June 20.  The Hudson County Planning Board denied subdivision applications tonight for four Embankment blocks. The vote, taken after a closed executive session to discuss legal issues, was 7-0, 1 abstention.   

 

Typically, the board considers narrow issues of proximity to County roads and facilities, not applicable in this case.  Instead, several Board members cited previous votes for the County's Open Space Plan, which lists the Embankment as a priority acquisition site, and said it would be inconsistent to now vote for subdivision.  

 

The approximately 25 Coalition supporters who spoke up at the public hearing described the inconsistency of subdivision with the spirit and letter of the County Master Plan and Open Space Plan.  They pointed out the preemption by a local authority of federal authority because the Surface Transportation Board has not yet ruled on whether the line of rail was properly abandoned. They said subdivision approval would contribute to the demolition of a historic site on the State Register of Historic Places, eligible for the National Register, and a Municipal Landmark.  They noted the contribution to flood and combined sewer outflow (CSO) control that the current massive stone structure made.  They questioned whether the East Coast Greenway would be forced to be rerouted away from Jersey City. They decried the irreplaceable loss of this open space and transportation resource if the developer proceeded with his plans.

 

It's likely the developer will appeal the decision, as he did a similar decision by the Jersey City Planning Board, but for now we should celebrate this victory!  Now that both City and County Planning Boards are on record as supporting preservation of this right of way, we hope the Mayor and County Executive will work closely together to save this historic site and open space asset once and for all.

On Sunday, June 24th, the Historic Paulus Hook Association will introduce a new green group, the Paulus Hooks Park Conservancy, at a "Connect The Parks" event, Peninsula Park, end of Washington Street, noon to 5. 

 

The mission of the new Conservancy is to restore, protect, enhance, and ensure the maintenance of open spaces in Paulus Hook.  They will specifically work to join five open space sites in the area.

 

Enjoy the barbecue, kids games, and dog treats, and please stop by the Embankment Preservation Coalition table.

Three student founders of SAVE (Sustaining Architectural Vitality in the Environment) were among the Coalition supporters at the County Planning Board meeting (reported above).

 

Willow Latham, Wioletta Malolepsza, and Ruby Hankey were eloquent representatives of this intelligent and caring group of students from McNair Academic and High Tech High Schools.

 

They have contributed their energies to the Jersey City Landmarks Conservancy, Jersey City Reservoir Preservation Alliance, Embankment Preservation Coalition, and their own projects.  You may have seen them cleaning up cobblestoned Holland Street, conducting Historic Preservation Month tours of Journal Square, or tending their table at the Hamilton Park fair.

 

We have seen the preservation leadership future, and it is great!

 

Check out their website at http://savearchitecture.org/about/