The Newsletter of the Embankment Preservation Coalition
Newsletter #3
August 17, 2007
Preservation
Coalition
Though no Embankment supporter should rest before our nine-year preservation struggle results in public ownership, let's take a moment to celebrate the Surface Transportation Board (STB) ruling last week. It vindicated early research by Rick James showing that the Embankment was part of the national railway system, and thus subject to the jurisdiction of the STB, not local land use boards, and cannot be sold without being first abandoned through the federal process.
What better way to celebrate than to dream about our park? A different kind of park. One that
>>uses the 19th-20th Century historic structure for 21st Century walkers and bicyclers
>> preserves a habitat corridor
>> is the opening segment of the East Coast Greenway in New Jersey
>>provides meandering paths and overlooks of the National Historic Districts
>> gives our children exploratory play areas and encourages them to get in touch with nature
The Coalition commissioned Cassandra Wilday Landscape Architects to jumpstart a public discussion about what kind of park suits the site and the community. Cassandra Wilday is perhaps best known locally for her award-winning work on Pier A Park, which she designed with landscape architect Henry Arnold. Pier A Park juts out into the Hudson River next to the Erie-Lackawanna train station in Hoboken.
Eastern Entrance, Embankment Park. Cassandra Wilday Landscape Architects. Cassandra Wilday, Jason Gould. This rendering shows a ramp, compliant with American-with-Disabilities-Act standards, from Marin Boulevard to the Embankment top. The three-part design carried throughout the right-of-way begins here: a habitat strip reserved for possible future light rail; greenway; and park. (The Coalition hopes to extend the greenway east to the Hudson River Waterfront Walkway and west through the Bergen Arches.)
See Cassandra Wilday's transformation of this block, right.
For a concept plan of the entire Embankment right-of-way, click here.
Planning Board September 25
Historic Preservation Commission September 17
The August Jersey City Planning Board hearings on Major Site Plan applications filed by the developer were adjourned to September 25.
The Historic Preservation Commission hearings on demolition and hardship applications were adjourned to September 17.
The adjournments were requested by the developer to allow time to digest the Surface Transportation Board ruling, and the Planning Board attorney recommended them.
"Embankment would make a great park"
Aug. 16. "The city should do everything in its power to buy the land and make it a park," said the Jersey Journal's "In Our Opinion" column today, of the Harsimus Embankment.
We welcome the editors' support for our vision. They asked about the cost, however, and urged the City to apply for Green Acres funds. We obviously have work to do, to let them know that the cost has been estimated and is reasonable, and that Green Acres has already awarded the City two grants for Embankment acquisition. The City has only to file final paperwork to access the Green Acres money and other funding already awarded.
Read the full editorial, and the August 13 article reporting on the Surface Transportation Board ruling.
Click here to send email.
Help Us Increase Our Strength in Numbers!
The Embankment Preservation Coalition has approximately 1000 supporters who've indicated they want to keep informed about Embankment events. As we approach the final days of our nine-year struggle to preserve the Embankment, we hope more of you will become dues-paying members. Memberships start as low as $5 for seniors and students and $10 for other individuals. Please see our website for membership forms.