Dear Neighbors,

This is a Special Update on landmark accomplishments for two critical projects — Harborside Park for Rebuild by Design, and Maritime Park at the Union Dry Dock location.

Rebuild by Design: Harborside Park Groundbreaking!
My family Iived through Superstorm Sandy in October 2012. I remember well the devastation and loss that blighted our homes, our businesses, and our community. Streets turned into rivers when eight feet of Hudson River water submerged the Mile Square City and thousands were plunged into cold and darkness, without power for a week. 
As your Councilman, I chaired the Council’s Ad Hoc Rebuild by Design Subcommittee, building on my Rebuild by Design community service as a member of the Rebuild by Design Citizens Advisory Group since 2017.  
So, Wednesday was an incredible day.  We celebrated the groundbreaking of Harborside Park, which will serve as Hoboken's first storm surge resiliency park, a “Resist” component of the Rebuild by Design “Resist,” “Delay,” “Store,” and “Discharge” comprehensive resiliency plan. Harborside Park features a sea wall built into the topography, protecting Hoboken and Weehawken from future Hudson River storm surges. The park also includes an amphitheater, dog park, playground, passive lawn areas, a waterfront plaza, seating areas, and more.  The park is a fully-funded $330 million State project with no impact on Hoboken’s municipal budget. 
I have been deeply, personally involved with planning and executing the Rebuild by Design effort for the last 6 years. Having seen the devastation Sandy wrought on our community first-hand, it is immensely gratifying to see this Rebuild by Design milestone come to pass. 
When fully realized, Rebuild by Design will protect 85% of our community from storm surge flooding, stronger, wetter storms, and rising sea levels associated with climate change. The project is a national model that will break the recurring, costly, and unsustainable cycle of destruction and reconstruction, which we have seen play out in Hoboken and many other communities. Rebuild by Design showcases best practices for resilient, sustainable infrastructure. I am proud and honored to have played a critical role in making our community safer and more resilient for generations to come.
Wednesday’s Groundbreaking with NJ DEP Commissioner Shawn LaTourette, NJ DEP Director Dennis Reinknecht, and Mayor Bhalla
 
Union Dry Dock Updates - Final Design for Maritime Park
As a Council candidate in 2019, I committed to work on connecting our world-class waterfront walkway for the public’s use and enjoyment. In 2019, the City was threatened by Ironstate’s “Monarch” development — two 11-story condominiums over the 15h Street pier — which the City was challenging in court. Working with Mayor Bhalla and his Administration, last year my Council colleagues and I approved a negotiated settlement of the Monarch litigation forever securing the 15th Street pier for public use
In 2019, the City also was fighting a second battle for our waterfront — against New York Waterway (“NYWW”) — in order to acquire the Union Dry Dock (“UDD”) site. I have been engaged in this fight for years.  On Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in 2018, I spent my day of service at NJ Transit’s headquarters in Newark, fighting former Governor Chris Christie’s plan for NJ Transit to lease the UDD site to NYWW for $1/year. We won that day, stopping Governor Christie’s effort to strip the UDD property from Hoboken’s local control.
Blocking NYWW’s Backroom Deal with NJ Transit.  Newark, NJ — January 15, 2018
After we won that fight, Mayor Bhalla and his Administration challenged NYWW in Court through eminent domain proceedings, which concluded in February in the form of a negotiated settlement with NYWW that I fully supported.  The City acquired the UDD site at an agreed-upon purchase price of $18.5 million.  
As the legal owner of the UDD site, the City hosted a series of community design meetings this year, planning for the future of Maritime Park.  The final community meeting for the concept design of Maritime Park was held on Wednesdayone of the last steps before the Maritime Park design is reviewed by the Planning Board, before being sent to the City Council later this year. I continue closely collaborating with residents, community advocates like the Fund for a Better Waterfront, and Mayor Bhalla’s administration to ensure Maritime Park will — in perpetuity — exist for the use and enjoyment of all Hobokenites and our visitors.
Maritime Park’s presented concept design elements include: expansive active and passive recreational spaces: including a large flexible lawn; an upgraded and enlarged skate park; an expanded beach; a new pier; a community building; a play area featuring natural materials and structures, and more.
Maritime Park’s Final Presented Community Design
Realizing this beautiful design for our forever Maritime Park delivers on my pledge to work for you to connect our public waterfront for all Hobokenites, for generations to come. But you will not need to wait until Maritime Park is fully constructed to enjoy the City’s acquisition of UDD. Next year, the City will build a spectacular, new, tree-lined, protected two-way bike lane, on Sinatra Drive on portions of the UDD site, for cyclists of all ages and abilities to enjoy, on a fully protected pathway.
The New Sinatra Drive Protected Bike Lane Design on the UDD Site — Coming in 2024
 
Coffee with Cohen … the home edition
On Tuesday, I hosted my 89th Coffee with Cohen community event with a special guest, Geri Fallo, Hoboken’s Director of Cultural Affairs
We discussed Geri’s time as Director of Cultural Affairs, the future of arts and culture in Hoboken, upcoming events, and highlights from her extraordinary 29-year career in City Hall. I also addressed the upcoming November 7 election and voting information, Maritime Park’s final design concept, upcoming community fall events, and more.  More than 60 people have already watched this event, which you can watch here. This event, and many past Coffee with Cohen events — are recorded and hosted on my Facebook page and you can watch them here. 

Staying Up To Date and Seeking My Assistance
I issue this newsletter every other Friday. You can stay up to date by following me on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram. If you have any questions, or I can be of assistance to you or your family, please do not hesitate to contact me at HobokenPhil@gmail.com.  
Phil Cohen
Hoboken City Councilman
Hoboken, New Jersey
HobokenPhil@gmail.com
(862) 234-9053
P.S. You can learn more about me and my ideas for Hoboken (as well as read this newsletter and prior newsletters) on my website philcohen.org

 
Paid for by Phil Cohen for Hoboken City Council