Good to have one back since the one on the Blvd and Bowers closed a few years back

I love the last line:

?But not all neighborhoods have yet been able to share in this city?s renewal,? Mr. Donovan said on his visit last month. At Montgomery Gardens, he said, ?fully a third of residents live below the poverty line, disconnected from opportunity only a few miles away.?

Really? So when the rent starts to rise on the same level as downtown ( roughly $2000), they will have the same opportunity, when they live under the poverty line? They really think so. All they're going to do to them is price them out of the area.

Revitalizing a Neighborhood in Jersey City
By ANTOINETTE MARTIN
Published: April 7, 2011
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/10/realestate/10njzo.html

?THE fact that we can predict health, economic and educational outcomes of children based on their ZIP codes is a tragedy,? said Shaun Donovan, the secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Mr. Donovan made the remark last month on a visit here, in reference to the crime- and violence-plagued neighborhood around the Montgomery Gardens public housing project. He came to Jersey City to award a grant aimed at aiding transformation of the whole neighborhood and not just replacement of the Gardens, which was already scheduled to happen.

He said the $250,000 planning grant was part of the Obama administration?s new ?Choice Neighborhoods? initiative, which encourages public and private institutions to work together to further all types of development ? including market-rate and ?work force? housing, retail and commercial space, and schools ? in neighborhoods alongside subsidized housing.

There is no guarantee that communities receiving planning grants will later be awarded HUD grants to help execute their plans, but Jersey City officials say they are hopeful.

For the first time, local officials and developers said with enthusiasm, the federal program is ?embracing? private developers, encouraging them to take part in the planning the grant will support.

Jersey City was one of 17 communities selected from 119 applying nationwide. Its Housing Authority, which is emptying out the six-acre Montgomery Gardens and relocating residents before demolition of the project?s deteriorated apartment towers can begin, made the application. (The master developer for the new mixed-use housing on the site is the Michaels Development Company of Marlton.)

Maria Maio, the authority?s executive director, said she and her colleagues had been ?led to understand that the fact we already have the strong interest and involvement of private developers, as well as St. Peter?s College wanting to invest in improving the overall neighborhood, tipped the scales in our favor.? George Filopoulos of MetroVest in Manhattan, the developer of the Beacon condominium complex in Jersey City, described the grant as ?tremendously exciting for us,? adding, ?We feel like there is new fuel in the tank.?

The Beacon represents one transformation that has already taken place: renovation of the former Jersey City medical center?s Art Deco towers into upscale condos and loft apartments, right next to the Montgomery Gardens project.

But the condo complex is gated ? ?and we?ve done pretty much all we can do on our side of the fences,? Mr. Filopoulos said. ?We are committed to improving the neighborhood at large, and raring to go, to help rebuild and restore it to health.?

MetroVest has also been named developer of a major supermarket on the Montgomery Gardens site.

Inside the Beacon?s gates, MetroVest will build one of two charter schools planned to serve the neighborhood. The school, the Mathematics, Engineering, and Technology & Science charter, plans to offer a Bronx High School of Science curriculum, approved by the Liberty Science Center. ?The HUD people really homed in on the charter-school part of our plan,? Ms. Maio said.

Meanwhile, the 140-year-old St. Peter?s College is working on plans to develop two pieces of property it owns on Montgomery Street outside its campus, near what is known as Monsignor McGinley Square.

?We really want to see this area revitalized,? said Michael A. Fazio, a vice president for external affairs of St. Peter?s. He said enrollment was at a four-year high ? around 3,000 ? and ?we need the neighborhood to be as safe and vibrant as possible.?

The college is about to break ground on campus property for a six-story student center.

It is working with a private developer, Trinity Acquisition and Development, and has met informally with city planners and community groups, including Montgomery Gardens residents, concerning proposals for an entertainment center at 711 Montgomery Street and a mixed-use building at No. 700.

St. Peter?s intends to sign a long-term lease on both parcels with a developer who would build and maintain the structures. They are now in use as parking lots.

?There is a lot of energy and optimism already built up around the idea of an entertainment center in that area,? said Jerramiah T. Healy, Jersey City?s mayor. The current plan calls for three levels of retail and entertainment space, including a movie theater, something that is lacking in the general area west of the Holland Tunnel, Mayor Healy said. The center would have a 300-car parking garage, said Eugene T. Paolino, a real estate lawyer representing Trinity Acquisition and Development, a New York company.

The area around the housing project has quick access to the New Jersey Turnpike and is not far from the Grove Street PATH station.

Mr. Paolino said the other proposed building on Montgomery would be taller, and larger in scope, with three levels of retail and parking for 600 cars, half for the college, at its base. Three 11-story towers for housing would rise above that.

The current plan, he said, is to designate one tower for student dormitories; one for moderately priced housing; and one for market-rate rentals or condos.

