Developer Sought For 25-Story Affordable Housing Building In Hoboken

HOBOKEN, NJ — A week after Hoboken's City Council approved a 25-story affordable housing building five blocks from the train station, the city said it has issued requests for design proposals.

The project will contain only affordable and workforce housing, as the mile-square city has had the highest rents and rent increases in the country.

But the project has brought some controversy, as the city's Planning Board voted last week that the plan is inconsistent with the city's master plan.

Nonetheless, the council voted 5-3 to approve it, citing a need for more affordable housing.

The city issued a Request for Conceptual Design Proposals for the Garage B Redevelopment Project, inviting developers to submit concept plans that align with the redevelopment plan.

The project would change the current municipal parking garage, located on Second Street between Hudson and River sStreets, into a mixed-use development with retail and parking on the bottom floor.

“The Garage B Redevelopment Plan represents a historic step in addressing the shortage of affordable and workforce housing in Hoboken,” said Mayor Ravi Bhalla. “By transforming an outdated garage into a modern, sustainable development, we are ensuring that essential workers, families, and residents of all income levels are not continually displaced and have a place to call home.”

Permitted uses for the upper floors of the development include a school, government offices, and recreational facilities. Co-working spaces and shared offices are also permitted, alongside amenities such as bike parking, public plazas, and open community spaces, the city said.

The redevelopment plan emphasizes sustainability, incorporating energy-efficient designs and modern construction standards.

The existing mural on Hudson Street will be preserved, the city said.

To learn more or submit a proposal, go to www.hobokennj.gov/resources/request-for-conceptual-design-proposals-garage-b-redevelopment-plan.