Bits & Briefs

Ibby's Returns
Ibby's Falafel, the much beloved Grove Street fixture closed for months of renovations has finally reopened. Go, eat falafel.

Developer scales back abatement
Grove Pointe is backing out of its 20 year tax abatement in favor of phasing in regular taxes over the next five years citing a savings for the developer.

This Way Up
New Jersey Monthly gives some love to Jersey City, months after New York Magazine, totally justifying our name once again.

Demolition Begins
Hoboken Hero has some great demolition porn from the west side of Hoboken.

Hoboken Home to The Stars

If of course, you consider Governors to be celebrities. Bloomberg reports Hoboken is the hot new address for self-made millionaires. To hell with East and West Egg, Jay Gatsby would live in Hoboken. The best line comes from the Toll Brothers CEO:

"``We're killing 'em in Hoboken,'' Chief Executive Officer Robert Toll said at a March conference in Las Vegas."

Powerhouse Dirt Pile Removed

For years a massive pile of dirt sat on city land at the corner of Washington and Second Streets, adjacent to the historic powerhouse building. The city had been hoping construction in the powerhouse district might need the dirt-- and remove the dirt for free. Instead, the Athena Tower sales office needed the open land, and agreed to move the soil to another city location in exchange for using the land for a temporary sales office. The removal would have cost the city tens of thousands of dollars. Finally, the dirt has been removed:

Thousands Flock to Hamilton Park as Ball Ban Lifted

Lovers of croquet, jarts, and whiffle ball can rejoice as it seems the previous ban on ball playing and other flying objects in Hamilton Park has been lifted. Whether this is an official act, or the result of vigilante members of the community, we can't be certain. But the signs have been removed:



In February, signs went up near the entrances of the park declaring that ball playing was prohibited, except in designated areas.

Bits & Briefs

Model of Urban Future
USA Today discovers Jersey City; Motel guests across the country to flock to city.

Sunday Flooding
Its raining, meaning Hoboken is flooding.

Bits & Briefs

Comfort food, Middle Eastern style
The Journal reviews Paulus Hook eatery 2 Aprons.

Light Rail Work Set
Service interruptions on the Light Rail this weekend.

Dirt Pile To be Cleared

According to a Journal article, which has since disappeared and now only appears on the Wired New York forums, the large pile of dirt adjacent to the Powerhouse that has sat on Washington Blvd for a number of years is finally to be removed. The Athena developers are to remove the soil from the city own land, and temporarily install a sales office for the A Condominiums currently being erected across the street.

Bits & Briefs

Tastes Like Turkey
The Village Voice crosses the Hudson River to discover Its Greek To Me; dozens of other restaurants consider serving gyros.

Newport Plans On Agenda
Newport is formally seeking final approval for the Ellipse tower and the Lefrak Museum, which is absolutely not going to be called the Lefrak Museum.

Collision stalls Hoboken light rail
A truck ran a red light and struck a light rail train.

Bits & Briefs

The Future of Jersey City
The new issue of Jersey City Magazine is out and ponders where the city is going.

6.2 acres of tax rise reduction
The Journal Reports that the city and the state have come to an agreement over a bit of land in the Liberty Harbor North redevelopment allowing the new Hilton Hotel to move forward.

Oldie But Goodie
A historic Hoboken street sign built into the corner of the building as captured by Hoboken Hero.

Cab Drivers Buy City Council

The Journal is reporting that the Hoboken city Council has gone ahead and voted to ban pedicabs before they even have a chance to carry their first passenger. Taxi cab operators have been protesting for weeks that the pedal powered carts would be real competition with their gas powered pedestrian killers, and since we absolutely don't want to encourage a competitive market, the city of Hoboken will ban the pedicabs until they can figure out a way to balance the budget through pedicab licensing fees.

Jersey City as well as a number of shore towns were also intended to get pedicab service. The Hoboken ban could mean that Jersey City will get pedicabs sooner, or on the other hand the whole prospect of bringing eco-friendly transportation to Hudson County is over.

Bits & Briefs

Powerhouse Arts District Neighborhood
The Powerhouse Arts District Neighborhood Association has launched a website. Name calling, petty bickering, stalking charges to follow. Oh, wait, that's Newport.

