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Re: What Is Happening with the Embankment?
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CITY OF JERSEY CITY
HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION
PUBLIC NOTICE

Please be advised that the following items will be heard at a Regular Meeting of the Jersey City Historic Preservation Commission on MONDAY, December 17, 2007 at 6:30 pm in the Conference Room of the Department of Housing, Economic Development, and Commerce on the 14th floor at 30 Montgomery Street, Jersey City, NJ. Parking is available on Christopher Columbus Drive.

1. Call to Order
2. Sunshine Announcement
3. Roll Call
4. Approval of Minutes
5. Correspondence
6. Announcements
7. Open Public Comment
8. Old Business Carried from November 19, 2007

A. Case: H07-167
Applicant: Michelle Donato, Esq. for 247 Manila Avenue, LLC owner
Address: 441-7 Manila Avenue
Block/Lot: 247/50.A
Zone: Sixth Street Embankment, Grove Street NDP Redevelopment Plan Area
For: Certificate of Appropriateness for the demolition of the municipal landmark site of the Sixth Street Embankment.
Recommendation to the Planning Board
Carried to December 17, 2007 Meeting at Request of Applicant

B. Case: H07-168
Applicant: Michelle Donato, Esq. for 212 Marin Boulevard, LLC owner
Address: 437 Marin Boulevard
Block/Lot: 212/M
Zone: Sixth Street Embankment, Luis Munoz Marin Redevelopment Plan Area
For: Certificate of Appropriateness for the demolition of the municipal landmark site of the Sixth Street Embankment.
Recommendation to the Planning Board
Carried to December 17, 2007 Meeting at Request of Applicant

C. Case: H07-169
Applicant: Michelle Donato, Esq. for 354 Cole Street, LLC owner
Address: 99-105 Coles Street
Block/Lot: 354/50.A
Zone: Sixth Street Embankment
For: Certificate of Appropriateness for the demolition of the municipal landmark site of the Sixth Street Embankment.
Recommendation to the Planning Board
Carried to December 17, 2007 Meeting at Request of Applicant

D. Case: H07-170
Applicant: Michelle Donato, Esq. for 280 Erie Street, LLC owner
Address: 618.5 Jersey Avenue
Block/Lot: 280/B.1
Zone: Sixth Street Embankment
For: Certificate of Appropriateness for the demolition of the municipal landmark site of the Sixth Street Embankment.
Recommendation to the Planning Board
Carried to December 17, 2007 Meeting at Request of Applicant

E. Case: H07-171
Applicant: Michelle Donato, Esq. for 317 Jersey Avenue, LLC owner
Address: 621-27 Jersey Avenue
Block/Lot: 317/50.A
Zone: Sixth Street Embankment
For: Certificate of Appropriateness for the demolition of the municipal landmark site of the Sixth Street Embankment.
Recommendation to the Planning Board
Carried to December 17, 2007 Meeting at Request of Applicant

G. Case: H07-172
Applicant: Michelle Donato, Esq. for 389 Monmouth Street, LLC owner
Address: 449-53 Monmouth Street
Block/Lot: 389.1/50
Zone: Sixth Street Embankment
For: Certificate of Appropriateness for the demolition of the municipal landmark site of the Sixth Street Embankment.
Recommendation to the Planning Board
Carried to December 17, 2007 Meeting at Request of Applicant

Historic Preservation Commission Special Meeting Agenda
December 17, 2007
Page 2_____________________________________________________________________
H. Case: H07-197
Applicant: Michelle Donato, Esq. for 247 Manila Avenue, LLC owner
Address: 441-7 Manila Avenue
Block/Lot: 247/50.A
Zone: Sixth Street Embankment, Grove Street NDP Redevelopment Plan
Area
For: Certificate of Economic Hardship for the demolition of the municipal landmark site of the Sixth Street Embankment.
Recommendation to the Planning Board
Carried to December 17, 2007 Meeting at Request of Applicant

I. Case: H07-198
Applicant: Michelle Donato, Esq. for 212 Marin Boulevard, LLC owner
Address: 437 Marin Boulevard
Block/Lot: 212/M
Zone: Sixth Street Embankment, Luis Munoz Marin Redevelopment Plan Area
F For: Certificate of Economic Hardship for the demolition of the municipal landmark site of the Sixth Street Embankment.
Recommendation to the Planning Board
Carried to December 17, 2007 Meeting at Request of Applicant

J. Case: H07-199
Applicant: Michelle Donato, Esq. for 354 Cole Street, LLC owner
Address: 99-105 Coles Street
Block/Lot: 354/50.A
Zone: Sixth Street Embankment
For: Certificate of Economic Hardship for the demolition of the municipal landmark site of the Sixth Street Embankment.
Recommendation to the Planning Board
Carried to December 17, 2007 Meeting at Request of Applicant

K. Case: H07-200
Applicant: Michelle Donato, Esq. for 280 Erie Street, LLC owner
Address: 618.5 Jersey Avenue
Block/Lot: 280/B.1
Zone: Sixth Street Embankment
For: Certificate of Economic Hardship for the demolition of the municipal landmark site of the Sixth Street Embankment.
Recommendation to the Planning Board
Carried to December 17, 2007 Meeting at Request of Applicant

L. Case: H07-201
Applicant: Michelle Donato, Esq. for 317 Jersey Avenue, LLC owner
Address: 621-27 Jersey Avenue
Block/Lot: 317/50.A
Zone: Sixth Street Embankment
For: Certificate of Economic Hardship for the demolition of the municipal landmark site of the Sixth Street Embankment.
Recommendation to the Planning Board
Carried to December 17, 2007 Meeting at Request of Applicant

M. Case: H07-202
Applicant: Michelle Donato, Esq. for 389 Monmouth Street, LLC owner
Address: 449-53 Monmouth Street
Block/Lot: 389.1/50
Zone: Sixth Street Embankment
For: Certificate of Economic Hardship for the demolition of the municipal landmark site of the Sixth Street Embankment.
Recommendation to the Planning Board
Carried to December 17, 2007 Meeting at Request of Applicant

Historic Preservation Commission Special Meeting Agenda
December 17, 2007
Page 3_____________________________________________________________________
9. Case: H07-260
Applicant: Reyes Cartagena, applicant for Seme Abebe, owner
Address: 255 Grove Street
Block/Lot: 236/T
Zone: Van Vorst Park Historic District
For: Certificate of Appropriateness for the installation of new signage at the cornice on a contributing, altered, circa 1860 Italianate mixed use frame building in the Van Vorst Park Historic District.

10. Case: H07-257
Applicant: Dermot P. Ronan, applicant for Sevasti Zanakis, owner
Address: 34 Wayne Street / 305 Grove Street
Block/Lot: 239/24.99
Zone: Van Vorst Park Historic District
For: Certificate of Appropriateness for the installation of new signage at the storefront fa?ade on a contributing, altered, circa 1930 Taxpayer building in the Van Vorst Park Historic District.

11. Case: H07-259
Applicant: Lisa DeCrescente, applicant for Elisa Rodriguez, owner
Address: 506 Jersey Avenue/ 104 Wayne Street
Block/Lot: 273/32
Zone: Van Vorst Park Historic District
For: Certificate of Appropriateness for the installation of mural signage on the west elevation of a contributing, altered, circa 1880 Italianate mixed use building in the Van Vorst Park Historic District.

12. Case: H07-310
Applicant: Callico Construction, Corp.
Address: 249 Grove Street
Block/Lot: 235/8
Zone: Van Vorst Park Historic District
For: New construction of 3 story and basement three family townhouse on site of razed contributing Greek Revival Italianate Rowhouse built c.1860 demolished c.1995.
Recommendation to Zoning Board

13. Introduction and Discussion of Resolutions
14. Memorialization of Resolutions
15. Adoption of 2008 Calendar
16. Executive Session as needed, to discuss litigation, personnel or other matters.
17. Adjournment

Stephen Gucciardo, Chairman

Posted on: 2007/12/14 19:52
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Re: What Is Happening with the Embankment?
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Volunteer group pays travel, hotel expenses for city's 6th Street lawyer

Monday, December 10, 2007

By KEN THORBOURNE
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER


The Seattle-based attorney hired by Jersey City to wrest control of the Sixth Street Embankment from a Manhattan businessman and get it to the city at a relatively cheap price is in town today for a closed-door meeting with the City Council.