In the decade before the recession Jersey City saw housing construction boom. Dozens of luxurious apartment towers rose in the downtown area and on the waterfront.

?But not all neighborhoods have yet been able to share in this city?s renewal,? Mr. Donovan said on his visit last month. At Montgomery Gardens, he said, ?fully a third of residents live below the poverty line, disconnected from opportunity only a few miles away.?

Wow..$10 mil? that is one HUGE scheme, such a crazy amount. Any amount of fraud is wrong, of course but to get 10mil?

HCCC isn't in Greeville so i dont know why it is categorized as it is. Not every single crime happens in greenville

yea i should have figured. The barcade that is opening on Newark ave has been in that process and it's almost hitting a full year. Hopefully when we get a new mayor he can change the ordinances for entertainment. That's the one thing this city is missing. That would help grow our Arts scene a lot and bring people into the city from outside places.

^^^^ maybe you should join him, that seems interesting to me and could add a little more diversity to that area. I mean i live in the Heights and like to travel to downtown just to eat but it has been getting somewhat routine. I'm sure looking for new spots to eat so this would definitely get my attention.

Also, i know this is far fetched by can anyone open up an actual night club, for people who want to dance and go out and have fun besides a restaurant and bar. I am not knocking anyone down who wants to open an establishment like a restaurant/bar, that is just as good, But has anyone figured we need some YOUNG night life in the city. and please don't tell me that " well hbk and ny have them so there is no need". The whole point is to bring people INTO JC, not leave.

I'm not interested...well i am but i have NO idea about opening an establishment, but i hope everything goes great. It will probably take some time considering the ordinances for a bar/restaurant. But anything new opening up is a BIG plus in my books, so long as it is not a 99 cent store even though they are useful.

I'll be looking forward to future posts from you about how it's coming along.

Best of Luck

does sound like a good idea. maybe you should start it this summer since we have still 2 months. Maybe you should get in contact with the restaurants and food trucks to see if anyone is willing to do it. It would be nice to have something like this every weekend for people to STAY IN JC

There is also the bus route from J.sq all along Kenndey Blvd up to 32nd st in Union City which from there, depending on which one you hop on, takes you to the bus terminal in 42nd st in ny, Paterson, or can continue on up towards North Bergen. I can't find a map of this route though so hopefully someone can but i doubt you will need it since you live downtown, just informing you incase.

Has anyone seen the new commercial for VH1's Mob Wives? I know not many here watch that channel but i saw a commercial the other day that prominently shows the JC skyline while the four women walk in battery park city. I think it is pretty cool and i hopes means that JC is starting to reach a national level. Of course not the biggest show but it definitely is a start. Just wondering has anyone seen it, i can't seem to find any links for the video.

so none of you can buy or get your own recycling bin like i have?

This is pretty cool map. It sucks Greenville has virtually no type of diversity except for a few Hispanics and Asians. Downtown comes in a close 2nd with least amount of diversity. Of course the Square and part of Westside are the most diverse, it hurts my eyes just to focus on there since there are so any dots all with different colors.

Civis is one os the worst cars to have simply because it is a top target for thieves.

i had the before and they do have some of the best ice cream i have tasted. I was sad when they stopped serving their banana ice cream and i haven't been there in a while. Does anyone know if they have banana ice cream again?

Wow..... sucks for the owner of that scion. but hey he/she can look at it this way, they can get a better looking car.

Wow, 43 and Newark is 35th. I would've thought the opposite. On twitter Newark beats JC but no on facebook. Oh well, this is just an interesting fact with no consequences. Some of those cities i would have never guessed.

MOVING jobs as opposed to CREATING won't help me at all really.

i saw the show, it is pretty interesting

It seems that the comments on here as opposed to the website where the article was first published are very opposing. Though i do not agree with every little thing on this proposed project and somethings seem a little far-fetched at the moment but this is definitely what this city needs, something to distinguish itself from others. This is the type of thinking we need in this city that allows for "outside the box" thinking. Granted this project will most likely be expensive so somethings will need to be cut out but i appreciate how he is thinking BIG. This is better than the constant generic buildings going up that have no type of feel to them.

They would just have to handle this carefully from start to finish, which i know this city doesn't have a good record of having. Hopefully this could lead other developers to finally start realizing that JC is not just last resort for people who don't make it in ny but rather start becoming a priority.

By Ron Callari ? Mar 9th, 2011
The Jersey City Independent Writer


http://www.jerseycityindependent.com/ ... na-complex-in-the-hudson/

Iconic architecture is often known to captivate one?s sense of wanderlust. It leaves its mark on the mind?s eye and adds to our collective desire for travel. The Taj Mahal is a marvel that certainly falls into this category, but a building doesn?t have to be historic to appeal to us. Dating back only 40 years, the Sydney Opera House has captivated our imagination with its dramatic architecture and sweeping lines, cascading out over Australia?s famous harbor. Its award-winning design, conceived by Danish architect J?rn Oberg Utzon, has been an inspiration for architects the world over.

