April 7, 2008. City of Jersey City , Embankment Preservation Coalition, and Rails to Trails Conservancy file supplementary material with STB relevant to Conrail's notification that it intends to file for an abandonment exemption. A letter points out flaws in Conrail's environmental report (ER) and attaches a 1998 Dresdner Robin study that Conrail failed to provide to STB. See our filing.
March 21, 2008. City of Jersey City, Embankment Preservation Coalition, and Rails to Trails Conservancy notify STB of their intention to participate in any abandonment proceeding, and object to Conrail's request for an exemption, arguing that such exemptions are available only in noncontroversial cases. See our Notice of Intent to Participate, which includes a letter from Mayor Jerramiah Healy.
August 9, 2007: Surface Transportation Board Rules in Favor of Coalition. Conrail must abandon Embankment. Full Story.
August 9, 2007: Coalition meets with Hudson County Freeholders to discuss Embankment acquisition.
August 8, 2007: City, County, State meet to discuss Embankment acquisition.
August 2007: Waiting on paperwork promised in May 2007 that would access funding already awarded; see May entry below.
July 2007: Subdivision of Embankment Blocks Denial of Subdivision Rescinded by Hudson County Planning Board. Following their June denial of suibdivision applications by the developer’s Limited Liability Corporations (LLCs) for four Embankment blocks, the Hudson County Planning Board was alerted that a county facility was in the development impact area. This fact was not noted on the original application. The Board therefore rescinded their original vote, declared the original application incomplete, and asked for a traffic impact study.
June 2007: Subdivision of Embankment Blocks Requested by Developer Denied by the Hudson County Planning Board. Thanks to the dozens of Coalition supporters who attended and spoke!
May 2007: A step forward: City to proceed with stalled paperwork to access already awarded Green Acres and SAFETEA-LU grants for acquisition.
March 2007: Two steps backward: The City Administration decides not to file Embankment grant application with Hudson County Open Space Trust Fund, The Municipal Council turns down application for New Jersey Environmental Infrastructure Trust loan that would have provided the City with instant money to acquire the Embankment, at approximately 1% interest for 20 years
Jan 3, 2007: Mayor requests NJ Transit study potential light rail routes, including one over the Embankment and through Bergen Arches.
July 22, 2006: Superior Court Judge Gallipoli decision says that City Planning Board cannot deny subdivision of Embankment blocks
May 2006: Embankment is named to Preservation New Jersey's "New Jersey's 10 Most Endangered Historic Sites" list.
Feb 2006: STB institutes a declaratory order proceeding.
Jan 2006: SLH Holdings demolishes free-standing Embankment stanchion on Brunswick & 6th Streets.
Jan 2006: City Council Re-designates Embankment as a Municipal Landmark
Jan 2006: Jersey City, Rails-to-Trails, Embankment Preservation Coalition & Assemblyman Manzo file a Petition with the Surface Transportation Board (STB) challenging Conrail’s sale of the Embankment rail line right-of-way to a private developer, apparently without abandoning it according to federal regulations
July 12, 2005: Steve Hyman purchases the Embankment property using eight separate Limited Liability Corporations (L.L.C.s).
July 2005: $1.6 million earmark, for Embankment acquisition, sponsored by Congressman Robert Menendez, in the SAFETEA-LU bill that passed by Congress.
June 2005: Coalition’s application for placement on NY/NJ Harbor Estuary Program (HEP) Priority Acquisition List is approved, making it eligible for special funding.
June 8 2005: City of Jersey City passes ordinance enabling preparation for acquiring entire Embankment property.
Dec 2004: - NJ Legislature approves $800,000 in Green Acres Funding for Acquisition of the Harsimus Stem Embankment!.
Sept 12, 2004: Coalition receives award from NY/NJ Baykeeper
September 8, 2004: First Ordinance to Take Embankment Passed Unanimously
The Municipal Council, unanimously passed the ordinance enabling the City to take the Embankment by eminent domain. The Coalition thanks the Mayor and Council members, particularly Ward E Councilman E. Junior Maldonado, who has supported Embankment preservation and reuse since he ran for office, and Councilman-at-large Mariano Vega, who is an active member of the East Coast Greenway Alliance.
Aug 11 2004: Mayor L. Harvey Smith and the Municipal Council introduce an ordinance to pursue acquisition of the Embankment through eminent domain
July 2004: The NJ Department of Environmental Protection announced that Jersey City will be awarded an $800,000 Green Acres grant to acquire the Embankment.
March 24 2004: The Municipal Council unanimously passes a resolution in support of a Green Acres application submitted by the City
Council members decline Steve Hyman's offer to trade his option to purchase the Embankment for a tax abatement on the Flintkote property. Junior Maldonado and others tell Mr. Hyman that they will stand by the historic landmark designation of the Embankment which they unanimously approved in January 2003.
with matching funds from NY/NJ Baykeeper, to hire an Embankment acquisition consultant. The consultant, Andrew Strauss, AICP/PP, has extensive experience in complex planning and land use matters, including acquisition of abandoned railroad rights-of-way.