But it's not the city that's paying to have him here. Instead, it's the Embankment Preservation Coalition, a volunteer group that wants to see the unused railroad turnaround preserved as open space, that's picking up the tab for the attorney's airfare and lodging.

"It's embarrassing from the city's standpoint," Downtown Councilman Steve Fulop said. "He's coming to brief the council on our litigation, and we're sticking a community group with the bill."

City Corporation Counsel Bill Matsikoudis confirmed that the coalition is paying for the trip of Charles Montange, who specializes in the arcane field of railroad abandonment law. He saw nothing wrong with the city's taking advantage of the group's generosity.

"It was the Embankment Coalition's suggestion to pay for Mr. Montange's trip," Matsikoudis said. "They (the coalition) are a petitioner before the Surface Transportation Board and therefore his client as well."

Montange is being paid by the city - $48,400 as of Friday.

But the parties to the petition he filed with the federal Surface Transportation Board challenging Conrail's sale of the Sixth Street Embankment to Manhattan businessman Steve Hyman for $3 million in July 2005 includes the city, the coalition, along with the nonprofit Rails to Trails Conservancy, and state Assemblyman Lou Manzo.

Maureen Crowley, coordinator for the coalition, said her group purchased a $320 round-trip airfare ticket for Montange and is still working out hotel lodging for his three-day stay.

"It made us uneasy that Mr. Hyman's legal team was allowed to address the council during a council caucus, which is televised, before the council has spoken to their own rail attorney," Crowley said.

"We offered to pay because we feel the council could benefit from his direct communication," she added.

In the wake of an October ruling by the Surface Transportation Board, Montange is convinced the city will be in a position to purchase the embankment for $3 million, a position Hyman's attorneys believe is absurd given the property's appraisal value of between $10 million and $20 million.


? 2007 The Jersey Journal
? 2007 NJ.com All Rights Reserved.


Quote:

BrightMoment wrote:
Embankment Preservation Coalition


December 6, 2007
Dear Coalition Supporter:

As you may have read in the local papers (see links below), on November 26th Steve Hyman presented a conceptual development proposal for the Harsimus Branch Embankment plus an additional 22 acres of Conrail-owned land near the Turnpike Extension at the western end of the Embankment.

Coalition members attended the presentation. Here is our initial reaction:
On November 26th, Mr. Hyman's attorneys asserted legal conclusions about the outcome of pending litigation involving the Embankment. The Coalition believes these conclusions are false or misleading. The Coalition is paying for Mr. Montange (the railroad attorney who put together the winning case for the City and Coalition at the Surface Transportation Board [STB]) to address the Council. A fair and balanced presentation by the City's own attorneys will allow the Council to better understand the City's options.

While we welcome the elements of Mr. Hyman's proposal that suggest it will leave 75% of the property as open space, it also calls for construction of roughly 1500 housing units atop (or in lieu of portions of) the municipal, state, and national historic site, requiring towers looming over the National Historic Districts. Clearly this is a matter of concern to the community and must be thoroughly examined.

Mr Hyman also proposes to locate light rail connections in City streets as opposed to on the Embankment itself. It is not clear how this proposal will be received by, or can be accomplished in a fashion compatible with, adjoining neighborhoods, or whether it in the end will assuredly preserve any of the Embankment or secure the East Coast Greenway connection over the Embankment.

Our mission as a 501(c)3 organization is preservation of the historic Harsimus Stem Embankment and its re-use as public park and trail. We nonetheless recognize that development of ground-level and adjoining parcels could contribute to Embankment preservation, to fostering the East Coast Greenway, and to smart development of otherwise blighted or unused properties in Jersey City.

Although Conrail and Mr. Hyman have challenged STB's favorable ruling in federal court, we believe that the City and Coalition will prevail. Mr. Hyman's willingness to make any concessions may reflect a similar assessment on his part.

In the circumstances, we are concerned that the City not waive its rights or abilities to acquire the Embankment either in STB proceedings, federal judicial review proceedings, or state court proceedings. In particular, the City should be in a position at all relevant times, and fully prepared, to use eminent domain to acquire the property for a price no greater than that paid by Mr. Hyman ($3 million).

Nonetheless, we are prepared to review all proposals by Mr. Hyman with him, the City, and other interested parties in an effort to look for common ground, and, more broadly, to achieve an optimal solution for Jersey City and this valuable historic and open space resource.
Below are links to recent newspaper articles on the topic. As you read, please keep in mind that the reports may not be accurate in all details, and note that "Judge" D'Italia is not a sitting judge but rather an advocate for Mr. Hyman.

Dec 4 Jersey Journal - Task Force on Embankment by Ken Thorbourne
Dec 2 Jersey City Reporter - New Plan for 6th Street Embankment by Ricardo Kaulessar

Nov 28 Jersey Journal - Wary Harmony as Plan Unveiled for Embankment by Ken Thorbourne
Nov 27 Jersey Journal - Hyman Softens Embankment Foes by Ken Thorbourne
Nov 24 Jersey Journal - Something in it for Everyone by Ken Thorbourne
Nov 24 Jersey Journal - Wants equal time for Preservationists by Ken Thorbourne

Thank you for your continued support. We will update you as soon as there is more to report.

Sincerely,


Jennifer Meyer
President
Embankment Preservation Coalition jmeyer@embankment.org

Embankment Preservation Coalition | 495 Monmouth Street | Jersey City | NJ | 07302

Posted on: 2007/12/10 17:25
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What Is Happening with the Embankment?
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Embankment Preservation Coalition


December 6, 2007
Dear Coalition Supporter:

As you may have read in the local papers (see links below), on November 26th Steve Hyman presented a conceptual development proposal for the Harsimus Branch Embankment plus an additional 22 acres of Conrail-owned land near the Turnpike Extension at the western end of the Embankment.

Coalition members attended the presentation. Here is our initial reaction:
On November 26th, Mr. Hyman's attorneys asserted legal conclusions about the outcome of pending litigation involving the Embankment. The Coalition believes these conclusions are false or misleading. The Coalition is paying for Mr. Montange (the railroad attorney who put together the winning case for the City and Coalition at the Surface Transportation Board [STB]) to address the Council. A fair and balanced presentation by the City's own attorneys will allow the Council to better understand the City's options.

While we welcome the elements of Mr. Hyman's proposal that suggest it will leave 75% of the property as open space, it also calls for construction of roughly 1500 housing units atop (or in lieu of portions of) the municipal, state, and national historic site, requiring towers looming over the National Historic Districts. Clearly this is a matter of concern to the community and must be thoroughly examined.

Mr Hyman also proposes to locate light rail connections in City streets as opposed to on the Embankment itself. It is not clear how this proposal will be received by, or can be accomplished in a fashion compatible with, adjoining neighborhoods, or whether it in the end will assuredly preserve any of the Embankment or secure the East Coast Greenway connection over the Embankment.

Our mission as a 501(c)3 organization is preservation of the historic Harsimus Stem Embankment and its re-use as public park and trail. We nonetheless recognize that development of ground-level and adjoining parcels could contribute to Embankment preservation, to fostering the East Coast Greenway, and to smart development of otherwise blighted or unused properties in Jersey City.

Although Conrail and Mr. Hyman have challenged STB's favorable ruling in federal court, we believe that the City and Coalition will prevail. Mr. Hyman's willingness to make any concessions may reflect a similar assessment on his part.

In the circumstances, we are concerned that the City not waive its rights or abilities to acquire the Embankment either in STB proceedings, federal judicial review proceedings, or state court proceedings. In particular, the City should be in a position at all relevant times, and fully prepared, to use eminent domain to acquire the property for a price no greater than that paid by Mr. Hyman ($3 million).