Such is the thought process that led Jersey City resident Raphael D?Angelis and his firm Design Concept Depot to create a venue proposal that would literally put Jersey City on the map.

??Destination, Jersey City? is not an inconceivable proposition,? D?Angelis says. ?Often dismissed as the gauche side of the Hudson, Jersey City is the ?unofficial borough? of Manhattan that really has the best views of New York City ? it?s priceless.?

D?Angelis and his team, together with award-winning architect Carlo Frugiuele, have completed a design package to create a floating marina complex on 30 acres of land located between the Harborside Financial Center at the end of 2nd Street extending to the Newport Pier at the corner of 6th Street and jutting out approximately 100 feet from the coastline. Differing from the unique shell-like structure of the Sydney Opera House, the design elements of D?Angelis? plan is a visual delight, as the seven buildings to be constructed bring to mind a school of fish basking on the coastline of the Hudson River.

It?s long been D?Angelis? dream to change the perception of Jersey City.

?To accomplish this feat, you need fresh ideas, innovators, and a team that?s willing to push boundaries,? he says. ?Jersey City has an ideal location to build something spectacular for not only the residents, but if built correctly, we?ll be able to draw people from New York and even international tourists from around the world.?

So instead of adding just another marina to the Jersey City coastline (the city already has three that are presently underutilized) his ?out of the box? approach would feature a mixed-use complex of high-end retail shops (think Dolce Gabbana and Hermes Paris) and restaurants, a 5-star hotel, front-office corporate headquarters (as opposed to the back-office corporate facilities so prevalent in the city), an indoor/outdoor art park and a 3,000-seat performing arts center that could also be utilized for small-to-midsize trade shows and conventions. The 360-slip marina would be large enough to house 100 to 200 foot yachts that cannot currently be accommodated at any of Jersey City?s existing marinas.

In tandem with D?Angelis? proposal, the Jersey City Redevelopment Agency (JCRA), which owns the marina site, has issued a ?Request For Proposals? from marina developers to be submitted by today, March 9. According to the JCRA, the cost to build the marina would be absorbed by the developer and would not be disclosed until all proposals have been submitted. Less far-reaching in scope than D?Angelis? plan, the JCRA is looking solely at the marina component for the site that would cater to local residents and a convenient stop for yachters making the ?Great Circle? that commences with the Hudson River and circumnavigates the East Coast. The guidelines call for limited commercial outlets, which is one of the marked differences with D?Angelis? proposal.

D?Angelis says two factors led him to submit his proposal to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) rather than to the JCRA.

First, his design concept would require a build-out onto the Hudson River, which is owned by the state, not the city, and the DEP is the regulatory body that approves projects that incorporate water rights. D?Angelis also notes that his project is ?outside the scope? of the JCRA?s RFP, and so his advisors think it would be quicker to ?take the DEP route.?

With an estimated cost of $500 million, D?Angelis sees his proposal as having a significant return on investment and an instant benefit to other developers in the area. He also estimates that construction and temporary jobs created by the project would peak at 4,000, with more than 6,000 jobs created post-construction.

?Jersey City has seen five years of commercial real estate stagnation,? D?Angelis says, adding that there is a ?price to pay for inaction.?

This is actually going to be my first election so far (I am 20), and though i am not 100% sure of who is who and what is what, this is shaping to be very exciting and these candidates are interesting to me. I will have too look further into who i will vote for but i can say it wouldn't be too far fetched for me to say "they're good"

im not one of those apple fan boys so i wonder when this is gonna come out for android phones. That would help this app reach more people, i have android at the moment and await the arrival of this app.

this is a great period for NJ basketball. These two teams going head 2 head and it should be a great game to watch. Not only are they the only NJ team in the spot light but St.Peter's also are heading to the NCAA tournament after 16 years. This is a great time for NJ and especially JC seeing as we have two teams vying for national championships. Even if they are unsuccessful this still builds a sense of pride here and gives us a reason to walk with our chins up. JC does produce quality and this shows it.

Glad to have these teams be in those positions and what ever the outcome may be you all deserve this attention because of the hard work they have committed to this. St.Anthony & St. Peter's have my full support, St.Patrick also has my support. Good luck gentlemen!

and whats wrong with a party on the roof??????? That sounds like fun.

