Developer Wants 282 More Units In Proposed Monroe St. Apartments

HOBOKEN, N.J. —Debate continued last month over the proposed trio of apartment buildings with ground floor retail space at 930 Monroe St., which are part of Hoboken's Western Edge Redevelopment Plan.

The triangular property sits between a Shoprite and the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail tracks and is just below the Palisades Cliffs. The property currently is the site of an Amazon fulfillment center.

At a virtual community meeting on July 15, Lou Madigan of Madigan Development, which owns the site of the proposed buildings, presented a revamped plan that now includes 675 units, up from 393 units previously proposed, according to JerseyDigs.com. The proposed buildings would be 11 stories tall, with the maximum height of 116 feet, which is the same as the VINE Apartments adjacent to the property.

In return for the extra units, Madigan announced his company will spend $10 million to develop a 1.5 acre park at 800 Monroe St., near the buildings. The park is expected to include a playground, fountain and walking paths.

Madigan also said the company is willing to add to the bike infrastructure as part of Hoboken's intended Green Circuit, and provide about 0.6 parking spaces per unit and 100 spaces for the public, according to NJ.com.

"We believe our project has many public benefits including closing a high-volume industrial warehouse, and replacing it with much needed retail," Madigan said. "We're providing (40,000 square feet) of open space as required by the redevelopment plan, 10 percent affordable housing and excess stormwater detention which are all public goods. We also are committed to spending $15 million in public right-of-way improvements, including the Green Circuit and a new park across from the Metro Stop Condos."

But some local politicians do not believe these community givebacks justify the additional units.

"This is definitely a non-starter for me," Hoboken councilman Michael Russo told NJ.com.

Hoboken councilwoman Tiffanie Fisher also voiced concern that Union City's interests are having too much influence on this and other projects in Hoboken. Brian Stack, who is Union City's mayor and a state senator, co-sponsored a state bill that would limit the height of development below the Palisades Cliffs.

"That a mayor in a surrounding city is impacting our developments is a real problem," Fisher told NJ.com last month.

On Aug 4. the Hoboken Planning Board voted 5-4 to reject a site plan application for an 18-story building at 300 Jefferson St. after Union City objected based primarily on how the structure would affect views of New York City, NJ.com reported.

Some members of the Hoboken council do seem to have a favorable opinion of the 930 Monroe St. project, however. According to NJ.com, councilman Phil Cohen has showered praise on the project and warned taxpayers they would be on the hook for the public park if it's not funded by the developers.

According to JerseyDigs.com, the 930 Monroe St. project's height conforms to current zoning laws. However, changes related to reducing the setback from the light rail, lowering the first-floor area ratio and modifying the bonus floor area ratio are being requested.

The city council, which next meets on Aug. 18, would have to approve any possible amendments to the redevelopment plan, and those would need to be reviewed by the planning board, according to JerseyDigs.com.