Nonetheless, we are prepared to review all proposals by Mr. Hyman with him, the City, and other interested parties in an effort to look for common ground, and, more broadly, to achieve an optimal solution for Jersey City and this valuable historic and open space resource.
Below are links to recent newspaper articles on the topic. As you read, please keep in mind that the reports may not be accurate in all details, and note that "Judge" D'Italia is not a sitting judge but rather an advocate for Mr. Hyman.

Dec 4 Jersey Journal - Task Force on Embankment by Ken Thorbourne
Dec 2 Jersey City Reporter - New Plan for 6th Street Embankment by Ricardo Kaulessar

Nov 28 Jersey Journal - Wary Harmony as Plan Unveiled for Embankment by Ken Thorbourne
Nov 27 Jersey Journal - Hyman Softens Embankment Foes by Ken Thorbourne
Nov 24 Jersey Journal - Something in it for Everyone by Ken Thorbourne
Nov 24 Jersey Journal - Wants equal time for Preservationists by Ken Thorbourne

Thank you for your continued support. We will update you as soon as there is more to report.

Sincerely,


Jennifer Meyer
President
Embankment Preservation Coalition jmeyer@embankment.org

Embankment Preservation Coalition | 495 Monmouth Street | Jersey City | NJ | 07302

Posted on: 2007/12/7 2:47
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Historic wall largely preserved under new townhouse plan
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Historic wall largely preserved under new townhouse plan

Jersey Journal
Monday, November 19, 2007

The Jersey City Historic Preservation Commission has taken off tonight's agenda an item dealing with granting Manhattan businessman Steve Hyman permission to tear down the embankment's "historic" wall to build townhouses.

And with good reason.

Hyman has a new plan, which preserves most of the wall.

Hyman has been showing this new plan to city officials since the federal Surface Transportation Board ruled last month that Conrail never properly abandoned an unused railroad depot.

According to Charles Montange, an attorney the city hired, the ruling means Hyman's deed to the property will be invalidated and Conrail will be forced to sell the property to the city for $3 million - the price Hyman reportedly paid for the six-block stretch in July 2005.

Hyman is planning a public presentation of his new plan, which includes preserving 75 percent of the footprint on top of the elevated embankment as open space, at the next City Council caucus scheduled for Nov. 26.

The HPC has put the proposal on the agenda for its Dec. 17 meeting.

KEN THORBOURNE

Posted on: 2007/11/19 14:55
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Re: Embankment- Updates
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Quote:

murican wrote:
Could somebody please explain this? Are they knocking down the whole embankment?

I thought we had saved the embankment. How is it possible for some people /corporations to apply for its demolition?


The Embankment Preservation Coalition, it's members and it's supporting groups have fought for over 9 years and if there is one thing we have learned it's as Yogi Berra said:

"It ain't over till it's over."

Despite our recent win before the STB federal ruling, the developer continues to try and perpetuate the perception that:

*he "owns the property" (he does not),

*he "has the right to demolish the property" (he does not)

The owner did not perform due diligence prior to conducting his business with Conrail and now intends to buffalo those he can persuade to his point of view, despite all evidence to the contrary, that he owns the Embankment.

This is one more battle we must win along the way to final resolution towards letting the people of Jersey City, Hudson County and the State of NJ be heard as to preserving the Embankment and protection of the 150 year old rail corridor.

The fight continues.

Posted on: 2007/11/19 7:17
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Re: Embankment- Updates
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Could somebody please explain this? Are they knocking down the whole embankment?

I thought we had saved the embankment. How is it possible for some people /corporations to apply for its demolition?

Posted on: 2007/11/18 23:50
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Re: Embankment- Updates
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"Certificate of Appropriateness for the demolition of the municipal landmark site of the Sixth Street Embankment. Recommendation to the Planning Board Carried to December 17, 2007 Meeting at Request of Applicant From: "Jedediah Gallagher" <JedediahG@jcnj.org> Date: Fri, 16 Nov 2007 14:39:42 To:[redacted] Subject: Historic Preservation Commission - November 19, 2007 Meeting Please be advised that the Historic Preservation Commission will have a regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, November 19, 2007 at 6:30 PM in the 14th floor Conference Room at 30 Montgomery Street. The agenda for the meeting is attached to this email. Jedediah Gallagher Senior Planning Aide The City of Jersey City Division of City Planning 30 Montgomery Street, Suite 1400 Jersey City, NJ 07302 (t) 201.547.5010 (f) 201.547.4323 Quote:
CITY OF JERSEY CITY HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION PUBLIC NOTICE Please be advised that the following items will be heard at a Regular Meeting of the Jersey City Historic Preservation Commission on MONDAY, November 19, 2007 at 6:30 pm in the Conference Room of the Department of Housing, Economic Development, and Commerce on the 14th floor at 30 Montgomery Street, Jersey City, NJ. Parking is available on Christopher Columbus Drive. 1. Call to Order 2. Sunshine Announcement 3. Roll Call 4. Approval of Minutes 5. Correspondence 6. Announcements 7. Open Public Comment 8. Old Business Carried from October 22, 2007 A. Case: H07-227 Applicant: Paul Maracina, applicant for Vision Design and Development, owner Address: 212 Washington Street Block/Lot: 67/K.3 Zone: Paulus Hook Historic District For: Certificate of Appropriateness for the construction of a new parapet wall, cornice, and roofing system to accommodate larger living quarters at attic level of a contributing, altered circa 1885 to mixed use building, constructed circa 1865, Italianate townhouse in the Paulus Hook Historic District. Application incomplete as of 11/13/07. B. Case: H07-167 Applicant: Michelle Donato, Esq. for 247 Manila Avenue, LLC owner Address: 441-7 Manila Avenue Block/Lot: 247/50.A Zone: Sixth Street Embankment, Grove Street NDP Redevelopment Plan Area For: Certificate of Appropriateness for the demolition of the municipal landmark site of the Sixth Street Embankment. Recommendation to the Planning Board Carried to December 17, 2007 Meeting at Request of Applicant C. Case: H07-168 Applicant: Michelle Donato, Esq. for 212 Marin Boulevard, LLC owner Address: 437 Marin Boulevard Block/Lot: 212/M Zone: Sixth Street Embankment, Luis Munoz Marin Redevelopment Plan Area For: Certificate of Appropriateness for the demolition of the municipal landmark site of the Sixth Street Embankment. Recommendation to the Planning Board Carried to December 17, 2007 Meeting at Request of Applicant D. Case: H07-169 Applicant: Michelle Donato, Esq. for 354 Cole Street, LLC owner Address: 99-105 Coles Street Block/Lot: 354/50.A Zone: Sixth Street Embankment For: Certificate of Appropriateness for the demolition of the municipal landmark site of the Sixth Street Embankment. Recommendation to the Planning Board Carried to December 17, 2007 Meeting at Request of Applicant E. Case: H07-170 Applicant: Michelle Donato, Esq. for 280 Erie Street, LLC owner Address: 618.5 Jersey Avenue Block/Lot: 280/B.1 Zone: Sixth Street Embankment For: Certificate of Appropriateness for the demolition of the municipal landmark site of the Sixth Street Embankment. Recommendation to the Planning Board Carried to December 17, 2007 Meeting at Request of Applicant F. Case: H07-171 Applicant: Michelle Donato, Esq. for 317 Jersey Avenue, LLC owner Address: 621-27 Jersey Avenue Block/Lot: 317/50.A Zone: Sixth Street Embankment For: Certificate of Appropriateness for the demolition of the municipal landmark site of the Sixth Street Embankment. Recommendation to the Planning Board Carried to December 17, 2007 Meeting at Request of Applicant

Posted on: 2007/11/17 20:50
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Re: Embankment- Updates
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Quote:

Xerxes wrote:
Good Lord,

How many times must we scroll through the same fanciful picture with waving fields of green extending presumably beyond the horizon?...


There is a Post article today about the new High Line Park "propelling" the building boom in the Meatpacking District and transforming it into the "hottest new neighborhood" in Manhattan. I really can't get over what is happening there, it makes the changes in Downtown Jersey City seem like nice slow development.