[Quote]I think downtown Jersey City needs better lighting as a possible deterrent against miscreant behavior. PH and VVP are dimly lit in my opinion and parts of PH are fairly desolate after the work crowd departs so there's no pulse/life on the streets which may entice a criminal element. Speaking of which, we need more nightlife/entertainment options as not everyone wants to socialize in the City all the time, but I digress. We also need more beat cops (which isn't likely going to happen with our budgetary crisis/constraints). I've only felt my safety threatened/comromised once since living in this area (2004) and that's when I was walking naively back to my house from a party in Harsimus Cove at 2:30 in the morning. Won't do that again. [Quote]

But did you read that you let one incident dictate how you live. Ive lived here my whole life and had multiple times of someone wanting to robbed me and such. People let 1 incident make up there whole mind about a city. JC is not bad, but THIS IS A CITY. Do not expect that walking around at any time of the day you won't get threatened in any way. That's what makes this city so gritty, which is why i hate how the developers make this city try and feel. They treat these real estate as if it's some type of suburbs.

But i agree with you on the entertainment issue, i've been saying this for years....and i think that's the reason why people feel threatened and why people THINK a lot of crime happens. There is nothing to do for "average" person, someone who isn't an artist or a young pro. If there was more type of entertainment, most people would actully be doing things instead of just hanging around looking for something to do. It needs to be done for the public, allowing anyone to come in from any background.

One thing i would like to see if a baseball stadium build right on the apartments between Columbus and Montgomery, the lot seems big enough for that type of stadium and since most baseball games are held at night, theyre should be a constant flow of traffic( car & people). That would hopefully lead to other business' setting up shop around the area. Since that area is so close to 3 light rail stops and PATH stops, along with buses, it shouldn't be hard for locals to get there, and since I-78 is only a few block away any out-of -towners can get in & out of the city moderately fast. Again, that's just something that would make sense to me to add in that area and just satisfies our need to be on a national scale. I think it would work....do you???

and how an idiot like this is still kept around surprises me. Like white people dont commit crime..smh

The point is that people exaggerate the crime rate in this city. Even if you live in manhattan you wouldn't walk out at night wearing you most expensive jewelry even though ny is the safest major city in the country. If you really feel that unsafe is probably one of the safest cities then move out to the suburbs.....smh. Some people are just simply ignorant and racist. Has anyone blamed the frat boys that blast their techno on full volume??? but only point towards black and hispanic as being so ignorant in a case like that?

Only newbies complain about how bad it is, its already march and we've only had about maybe what 9-13 shootings, maybe 5 stabbing, and a few robberies and ITS MARCH. That is good statistics, grante my own unfactual but based on the ones i know about. Obviously crime rate will spike because EVERYBODY is outside, not just black and hispanic people starting to go outside.

It's people like you (racist) that mess things up. Quick to blame others, dont bring your negativity to the city, we have enough of it.

Well only including downtown and saying that it's walkability is bad doesn't make it so. the rest of the city is pretty walkable, it's simply people on both parties (drivers & pedestrians) not using common sense. But i do agree that the city's planning board are idiots. Columbus and Grand should have never been re-sized to the extent they are now. Maybe for Grand they can add dividers like the one on Washington blvd in Newport while Columbus' sidewalks should be made larger. The rest of the city doesn't have the same issues as downtown in terms of vehicular safety. I live in the heights and due to the narrow streets up here not many cars are speeding, except for the NJT buses on summit...must admit they fly down pretty fast for a narrow street.

This is a very frustrating situation for the city, so i surely hope that once the Bayfront development gets underway the plannign board doesn't take the downtown approach. The Bayfront will take massive amount of public input. Granted Bayfront will be smaller than whole downtown, but i don't think that will stop them.

drug power struggle and gang struggle also. from what i remember so much beef started early 05 and the year before. like a new gang started to show up in JC becoming a majority and grew far past what it was before this year ( not naming the gang, won't give them that respect of acknowledgment).
I remember so many fights in high school also, it was definitely a prety bad year.

This site also proves the point that people just love to inflate how bad Jc really is. Growing here i could tell you how bad it was in the 90s with needing that site. i was 6 years old with my parents one night and in the span of an hour our car was stolen...in an hour!!!!!!!.....in downtown!!!!!! Bums, drug addicts were everywhere, even downtown. Alot of abandon buildings and Jc looked like a true hellhole. That's why i always find it funny when people say Jc looks like a dump. Wish i had a time machine just to show them, they living the fancy life in the new Jc compared to the old.

uhhh..there is always a gang war somewhere in JC. its nothing new. and Jc's gang wars are not that serious. Again, if you really think Jc, especially your area is bad, just move out. No point in complaining how bad you may think it is and do nothing about and just want to hear about just do to curiosity. That's what moves people to start to think the area is getting worse because they focus on the crime constantly. Read the JJ, all people do is read the crime reports and swear that JC is turning into NWK but yet our crime rate is super low.

This is a city, and with a density like Jc, you WILL see crime happen unlike other cities where you can live in one neighborhood and never see crime happen. The size and density of JC makes seeing crime easy in whatever location you live in.