Fire-Damaged Hoboken Site Will Be Redeveloped With Supermarket And Housing: City

HOBOKEN, NJ — After a fire caused damage and took two lives at the Chambord Building at 38 Jackson St. last year, the property owners are preparing for a redevelopment project that will include a supermarket and housing, the city said this week.

The redevelopment project will bring a supermarket, commercial space, and 123 residential units (including 12 affordable) to the area, the city said. The area is at the city's southernmost corner, near the border with Jersey City.

The developers will also provide the city with $800,000, which will be used to expand the adjacent Southwest Resiliency Park.

The Hoboken City Council approved the redevelopment agreement with 38 Jackson, LLC. on Dec. 15, 2021, and Mayor Ravi Bhalla signed the agreement on Jan. 14, 2022, the city said.

Five days after the agreement was approved, around midnight on Dec. 20, 2021, a police officer on duty in the area heard what sounded like an explosion. A fire in the building took two lives and damaged businesses.

Last January, the Prosecutor's Office said they believe the fire started in a glass and vapor shop, but that they were still investigating.

Business owners said this week that they've been trying to rebuild since then, as redevelopment plans go forward.

One former small business owner in the building said that he had had to move out after the fire, a situation common with many of his neighbors.

"We’ve known about the development plans since last year, which is why the fire has always been very suspicious," he said. "The reason why the city felt compelled to publicly mention something now was because of the asbestos [cleanup this week] all over social media. We have received close to zero support from the city or ownership of the building."

Another business owner, Marilyn Tomasso of Manhattan Neon, said her business moved to Union City (208 Paterson Plank Road).

"It was clear from the get-go that all the businesses would leave, take their lives and livelihoods with them," Tomasso said. "Help would not be coming anytime soon. Insurance based upon coverage was the only real response ... The answer to all the businesses affected, was move and rebuild, or not in some cases. I wish everyone God’s speed and a bright and healthy future."

Find some of the GoFundMe pages for the businesses here.

Asbestos Cleanup And Demolition

The city said that through this Friday, the property owners are conducting asbestos abatement using a vendor approved by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP).

The city said the property owners will preserve the historical elements of the Chambord building, while "integrating modern amenities to adaptively reuse the former My-T-Fine Pudding warehouse to create 123 residential units and ground floor retail."

"Demolition operations are scheduled to commence next month following additional city permit approvals," the city said.

On Friday, Hoboken city spokeswoman Marilyn Baer clarified, "Per the unanimously adopted redevelopment agreement, the historic factory building, which fronts on Observer Highway, Harrison Street and Jackson Street, will remain on the site to be restored and reused for residential and retail use. All other buildings on the block are not part of the original historic factory building and will be demolished."