---------------------------------------------
IT'S ONE EL OF A PARK
NEIGHBORHOOD'S ON THE FA$T TRACK

By TOM TOPOUSIS
New York Post

November 12, 2007 -- The High Line may be the city's newest jewel - and for Manhattan developers, the rusting rail trestle has been pure gold.

From the Meatpacking District north through West Chelsea, the cachet of a park in the sky has sparked an estimated $900 million in new residential and commercial development in the city's hottest neighborhood.

Decks, Marshes And Trees Set For High Line

At least 30 new projects - including 10 already under construction - are on tap in the neighborhood between 10th Avenue and the Hudson River.

Also propelling the building boom has been the city's move two years ago to allow new residential and commercial development in what had been largely an area for manufacturing and warehousing.

"This is development that would not have occurred but for the rezoning and the development of the High Line," said Deputy Mayor Dan Doctoroff.

Once slated for demolition, the High Line has been embraced by some of the same property owners who once wanted it gone.

"During my first few weeks on the job, I was visited by a number of property owners that insisted that the High Line come down. We were one court decision away from demolition," Doctoroff recalled of his first days as deputy mayor in 2002.

"Now people are calling their buildings the 'High Line this,' or the 'High Line that.' "

The High Line's presence, with its cutting-edge landscape design, alongside a bevy of art galleries has also attracted some of the world's most recognized architects, turning the neighborhood into an enclave of state-of-the-art building design dubbed "Architects Row."

Frank Gehry, Robert A.M. Stern, Jean Nouvel and Renzo Piano have designed projects including corporate headquarters, hotels, residential towers and a new gallery for the Whitney Museum at the southern end of the High Line at Gansevoort Street.

"We're creating one of the most distinctive architectural districts anywhere in the world," said Doctoroff.

Robert Hammond, co-founder of Friends of the High Line, said his group has estimated that the new development will generate $260 million in tax revenues over the next 20 years.

"Development would have come to this neighborhood, but without the High Line it would not have come as fast or with as much value," said Hammond.

tom.topousis@nypost.com

Posted on: 2007/11/12 18:38
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Re: Embankment- Updates
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HarsimusCoveAssociation@yahoogroups.com; on behalf of; Eric Fleming [zderic@yahoo.com]
Mon 10/22/07 6:22 PM
[Harsimus Cove Association] 6th St Embankment - Historic Preservation Commission

The proposed development on the Sixth St Embankment has been tabled until the HPC's November 19th meeting.

Eric Fleming
Harsimus Cove Association
President
www.harsimuscove.org

Posted on: 2007/10/22 22:53
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Re: Embankment- Update Thread
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Posted on: 2007/10/12 2:03
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Re: Embankment Celebration! Sat, Oct 13, 2007 12-4PM
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Embankment Online Banner You're All Invited! Saturday, October 13 Resurrection School Gym (Holy Rosary Complex) 189 Brunswick St (at Sixth St) Jersey City, NJ 07302 Noon to 4 pm Children's Activities/Tour of Gardens along Embankment/Displays/Music/Refreshments See our park designs and give us your ideas An August ruling by the STB gives city, county, and state governments a second chance to acquire the Embankment on reasonable terms. This win is an inspiring example of citizen collaboration - let's celebrate!. Between 1 and 2 pm we will honor individuals who contributed to the STB Petition, including Governor Jon Corzine, U.S. Senators Robert Menendez and Frank Lautenberg, NJ State Senator Bernard F. Kenny, Jr., NJ State Assemblyman Louis M. Manzo, Hudson County Executive Thomas A. DeGise, Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy, Council President Mariano Vega Jr. and Members of the Municipal Council, and the neighborhood associations and individual citizens who sent statements and letters of support to the STB. *************************************************** Would you like to be an Embankment volunteer? I hope you've already heard the news - we won at the STB!!! While we've had incremental wins over the years, this is the most important and puts us on track to actually MAKING A PARK in downtown Jersey City. We've asked you to come out to Council meetings, badger your legislators etc, but this time we want to CELEBRATE! On Saturday, October 13th, we'll be having our annual membership meeting along with a big party with live music, children's activities (we'll actually have artists helping to make creative costumes), and a few speeches from our politicians (see a full description of the event below). To pull it off, though, we need your help before the event and the day of the event. If you can't help, we hope you can at least attend. If you've been wanting to help out and haven't had the time or haven't joined us yet, this will a fun event and a great way to meet other supporters of the Embanlment. We need volunteers to help with: Leading children's activities; Aiding tour guides; Manning tables; Helping with publicity; Setting up and taking down tables etc; and Making signs. Let me know whether you can: 1) Attend the event; and/or 2) Volunteer for one of the above activities. Please respond to hyde_catherine@hotmail.com Thanks so much and I hope to see you then! Regards, Catherine www.embankment.org www.embankment.org Embankment Oct 13, 2007 Embankment Rendering[/quote]

Posted on: 2007/10/8 16:51
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Re: Embankment- Update Thread
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Bright, thanks for post about our upcoming Event! We're very excited to finally CELEBRATE and we hope that we'll see many JC Listers on October 13th between 12-4p at Resurrection School/Holy Rosary Complex. We'll be reminding people close to the date. (Print out your avatar and bring it along and we'll help you make a Halloween mask out of it).

We'll be honoring our elected officals and others who contributed to our inspiring win at the STB. And, importantly, we want to CELEBRATE with the many people who have supported and continue to support the Embankment cause!! There will be great food, great music, great kids activities, and great people. We look forward to seeing all of you there.

Regarding the Planning Board Meeting tonight: We didn't send out a call to action, because all of the facts at hand suggested that SLH's applications would be likely be dismissed. We've had several calls to action lately were the meetings were cancelled at the last minute, and we didn't want to drag people out again when it wasn't critical.

What happened at the Planning Board: The lawyer for SLH appeared to move forward with their applications for final major site plan approval on four Embankment blocks arguing that despite the STB ruling they were still the 'owner' of the property and should be able to proceed. In the end the Planning Board was not convinced and voted to dismiss the applications without prejudice, meaning that the applicant (SLH) can come back if the ownership issue is resolved.

There was no public speaking portion since the applications were not heard. The only comment we would added to the record would have been to say that "Ownership aside, the STB decision of August 8/9/07 states "Accordingly, the Embankment property sold to SLH remains part of the national rail system subject to the Board?s exclusive jurisdiction until appropriate abandonment authority is obtained." Given this it doesn't make sense to us that a local land use board could make any binding decision pertaining to this property.

There is certainly more to come. But right now - Lets party (-: !!

See you no October 13th.

Best regards,

Jenny Meyer
Embankment Preservation Coalition, President

P.S. I should also mention (see the flyer) that we're having a special pre-event garden tour of several private garden's that back onto the Embankment from 5th Street. Go to www.embankment.org for more info.

Posted on: 2007/10/3 2:32
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Re: Embankment- Update Thread
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Back on the Planning Board agenda TONIGHT Oct 2:

Four applications to demolish the 6th Street Embankment to make room for 64 two-family houses appears on TONIGHT'S agenda.

Please plan on attending this meeting scheduled to start at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers of City Hall, 280 Grove Street, Jersey City, New Jersey.


Quote:

BrightMoment wrote:
Dear Embankment Supporters:

Despite yesterday's last minute withdrawal of the developer's applications from consideration, they remain very much alive.

Attached is the Jersey City Planning Board's summary of actions taken at yesterday's meeting.

Click here for PDF file: Planning Board Action Summary of Aug 14, 2007

Please note that Items 6, 7, 8 and 9, affecting the future of the Embankment have been tentatively rescheduled for September 25, 2007. Please keep these dates open and plan on attending this very important meeting.

We will do our best to keep you informed on the status of this application as we learn more from the EPC and the City Planning Department as we move closer to the September hearing date.


All the best and thanks for your continued support.


Geoff Elkind
HPNA

Posted on: 2007/10/2 18:28
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Re: Embankment Celebration! Sat, Oct 13, 2007 12-4PM
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Quote:

gtosatto wrote:
Can't wait! It's great to have good news to celebrate.

