steve Lipski, who represents the southern portion of Palisade Avenue where the mansion, neglected by the hospital and left abandoned for several years, stands. 201-547-5159.

3) And of course Mayor Jerremiah T. Healy. If anyone can put pressure on Christ Hospital to pull the demo permit and sit down with concerned citizens and preservationists, it's the Mayor. If you can only make one call, this is it. 201-547-5200.

Again, thank you for your time and concern! -JG

How to Redesign Your Brownstone

Written by LX.TV
Published August 06, 2007

How do you turn the classic styling of a brownstone into a modern home? Call on the experts at NYKB for a full kitchen and home renovation. In this "Floorplan" segment, Open House NY host George Oliphant meets with designer Mairav Gargano and Leo the contractor to find out how they turned a Jersey City brownstone into a modern palace.

Even with a budget of $200-500,000 the total investment was less than a Brooklyn Heights brownstone and the home was given a full gut renovation. Beams and bearing walls were moved, the kitchen was expanded and a cellar was turned into a storage garage. In just over six months, the property transformed into a modern palace within the cool of their old exterior.

How does the new place look? Watch the video and find out.

http://blogcritics.org/archives/2007/08/06/174907.php

Lehman expands Jersey City presence

By: Tommy Fernandez
August 07. 2007 2:22PM
Crain's New York Business,?NY

Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. is expanding its presence at Jersey City skyscraper 101 Hudson Street, capitalizing on the cheap rents and expanding beautification of the city's waterfront.

The financial services company has signed a lease, which expires January 31, 2018, for 71,504 square feet. This consists of a 10-year expansion of 62,763 square feet and a seven-year renewal of 8,741 square feet.

As a result, Lehman now leases 270,063 square feet at 101 Hudson, a 42-story, 1.25 million-square-foot office tower located along Jersey City's waterfront. The corporate trophy building, which is owned by the Mack-Cali Realty Corp., is now 91.9% leased. Other tenants at the tower include Merrill Lynch & Co. Inc., American International Group inc. and PriceWaterhouse Coopers.

Lehman's facilities at the building currently include data processing, support, and some trading operations, according to Mack-Cali President and Chief Executive Officer Mitchell Hersh. Mr. Hersh says Lehman is expanding its presence in the building to take advantage of the area's low office rents, which average $37.16 per square foot according to a June report by Cushman & Wakefield. In comparison, midtown Manhattan office rents average about $100. Moreover, the Jersey City area has seen an explosion of redevelopment of the past decade.

"This neighborhood has become a sophisticated environment for many financial institutions," says Mr. Hersh.

FBI: 'Killer' cracked after polygraph test

by Michaelangelo Conte
Tuesday August 07, 2007, 1:53 PM

An FBI agent testified this morning that one of two men charged with killing Jersey City's Armanious family in 2005 cracked after failing a polygraph test and admitting killing the father and his 9-year-old daughter.

"I advised Mr. (Edward) McDonald of the results of the test and I advised him there was more information on the deaths of the people in Jersey City," Special Agent William Holloman testified.

The Miranda hearing continues this afternoon. Prosecutors expect to play a video taped interview of McDonald which led to his immediate arrest and to the arrest of Sanchez soon after.

McDonald and Hamilton Sanchez are charged with killing the family, whose blood bodies were found on their Oakland Avenue apartment on January 14, 2005. Both men could be sentence to death if convicted.

"He said 'No.' and I said, this test is right, you are wrong. You know more,'" Holloman said on the witness stand in the Miranda hearing to determine what evidence will be admitted for use in McDonald's prosecution.

It was 5 p.m. on March 3 and McDonald had already been questioned since about 10 a.m. that day at FBI headquarters in Newark. The pair are charged with killing Hossam Armanious, 47; his wife, Amal Garas, 37; and their daughters, Sylvia, 16, and Monica, 9. All four were stabbed to death in their Oakland Avenue home.

Holloman testified today that no video or tape recording was made of his interview with McDonald, which lasted hours. Under cross examination by McDonald's lawyer, Paul Feinberg, Holloman admitted that he wrote his report on the polygraph test four days later, based only on his memory. Feinberg pointed out that the report includes no quotes of McDonald's actual words.

Councilwoman fumes over health clinic

by Ken Thorbourne
Tuesday August 07, 2007, 2:52 PM

Dissed again.

Incensed she hasn't received a response to basic questions she outlined in a letter dated March 17, Jersey City Councilwoman Viola Richardson marched into the offices of the Metropolitan Family Health Network at 935 Garfield Ave. today to get answers up close and personal.

Richardson wants to know why there are so few doctors are working at the clinic.

But MFHN Chief Executive Officer Catherine Cuomo-Cecere was away at a conference -- and apparently in no rush to respond to Richardson. Through her secretary, Cuomo-Cecere said she'd give Richardson a call on Monday when she get backs to work.

"I'm outraged because it seems I can never get down the bottom of what's really going on here," Richardson fumed in the facility's lobby. "All I know is there aren't enough doctors her to serve my people, the people of Jersey City. And she (Cuomo-Cecere) has yet to pick up a telephone or yet to send me a written response back. And that is unacceptable."

Richardson said she understands the doctors working at the center has plummeted from six to two. The doctors left, she understands because they were told they couldn't continue their private practices and work at the clinic. Cuomo-Cecere and Dr. Patrick Beaty, the clinic's medical director, didn't return phone calls to comment.

Who's got a camera, where are the photos.
Such easy money if sold or wanted by the local newspapers.

The tv pilot, Redeeming Rainbow, was shot completely in Jersey City. It's about two young men who sublet their third room to a talking rainbow from the sky. It's an official selection for best comedy pilot. Selections will be announced mid August. The screenings are from Sept 5th-10th. Come out and watch and support!

http://www.nytvf.com

Also, Redeeming Rainbow was a finalist in Comedy Central's Test Pilots Competition. We find out Wednesday, Aug 8th if we won.

http://www.comedycentral.com/testpilots

For more info about Jersey City's Redeeming Rainbow go to http://www.redeemingrainbow.com

I have to say my favorite Jersey City Diners are the White Manna and the Miss America Diner. They're classic. My least favorite diners are the Brownstone Diner and the Flamingo. The Flamingo is not the worst but it could be so much better. They're both lame!

What's your favorite JC diner and least favorite?

The Tunnel Diner is real weird but cool. Not sure about that one.

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http://www.newyorkssixth.com/2007/01/ ... rs-in-van-vorst-park.html