Hoboken PreK Expands To New Condo Building As Population Grows

HOBOKEN, NJ — Hoboken's school district will house part of its growing preK program in a new residential development near the city's southern border.

The district recently signed a 20-year lease for 25,550 square feet at Southend Hoboken — a development at 38 Jackson St. that will also include a Dumbo Market and other businesses — according to the real estate broker.

"Our public school system hasn’t physically expanded to meet the needs of our growing population of children," said Jacqueline Petruzzelli of Cocoran Sawyer Smith, who represented the district in the sale.

Hoboken's public schools have long sought new space, saying the buildings are aging and more families have raised families in town rather than moving to the suburbs. In January 2022, the district held a referendum to bond for $241 million for new buildings and improvements, but the voters defeated it.

Hoboken's population rose and fell over the last century. From 1910 through the early 1990s, factories and industries moved elsewhere and the city's population waned. In 1994, the city sold two public school buildings to help fill a structural deficit in the city budget.

But now, commuters and families are staying in town, and new development is rising to house them.

“As a long-time residential agent in Hoboken, I’ve had a front-row seat to the incredible influx of families choosing to call this community home," Petruzzelli said.

Southend Hoboken will include 110 residential condominium homes, known as Southend Lofts, 50,000 square feet of commercial space, and 50,000 square feet of ground-floor retail, including the supermarket. Three restaurants will also move in. READ MORE: Dim Sum And 2 Other Restaurants Coming To Hoboken

'Address Growing Enrollment'

Public meetings were held last year to discuss the district acquiring new space.

"This project will help to free up space at Wallace Elementary School to address growing enrollment, by relocating some but not all preschool classes," said Superintendent of Schools Christine Johnson on Thursday. "The Board of Education and administration continue to explore all options to address the current and projected K-12 growth in enrollment."

PreK-3 and preK-4 are free in the Hoboken public schools, as the district was part of the state Abbott program, meant to give students in lower-income towns an equal education to others.

PRIOR REPORTING: Hoboken Votes On $241M School Bond Referendum