Gina


Thanks for all your hard work volunteering too, Gina!

Posted on: 2007/10/1 20:51
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Re: Embankment Celebration! Sat, Oct 13, 2007 12-4PM
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Can't wait! It's great to have good news to celebrate.

Gina

Posted on: 2007/10/1 16:15
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Embankment Celebration! Sat, Oct 13, 2007 12-4PM
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Posted on: 2007/10/1 4:58

Edited by BrightMoment on 2007/10/1 5:35:35
Edited by BrightMoment on 2007/10/1 5:54:51
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Re: Embankment- Updates
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A two-wheel path down the coast

Maine-to-Florida East Coast Greenway is fast becoming a reality in Jersey

Monday, September 24, 2007

BY GABRIEL H. GLUCK
Star-Ledger Staff


A park path here, a waterfront walkway there, a section of old rail line -- like the pieces of a puzzle, a very linear puzzle, the East Coast Greenway is slowly coming together.

When it's complete, the Greenway will provide an off-road route from Calais, Maine, to Key West, Fla., a 2,950-mile lowland Appalachian Trail, much of it urban and suburban, that will weave through nearly every major city along the East Coast.

From families just looking for a Sunday outing to those seeking an interstate adventure, the trail is intended to offer a safe way to bike along the Eastern Seaboard, just as the Appalachian Trail provides a path to hike the region.

In New Jersey, the Greenway weaves a 92-mile serpentine path from the Delaware to the Hudson River, through 27 towns in six counties. A good part of the southern portion uses the Delaware & Raritan Canal towpath, from Trenton to South Bound Brook.

Because so much of New Jersey's portion of the Greenway has fallen into place, this fall the state will publish 8,000 trail maps to help bicyclists and others follow the route. There also will be a Web site (www.greenway.org/gw-nj/) from which the maps can be downloaded.

This last year has seen some major developments, the most significant the preservation of the Sixth Street Embankment in Jersey City, an old abandoned rail line.

"That piece will become a jewel to Jersey City and a jewel on the East Coast. It will be a must-see destination," said Mike Kruimer of Edison, one of the coordinators of the Greenway project through New Jersey.

The embankment will afford breathtaking vistas of the Hudson River and New York City, he said.


Middlesex County is preparing to solicit bids for the Middlesex Greenway, which will transform an old Lehigh Valley rail line into a 3.5-mile trail linking to the southern end of Roosevelt Park in Edison. The East Coast Greenway will use about two-thirds of that stretch, said Mike Dannemiller, a consulting engineer and avid bicyclist who has been working on the project for several years.

Middlesex County also is working on a Raritan River Seaport Trail, which would add another five miles, from the Edison boat basin near Route 1 around to Raritan Center, Dannemiller said. And along the booming Hudson River waterfront, as properties get developed, builders are required to build a waterside path, many of which have started to connect.

This year, near the end of Sixth Street in Jersey City, a small stretch was filled in that connected to a milelong section to the south and a section just to the north that runs another three-fifths of a mile.

Slowly, the nearly 12-mile stretch is getting done -- about half is finished -- and when it is, cyclists will have a safe off-road route all the way to the George Washington Bridge -- although that is not the only option the trail's designers envision.

In several states, alternate routes are being developed to give cyclists choices. In Virginia, there is an inland historic route and a coastal route.

In New Jersey, while bicyclists will have the option of pedaling to the bridge, the Greenway will also lead to the ferries in Jersey City in order to pick up the Greenway in mid-Manhattan. In fact, New York City has completed its entire path around the island so that bicyclists can either turn north, or loop south around Battery Park.

At the southern end of the Jersey trail, there are also discussions of tying in the Delaware Heritage Trail. Instead of crossing into Pennsylvania at Trenton, the route would offer Camden as an option, leading into the heart of Philadelphia.

Dolores Newman, co-coordinator with Kruimer on the Jersey section, believes that by 2012, cyclists will have a nearly uninterrupted path through the state.

But some obstacles are expected to take longer to resolve. One of the major challenges is crossing the Hackensack River. The solution is going to be a new WhittPenn Bridge, which the state Department of Transportation is committed to, said DOT officials. But that project will not be completed for years.

Along the East Coast, Greenway officials are looking to have the route substantially completed by 2010. The continuing challenge will be to move more of the route off-road onto designated bike routes. In Newark, for example, once the Greenway passes through Weequahic Park, and there is no other park land to pass through, plans call for a separate bike lane to be created along Irvine Turner Boulevard.

With the federal government looking to encourage more pathways for children to get safely to school, and more and more emphasis on alternatives to gasoline-powered transportation, Newman believes the momentum is on the side of the Greenway.

"I think the major parts of the trail will be done in the next five years," she said. "Everything is working in favor of things like this."



Gabriel H. Gluck may be reached at (908) 302-1506 or ggluck@starledger.com.




? 2007 The Star Ledger
? 2007 NJ.com All Rights Reserved.

Posted on: 2007/9/25 13:01
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Re: Embankment- Updates
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09/22/2007
Meeting cancelled regarding Embankment demolition

Attorneys ask for delay as they consider future options

Ricardo Kaulessar

Reporter staff writer

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THE EMBANKMENT TO COME ? This is a rendering of Jersey City?s Sixth Street Embankment as a park. The plan has a chance of coming to fruition based on an Aug. 8 federal decision invalidating the sale of the Embankment to private hands. Rendering done by Cassandra Wilday Landscape Architects.

The Jersey City Historic Preservation Commission was supposed to meet Monday to hear applications for the demolition of the historic Sixth Street railroad embankment, among others.

Instead, city historic preservation officer Dan Wrieden informed attendees that the attorneys representing would-be developer Steve Hyman and several investors asked for a rescheduling of the hearing until the next commission meeting, scheduled for Oct. 15.

The Embankment is a series of sandstone and granite blocks spanning Sixth Street from Marin Boulevard to Brunswick Street. A section of the Pennsylvania Railroad freight line ran over the area from 1902 until the late 1970s.

Hyman acquired the property in 2005 from Conrail for $3 million. He intended to subdivide the entire Embankment, demolish it, and build 64 two-family homes across Sixth Street.

However, those plans were put on hold as the result of what transpired last month.

On Aug. 8, the Federal Surface Transportation Board (STB) ruled that railroad company Conrail should have gotten authorization from the STB to abandon the Embankment before it was sold to Hyman. By law, Conrail should have offered it to public entities for a possible public use.

Many people in Jersey City would like the embankment to be part of a nature trail or park.

Hyman also was supposed to appear at the Planning Board this coming Tuesday with site plans of the two-family houses that he wants to build, but that hearing also has been rescheduled for Oct. 2.

As far as the city's stance is concerned, city spokesperson Jennifer Morrill stated, "There is ongoing litigation between [the city and Steve Hyman], and the city's ultimate goal is to acquire the Sixth Street Embankment."

Hyman has appealed

What do both sides do during this period of limbo? The attorneys for Hyman have appealed the STB decision.

In the meantime, Conrail will have to file the proper paperwork for abandonment with the Surface Transportation Board. The railroad company will then have offer the embankment to a government body for sale during a 60-day period before looking at private buyers.

Members of the Pennsylvania Harsimus Stem Embankment Coalition, founded in 1997 by longtime downtown resident Maureen Crowley and other residents who want to preserve the embankment, are planning to hold a celebration.

The Embankment Coalition has worked with city government in recent years to turn the area into a park and nature trail that would link a 2,500-mile series of trails stretching from Maine to Florida, as well as a possible Light Rail route from Jersey City to Secaucus. The light rail and the park/trail would co-exist.

There will be a celebration on Oct. 13, honoring those who signed the petition to the STB contending the Embankment was a "line of railroad" subject to abandonment regulations. It is scheduled to take place at Resurrection School Gym (Holy Rosary Complex) at 189 Brunswick St (at Sixth Street).