Hoboken Hero
A new blog from the northwest corner of Hoboken was launched with all sorts of construction-porn goodness including the new Metro-stop building

Safest Drivers In N.Y.C., Jersey City, Yonkers
Don't expect an auto insurance discount anytime soon, but apparently we rank among the safest drivers in the nation.

Frustrated Bus Rider Makes Map

We don't often take the bus, and we really don't many people who do. But apparently there are a few of you out there, like the one frustrated rider who wanted a map of Hudson County buses. But since NJTransit seems to have a map aversion, he had to create his own, thus, JerseyMap.org was born. As we said, we don't often take the bus, so we have no way of knowing if its accurate, but it sure looks professional.

Pedicabs Take Hoboken, Jersey City Could Be Next

The Journal is reporting that Hoboken's fleet of pedicabs is set to take to the streets on April 21, and the owners of the vehicles hope to eventually expand the service to Jersey City. Operators of gas fueled cabs are obviously upset that the pedicabs don't require anything more than a business license to operate fearing the pedicabs could cut into profit margins. Perhaps now the local cabbies will keep those meters running the next time they cross a municipal border rather than rolling a set of dice to determine a fare. In either case, tip your pedicab operators generously because those athletic folks don't take a salary.

What the Industry Has To Say

The Real Deal has gone and interviewed everyone from Jaime Lefrak to local real estate brokers on the current conditions along the Gold Coast. Jersey City seems to be on the tip of everyone's tongue, and an unscientific survey concludes: Jersey City is underrated and more towers are coming to the downtown. Go figure.

Via Kannekt Forums

Bits & Briefs

More use Light Rail
The Journal reports ridership is up more than 50% between 2006 and 2007.

Social Sports League Deadline Approaches
ZogSports runs a social sports league for anyone who likes balls flying at their face. Sounds like any typical Friday night in Hoboken, but this one is an organized dodgeball league, with flag football in Jersey City. Oh, and there is something about benefiting charity too.

Tower Approved for Embankment

The city approved a 47 story tower was for the eastern end of the Sixth Street Embankment between Manila and Erie Streets, paving the way for high-rise development through the historic Hamilton Park neighborhood. The tower will have 347 units of housing and 470 parking spaces in a the six story parking deck.

The city reached a compromise with the developer who will bring affordable housing to the downtown. 140 units of section 8 housing will be constructed on part of the embankment between Monmouth and Jersey Avenue, providing housing for the city's neediest residents. Meanwhile, the last segment of the embankment will be converted into a dog run.

Trump Bringing Boardwalk Fun To Highrise

Ever inventive, The Donald is looking to turn an ordinary luxury high-rise building into one more appropriate of the Trump name: Trump Plaza Hotel & Casino. The double tower rising just south of the powerhouse could offer a taste of Atlantic City, but without all the senior citizens and all-u-can-eat buffets. Sources indicate that Trump is lobbying the state for an allowance to have the Trump Towers, Jersey City, operate as an extension of Trump Hotel & Casino. Recent reports have indicated that Atlantic City's casinos have seen a slump in revenue as new gambling spots open closer to New York. Trump's building would literally be a PATH stop away from Manhattan.

Vice Presidential Towers Announced for Newport

The Dan Quayle will be the center piece to the newest addition to Newport in Jersey City, the Vice Presidential Towers. The Dan Quayle is a proposed sixty story tower, though despite expectations, will probably not be taller than thirty. Joining the Quayle will be the Walter Mondale and Spiro Agnew. The Albert Gore, planned as the western most tower, will have river views in ten to fifty years, depending on how rapidly rising seas engulf the other towers.

Sunbathing, Walking Banned From Hamilton Park

Citing safety as a main concern, a number of activities have been banned from Hamilton Park, including walking, running, and sunbathing. With a depleted ozone layer, sunbathing has become extremely dangerous as ultra violet light can damage skin and cause sever burns. Residents who run or walk through the park have the risk of spraining an ankle or worse. Fun was banned from the park years ago, though only recently have signs been installed allowing city police to enforce the ordinance.