Hoboken Luxury Buildings Must Add Affordable Apartments, Judge Says

HOBOKEN, NJ — A group of luxury apartment buildings in Hoboken — some with apartments that rent for $5,000 or more — must begin providing affordable housing, a Superior Court judge ruled.

Over the last 10 years, the fight between four building owners and the city of Hoboken — over local "inclusionary zoning" laws — has wended its way through court.

In July, a judge ruled that the building owners must provide 56 units of affordable housing, in compliance with a decades-old law that says they must designate 10 percent of their units that way.

Gothamist reported Monday that the buildings — including The Vine, Park and Garden, and Artisan on Clinton Street — are not allowed to rent out any more luxury units until they provide the affordable ones. At least one developer has responded that they will appeal.

Fourth Ward Councilman Ruben Ramos praised the ruling about the 56 units, saying they'll be welcome in a town where longtime tenants and families grapple with rising rents.

"After more than a decade of legal wrangling, the New Jersey State Superior Court has ruled that developers must comply with Hoboken’s inclusionary zoning law," Ramos said. "This means that 56 new affordable housing units are finally on their way."

He called the ruling "a huge win for working families, renters, and long-time residents who have been priced out of the community they love. And now that the courts have spoken, it's time for the developers to do the right thing: drop the appeals, stop the delays, and make these affordable units available now."

'Unaffordable For The Middle Class'

He added, "For too long, Hoboken has become unaffordable for the middle class. We’ve seen friends and neighbors forced out by skyrocketing rents, while developers have fought against the very laws designed to protect and house our community. Enough is enough."

Meanwhile, on Monday a Jersey City councilman and mayoral candidate said he'd introducing three ordinances in his town to ensure that landlords don't try to get around state and local housing and rent laws.

See that story here: If Your Landlord Breaks The Law, We'll Freeze Your Rent, Hudson County Candidate Says