Among those to be honored are Governor Jon Corzine, U.S. Senators Robert Menendez and Frank Lautenberg, State Sen.Bernard F. Kenny, Jr., State Assemblyman Louis M. Manzo, Hudson County Executive Thomas A. DeGise, Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy, Council President Mariano Vega Jr., members of the City Council, and the neighborhood associations and individual citizens who sent statements and letters of support to the STB.

For comments on this story, contact Ricardo Kaulessar at rkaulessar@hudsonreporter.com






?The Hudson Reporter 2007

Posted on: 2007/9/25 12:59
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Re: Embankment Celebration! Sat, Oct 13 Noon to 4PM
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Join Us in Marking Our Winning Petition to the STB

You're All Invited!

Saturday, October 13
Resurrection School Gym (Holy Rosary Complex)
189 Brunswick St (at Sixth St)
Noon to 4 pm

Children's Activities/Tour of Gardens along Embankment/Displays/Music/Refreshments
See our park designs and give us your ideas

An August ruling by the STB gives city, county, and state governments a second chance to acquire the Embankment on reasonable terms. This win is an inspiring example of citizen collaboration - let's celebrate!.

Between 1 and 2 pm we will honor individuals who contributed to the STB Petition, including Governor Jon Corzine, U.S. Senators Robert Menendez and Frank Lautenberg, NJ State Senator Bernard F. Kenny, Jr., NJ State Assemblyman Louis M. Manzo, Hudson County Executive Thomas A. DeGise, Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy, Council President Mariano Vega Jr. and Members of the Municipal Council, and the neighborhood associations and individual citizens who sent statements and letters of support to the STB.
***************************************************


Would you like to be an Embankment volunteer?

I hope you've already heard the news - we won at the STB!!! While we've had incremental wins over the years, this is the most important and puts us on track to actually MAKING A PARK in downtown Jersey City. We've asked you to come out to Council meetings, badger your legislators etc, but this time we want to CELEBRATE!

On Saturday, October 13th, we'll be having our annual membership meeting along with a big party with live music, children's activities (we'll actually have artists helping to make creative costumes), and a few speeches from our politicians (see a full description of the event below). To pull it off, though, we need your help before the event and the day of the event. If you can't help, we hope you can at least attend. If you've been wanting to help out and haven't had the time or haven't joined us yet, this will a fun event and a great way to meet other supporters of the Embanlment.

We need volunteers to help with:
Greeting dignitaries;
Leading children's activities;
Aiding tour guides;
Manning tables;
Helping with publicity;
Setting up and taking down tables etc; and
Making signs.
Let me know whether you can:

1) Attend the event; and/or
2) Volunteer for one of the above activities.

Please respond to hyde_catherine@hotmail.com Thanks so much and I hope to see you then!

Regards,
Catherine

Posted on: 2007/9/18 2:17
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Embankment Alert
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Please note that the Monday, September 17 Historic Preservation Commission Agenda includes the 11 previously rescheduled applications to demolish the 6th Street Embankment on the grounds of economic hardship.

Please plan on attending this very important meeting, which will commence at 6:30pm on the 14th Floor Conference Room at 35 Montgomery Street

It is vitally important that all residents of Hamilton Park and Hasimus Cove and those concerned with Historic Preservation and Greenspace development turn out to oppose these applications, which should be considered barred by the court preceeding voiding the sale of these parcels to the developer without offering it first to the city.

The Historic Preservation Commission is being asked to make a recommendation to the Jersey City Planning Board, which will take final action at a subsequent meeting, whose date has yet to be determined.

Harsimus Cove Association
President
www.harsimuscove.org

Posted on: 2007/9/13 22:41
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Re: Embankment- Update Thread
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working my way back up the thread....

I and hopefully others believe that the "agenda's" of these advocacy groups are critical to developing Jersey City as a sustainable city. It is percisely these type of resources that make "world class cities".

Again, I believe these groups have already made convincing cases that the projects they advocate or support have everything to do with "providing transportation alternatives, aiding economic growth, or facing the realities of Jersey City's expanding population" ...... and tearing down the Embankment does nothing towards these goals.

Quote:

ianmac47 wrote:
The advocacy groups you mention are biased lobbying organizations that each have their own specific agendas, none of which have anything to do with providing transportation alternatives, aiding economic growth, or facing the realities of Jersey City's expanding population.

The Embankment Preservation Coalition:

"The Pennsylvannia Railroad Harsimus Stem Embankment Coalition is a 501(c)3 organization incorporated in the State of New Jersey. It works to protect the elevated stone embankment that was once the easternmost portion of the Pennsylvania Railroad freightway,"

The East Coast Greenway:

"The Alliance plays an essential role in making the East Coast Greenway a reality. We set the vision, define clear criteria for the kind of trail to be created, provide the needed coordination among the many players who will develop, own, and manage the trail"

Jersey City Landmarks Conservancy:

"Founding members, alarmed by rampant development, came together in a concerted effort to preserve, protect, and promote other irreplaceable historic resources of Jersey City, such as Whitlock Cordage, Reservoir 3, The Bergen Arches, Cobblestone Streets, St. John's Episcopal Church, and the Warehouse Historic District....JCLC works to preserve endangered historic sites, conducts historical walking and bus tours, sponsors historical exhibitions, and publishes preservation-related literature"

Further you state that there are hundreds of people in support of preserving the embankment, yet in a city of 240,000 residents, even a thousand supporters is far less than even 1%. And in addition to that, while many people want to see a park built on the land where the embankment sits, not all of those people who want a park want to preserve the stone wall.


Quote:

Ultimately, the concerns about light rail are not based on the "passions" of a "vocal minority" who don't know as much about urban planning as the I-man. Rather, they are carefully considered positions which have been arrived at by people who have, for several years, been involved in a unique opportunity to utilize a historic and natural resource for a public good. It bears noting that these people are not just yelling at others to do the job. These are the same people who worked to secure millions of dollars and funding to acquire the property, and to fight the legal battle which, last week, resulted in a crucial win that gives the city an opportunity to utilize the Embankment for public good, whether as rail or as open space.



The embankment coalition makes clear their single purpose is to save the elevated stone embankment. The coalition's purpose is not to create a sustainable city or to manage Jersey City's growth or transportation needs; it exists to prevent the destruction of the embankment.

The Greenaway alliance has a specific goal of connecting east coast cities with "an urban alternative to the highly popular Appalachian Trail." That's a great goal, but has nothing to do with creating a sustainable city. While a trail system is transportation oriented, it has absolutely nothing to do with practical considerations for moving people on daily basis. Their interest is entirely based on creating the trail network, not creating a transportation network to service the thousands of daily commuters of the metropolitan region.

Finally the JC Landmarks Conservancy is again an organization of preservation, with a stated goal of ensuring critical landmarks are preserved. Yet again, there is no mention of managing the city's growth or balancing future needs.

Like any advocacy group, these three organizations are most concerned about their own agendas rather than the greater good, or they confuse their own agenda with the greater good. The NRA probably wouldn't support a ban on handguns in cities; the Sierra Club probably wouldn't support lower standards for auto emissions; Christian fundamentalists probably wouldn't support building an abortion clinic. But the NRA isn't an authority on crime, nor the Sierra Club an authority the auto industry, nor right to life groups authorities on abortion. Similarly, the embankment coalition, the greenway alliance, and the JCLC are not authoritative organizations on urban planning. They are agenda driven lobbyists looking to promote themselves and their values. Yet they approach any discussion of the use of the embankment as though their beliefs are paramount, as though the debate should end with them.

Just because you and your organization have spent years working towards a goal does not make it the right goal or the best goal. Members of Americans for Fair Taxation may spend years studying the federal tax system, but that doesn't mean the best public policy is to "abolish all federal personal and corporate income taxes, gift, estate, capital gains, alternative minimum, Social Security, Medicare, and self-employment taxes and replaces them with one simple, visible, federal retail sales tax."

