A plan that would revitalize an entire block near the city’s western fringe cleared a significant hurdle last night and the latest deal could pave the way for a new community center and public pool that’s long been desired in the Mile Square City.
Last March, we reported on a proposal that was looking to bring both a residential building and separate hotel to a 1.83-acre parcel at 1300 Jefferson Street. Companies called Just Block 112 and 707 Church LLC, subsidiaries of Pegasus Partners, reached a redevelopment agreement with Hoboken last year, but the project has not progressed much since.
A resolution outlining a new deal with Pegasus Partners was approved during the City Council’s July 29 meeting by an 8-1 vote, with the residential portion of the new agreement topping out at 184 feet. Designed by New York-based Fogerty Finger Architects, the tiered structure would sport a five-story podium section that includes the 304-space parking component, while the remainder of the building incorporates sections of 11, 16, and 18 stories.
357 apartments would be included, a significant increase from the previously approved 207 units. The residences currently break down as 30 studios, 120 one-bedrooms, 182 two-bedrooms, and 25 three-bedrooms. Amenities at the building would include several active roof terraces along the building’s tiers, a gym, and a pool on the 17th floor.
At the street level, 24,526-square feet of retail space split between four storefronts would be featured, as would a 5,234-square foot plaza for public use along the 13th Street side of the residential portion.
The 281-room hotel from the previous version of the project is still anticipated, but that portion will be coming later. The Council’s resolution states that since the original approvals were granted, circumstances have changed because of the Coronavirus pandemic.
“As such, [Pegasus Partners] has proposed revising the Original Project in order to…prioritize the construction of the residential component of the project, increase the number of residential units, and phase in the construction of the hotel component,” the resolution states.
Despite the expected delays, the hotel is still slated to rise 16 stories and include a rooftop restaurant, lounge, retail components, and parking. Both buildings in the project will need to be designed and constructed to LEED Silver standards or greater and a subsurface stormwater detention system capable of retaining no less than 22,000 cubic feet, or 165,000 gallons, of rainwater would be required under the deal.
The latest redevelopment agreement also ends some controversy that started earlier this year when Hoboken’s City Council approved changes to the area’s Western Edge Redevelopment Plan. The modifications wished to relax the neighborhood’s 10% affordable housing obligation in favor of creating opportunities to fund a new pool and community center.
Fair Share Housing Center sued the city last month over the proposed changes, but the suit was quickly settled. Under that agreement, Pegasus Partners will construct 20 on-site affordable units in the 1300 Jefferson Street building as well as another 17 exclusively for homeless veterans next to the American Legion Post 107 on Second Street between Willow Avenue and Clinton Street.
In addition to the affordable housing, the developer will be contributing $3 million to the city towards the construction of a pool and community recreation center at a location “within or about the Western Edge Redevelopment Area.” While not specifically outlined in the resolution, the city owns a full block of 13th Street between Adams and Jefferson streets next to the upcoming Northwest Park and our sources have indicated that could be where the eventual community center might be built.
“I’m extremely pleased we have adopted a redevelopment agreement that provides for robust community givebacks, especially funding that will be allocated for a new community pool,” said Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla. “The combination of this much needed public amenity, along with 37 units of affordable housing, open space, and critical flood mitigation will add substantial quality of life benefits to our mile square.”
The residential and hotel plans from Pegasus Partners will still need to be approved by the city’s planning board before any shovels hit the ground.