Posted on: 2007/9/7 20:06
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Re: Sept 17, 2007: Embankment Demolition Hearing
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Train embankment closer to becoming open space

Federal board invalidates sale to developer; park activists happy

Ricardo Kaulessar
Reporter staff writer 08/17/2007

THE EMBANKMENT TO COME ? This is a rendering of Jersey City?s Sixth Street Embankment as a park, which has a better chance of coming to fruition based on an Aug. 8 federal decision invalidating the sale of the Embankment to private hands. Rendering done by Cassandra Wilday Landscape Architects.
The Sixth Street Embankment, a massive century-old stone wall in Downtown Jersey City, went from being owned by a developer to being public property again earlier this month.

On Aug. 8, the federal Surface Transportation Board (STB) ruled that railroad company Conrail should have gotten authorization from the STB to abandon the Embankment before it was sold in 2005 to New York property owner Steve Hyman so Hyman could build two-family homes.

The Embankment is a series of sandstone and granite blocks spanning Sixth Street from Marin Boulevard to Brunswick Street, over which a section of the Pennsylvania Railroad freight line ran from 1902 until the late 1970s.

Federal law stipulates that rail carriers intending to abandon any part of their railroad lines have to first file an application with the Surface Transportation Board (STB), the federal agency responsible for regulating interstate railroad transportation. If the STB finds an abandoned railroad property suitable for public use, and no longer in operation, then the property has to be offered for sale for public use.

Now, Conrail will have to file the proper paperwork for abandonment with the Surface Transportation Board and then offer the Embankment to a government body for sale during a 60-day period before looking at private buyers. That is, unless Hyman or Conrail appeal the decision.

Hyman's attorney Carmine Alampi could be reached for comment last week.

Reaction to the decision

The news of the decision has been greeted with cautious optimism by members of the Pennsylvania Harsimus Stem Embankment Coalition, founded in 1997 by longtime downtown resident Maureen Crowley and other residents to preserve the Embankment.

The group first organized to preserve the structure during the term of former Mayor Bret Schundler.

The Embankment Coalition has worked with city government in recent years to turn the area into a passive park and nature trail that would link a 2,500-mile series of trails stretching from Maine to Florida, as well as a possible Light Rail route from Jersey City to Secaucus. The light rail and the park/trail would co-exist.

However, after Hyman acquired the property from Conrail for $3 million, he has had plans to subdivide into the entire Embankment to build 64 two-family homes across Sixth Street.

"The STB decision changes the landscape. The developer's land use permissions are no longer valid," said Maureen Crowley, founder of the Coalition, last week. "What is important now is that the city works diligently with [Hudson County] and [the State of New Jersey] to line up the money for acquisition of the property from Conrail, so it is ready at the point in the abandonment process when Conrail must offer the property to the city."

In January 2006, a petition was filed with the STB by a group that included the City of Jersey City, the Embankment Coalition, the nonprofit railroad reuse group Rails to Trails Conservancy, and State Assemblyman Louis Manzo (D-31st Dist.) The petition contended the Embankment was a "line of railroad" that was subject to abandonment regulations.

All not aboard

Hyman's applications to the Jersey City Planning Board to subdivide the four lots were originally scheduled to be considered at this past Tuesday's Planning Board meeting in the Council Caucus room at City Hall.

Instead, Alampi notified the city's Planning Division that he would not make a presentation at that meeting. He requested that the applications be postponed for a future date.

The board selected Sept. 25.

Planning Board Attorney Jay Hamill commented, "I think it's a fair compromise so we can keep control of this, while giving everybody time to digest the opinion and decide where to go from here."

As it turns out, this is not the only municipal meeting where the Embankment had been placed on the agenda.

On Monday, the Jersey City Historic Preservation Commission was scheduled to hear applications by the developer for demolition of the Embankment structures and, if denied approval, will seek an economic hardship exemption. The Embankment was designated a Municipal Landmark by the city in 2003 and re-designated in 2006.

But the Commission announced last week the hearing on those applications has been rescheduled for its Sept. 17 meeting.

The next step

What the Embankment Coalition would like to see next is city, county and/or state government acquire the Embankment if and when Conrail goes through the abandonment process.

Jennifer Meyer, president of the Embankment Coalition, said last week that the city should be the first to make the effort to acquire. She said the city has not filed the necessary paperwork to obtain $2.4 million in funding already earmarked for Jersey City from the state's Green Acres Program, and from earmarked federal transportation funds already awarded for the purposes of acquisition.

The city has showed in recent times an unwillingness to follow through in obtaining funding for future acquisition. They decided not to file a grant application with Hudson County Open Space Trust Fund, and the City Council voted down an application for a 20-year, low-interest $4.9 million loan from the New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Trust, with the money to be used for acquisition.

But the Coalition met with the Hudson County Freeholders on Aug. 9 to discuss Hudson County government's potential efforts to acquire the Embankment.

Ricardo Kaulessar can be reached at rkaulessar@hudsonreporter.com

Posted on: 2007/8/17 21:28
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Re: Sept 17, 2007: Embankment Demolition Hearing
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Embankment would make a great park

Thursday, August 16, 2007

Jersey City's Sixth Street Embankment is back in play.

Following a decision last week by the federal Surface Transportation Board, the old railroad right-of-way in Downtown Jersey City, which had been sold by Conrail to developer Steve Hyman, may actually be available for purchase once again. In fact, Conrail is now obligated to offer it to the city before selling to any private entity.

The city, prodded over the years by a group of preservationists and open space advocates, seems to want to purchase the land and turn it into a public park.

This would be a laudable use for the space, much the way New York City, after years of battles, has decided to convert the old High Line elevated freight rail tracks into a park on Manhattan's West Side.

The embankment could be a much-needed green oasis in the midst of this heavily urban area and a breath of fresh air for Downtown residents hemmed in by skyscrapers and surrounded by thudding jackhammers.

The city should do everything in its power to buy the land and make it a park.

It will also be important to make sure that this parcel, if it is to be a park, has the true look and feel of a public space. It is an odd piece of land, elevated above street level and surrounded by an imposing stone fence. It would need to be well-integrated into the streetscape and welcoming and accessible to all residents.

Of course, the next issue is also about green - how much will this cost?

Hyman purchased the 6.2 acres for roughly $3 million in 2005 and planned to build housing. Obviously, with the sale invalidated, Hyman will get his money back.

The city should first pursue whatever state grants - including the Green Acres program - may be available. There is also the county's open space trust fund, which in addition to providing cash for such purposes, also would qualify the city for matching funds.

An intriguing idea was floated by Mayor Jerramiah Healy. In Monday's Jersey Journal story about the STB decision, Healy is quoted as saying he would like to see a light rail line at the embankment.

This would be a great way to open up the park to as many people as possible and to further encourage mass transit into the Downtown area. If NJ Transit, which operates the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail, can be persuaded to go along - a long-shot, perhaps - this could be a truly wonderful little corner of Jersey City.

? 2007 The Jersey Journal
? 2007 NJ.com All Rights Reserved.

Posted on: 2007/8/17 0:27
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Re: Embankment- Update Thread
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Dear Embankment Supporters:

Despite yesterday's last minute withdrawal of the developer's applications from consideration, they remain very much alive.

Attached is the Jersey City Planning Board's summary of actions taken at yesterday's meeting.

Click here for PDF file: Planning Board Action Summary of Aug 14, 2007

Please note that Items 6, 7, 8 and 9, affecting the future of the Embankment have been tentatively rescheduled for September 25, 2007. Please keep these dates open and plan on attending this very important meeting.

We will do our best to keep you informed on the status of this application as we learn more from the EPC and the City Planning Department as we move closer to the September hearing date.


All the best and thanks for your continued support.


Geoff Elkind
HPNA

Posted on: 2007/8/15 17:41
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Re: Embankment- Update Thread
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We were just notified that the Planning Board hearing on the Embankment is adjourned.

The Surface Transportation Board decision last week has halted these applications.

Your presence is no longer needed at the meeting tonight. If you have prepared statements, however, we ask you to turn them into letters to the editor and continue to make your voice heard. Unfortunately, though the STB decision was a big win, the nine-year struggle to preserve the Embankment will succeed only when the City or another governmental entity steps up to acquire it. The STB decision changes the landscape, but it by no means assures success. Only the public will make a park and greenway happen.

Thank you, HPNA, for your steadfast support for the Coalition over the years.

Sincerely,
Maureen Crowley, Coordinator
Embankment Preservation Coalition
201-963-0232

Posted on: 2007/8/14 20:48
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Re: Embankment- Update Thread
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Quote:

super_furry wrote:
I got off the phone with the City Planning and they confirmed that item 6 is NOT on the agenda tonight.


I did the same, super_furry.

Carmine Alante, attorney of record for SLH properties has officially requested an adjournment of tonight's hearing.

Here is the notice that the Embankment Preservation Coalition just sent out:

Embankment Coalition Supporter,

Please note that the Jersey City Planning Board will NOT hear the would-be Embankment developer's applications for Major Site Plan review tonight, August 14th.

The Surface Transportation Board decision, reported in our August newsletter, has halted these land use applications.

To all those who were planning to come and make statements, thank you! You no longer have to show up to make your opinions known.

Your labors should not be lost, however. We ask you to turn those statements into letters to the editor and send them to the Jersey Journal and or Jersey City Reporter. The struggle to secure the Embankment is by no means over - not until the City or another governmental entity steps up to acquire it. You must continue to make your voice heard.

To give a comment to the Jersey Journal that will be published in its weekend edition, call

201-217-2500 and record your message.

To send email to the Jersey Journal, go to http://www.nj.com/opinion/jjournal/letters/

To send email to the Jersey City Reporter:
clissner@hudsonreporter.com

To send regular mail:
Jersey City Reporter
1400 Washingrton St
Hoboken NJ 07030


Sincerely,
Jenny Meyer

Posted on: 2007/8/14 19:48
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I got off the phone with the City Planning and they confirmed that item 6 is NOT on the agenda tonight.

Posted on: 2007/8/14 19:40
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Re: Embankment- Update Thread
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Embankment Coalition Supporter,

Please note that the Jersey City Planning Board will NOT hear the would-be Embankment developer's applications for Major Site Plan review tonight, August 14th.

The Surface Transportation Board decision, reported in our August newsletter, has halted these land use applications.

To all those who were planning to come and make statements, thank you! You no longer have to show up to make your opinions known.

Sincerely,
Jenny Meyer

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

THis is GREAT news!

Posted on: 2007/8/14 19:27
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"Ultimately, all I'm really interested in is seeing the wall come down because it is a blight on the neighborhood in which I live. If housing goes in, so be it. If a park, all the better. If a light rail line, that might be best. I'm most interested in seeing the removal of a major obstacle to a safe, attractive urban space."

The Embankment is in my backyard - literally. I do not consider it a blight, and I do not want to see it come down. It's like a bit of the country in the city, and I did not buy my building anticipating that my peace and privacy would be invaded by construction or a train line running behind my house, people staring into my backyard, bathroom window, etc.

For these reasons, and also because of the lack of green space in Jersey City, the best use for it (in my opinion) would be to keep it as a nature preserve, or maybe to turn each block of it into a different type of park. The low block across from the baseball field could be turned into tennis courts (which downtown lacks) and/or a playground/ landscaped park. The next, more elevated block could be a running track or dog run or something, leaving most of the trees in place for shade relief and oxygen. Then the highest levels could be left as is - bird sanctuary/ nature preserve/ etc. This way you wouldn't have the security concerns of placing a park high above the street where noone can see what's going on, and downtown gets to keep its "lungs".

Posted on: 2007/8/14 15:26
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Quote:

JPhurst wrote:
The hundreds of people are just the people who have actually donated time, money and other resources to make things a reality. I'd be glad to put this to a voter referendum, would you?


Are you so certain you want to open that can of worms? Or more precisely, do you think a developer who stands to lose millions of dollars would sit on the sidelines if there was a public referendum? Don't take this the wrong way, but if it came down to a public vote, the embankment coalition would be buried by media paid for and produced by the developer. The end result of a referendum would yield neither a preserved embankment nor a light rail line nor a park.



Quote:

You seem to think that any action needs to be taken by some sort of Platonic form of "Urban Planner," detached from the pesky cries of the people who, you know, actually live in the city. Cities are created by their constituents, and ideally ones who are active and seek to build community and community institutions. Residents may advocate for social services for the poor, may advocate for a light rail line, may advocate for park space, may advocate for night life, or may advocate for a number of such things. Without such inputs, not even the best "Urban Planner" has anything to work with.



Residents are often far too self interested to make the best decisions for anyone but themselves. There are a lot of homeowners who want curb cuts to allow car ports in the front of their homes. But this self interest does not validate car ports as good public policy. Many property owners want to rip down and replace their historic buildings ith more modern, higher density housing. Are you saying we should disband the historic commissions if these people organize and form a committee?


Quote:

If you really think light rail is the best use, then go out and do something about it. And I don't mean post on JClist and make inaccurate personal attacks on the volunteers who disagree with you. I mean go out and secure millions of dollars in funding (done by EPC and its allies), and get hundreds of people to support and volunteer for the cause (ditto), and help retain legal counsel to set aside the unlawful sale of the property so it can be put aside for public use (actually, you don't have to do that, because that's now been done for you. You're welcome, again.).


I never claimed to be as passionate about this as you, and I see little reason to go through all the trouble of forming a grassroots effort when in all likelihood the corporate and government entities involved will resolve the issue the way I would like it to be. I'll certainly show up to do my civic duty and vote for the appropriate officials, but I think for now, with the current administration, there is little reason to think you will find much success in the long run. As far as the court cases and legal decisions, there is little influencing them other than sound legal precedent which either you have or you don't; and no doubt even if you lose, or even if your opponents lose, there will be appeals and counter suits and further action, which ultimately will become like many other similar projects, a war of attrition.

Ultimately, all I'm really interested in is seeing the wall come down because it is a blight on the neighborhood in which I live. If housing goes in, so be it. If a park, all the better. If a light rail line, that might be best. I'm most interested in seeing the removal of a major obstacle to a safe, attractive urban space.

Any of these resolutions is likely at a minimum, five years away, but probably twice that. Do I think necessarily that I will be here to reap the benefits of whatever the outcome is? Likely not. But in the now, my present wants, my own self interest, is to see the blighted wall removed. But that is not a reason to slight my opinion, or any reason for your opinion to be anymore valid.


Quote:

And convince NJ Transit to shelve the other proposed HBLRT extensions, because you insist that the Embankment Bergen Arches extension is more important than service to Bergen County, to the Meadowlands via North Bergen, or to NJCU, Rte 440, Society Hill, Kearny and Newark Airport. And while your at it explain to NJT why another HBLRT extension trumps Monmouth-Ocean-Middlesex service, or the Lackawanna Cutoff, the RIVER LINE extension to the capital, or the West Trenton Line. Oh, and then there's that little project that has to do with building another tunnel under the Hudson, how could I forget?!


NJ Transit is one of the worst managed state agencies. You also forgot to mention expanding Pascack Valley Line service to a double track configuration allowing simultaneous two way service. There is also the Pocono line and restoring service to Easton PA. Oh, and let's not forget the crisis of parking at commuter lots. If NJ Transit were DYFUS, there would be dead children every week.

As far as the HBLRT, there are a lot of political inconveniences in the way; lack of federal funds, local opposition to the route, local support of different routes. Part of the problem is that NJ Transit is not independent enough to build extensions without state and/or federal financing. It needs funding sources which are controlled by (1) state officials who want to dictate the best route for their constituents and (2) federal officials who want to bring money home to their own constituents. The powerful elected officials are not necessarily representing those with the most need.

You mention the River Line and the failures to connect to the statehouse. Don't forget also that service at night ends before most events at the arena end-- negating one of the promised benefits of the line, which is to allow travelers to take the line to arena events. But it doesn't really matter, all that matters is south Jersey received tax dollars for a large project. Despite the population distribution, south Jersey legislators wield a great deal of power and influence because of their financial backing. As a result money is diverted from important projects in the north to otherwise useless projects like the River Line.

Posted on: 2007/8/14 14:01
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