Southwest Park Overview
November 14th, 2006
Located in the southwest area of the City, between Paterson Plank Road and Observer Highway, this park would serve an area undergoing major transformation. The southern border and western edge of Hoboken is seeing enormous transition from industrial, commercial and affordable, low-rise properties to luxury high-rise residential buildings.This area in the 4th Ward is in great need of a large park to serve its existing residents as well as the hundreds of new families that are moving in each year. Large high-rise apartments seem to be possible while a much needed large, new recreational space for growing families and adults is absent. Hoboken’s Master Plan addresses this need by locating a large, new park near the residents who need it. There is little doubt that more commercial property conversions will occur in this area. A large, new park can be partially paid for by these new developments. It is time that current residents get something in return for hosting these large scale residential projects.
HPO PARK DESIGN
HPO’s design concept for the Southwest Park (see, above left) would bring much needed active park space and facilities to these neighborhoods to address the lack of outdoor areas to play and relax. As shown in the Hoboken Master Plan, the reconfiguration of Paterson Plank Road will remove much of the unnecessary traffic that plagues this part of the City while bringing a large park for residents to reach on foot, with a baby carriage or with a bag of sports equipment.
CITY HAS DECLARED SOUTHWEST REDEVELOPMENT ZONE
On June 28, 2006, the City Council adopted a resolution designating the southwest area of the City an area in need of redevelopment. The area encompasses approximately 13 acres of the southwest corner of the City, located west of Jefferson and from Paterson Plank Road south. This redevelopment area includes the properties identified in the Master Plan for park land.Up to that point, the City had been silent on any plans it had for park lands in the Southwest. However, as a result of the vigilance and advocacy of the community, including HPO and the recently formed Hoboken Southwest Parks Coalition, the City Council was pressed to evaluate the feasibility of acquiring the park land properties. While a good development, evaluating acquisition and actually acquiring it are very different. There is severe development pressure in this area, and if history serves as a lesson, the City may inadequately involve the public in the process of creating the redevelopment plan, selecting a developer, and planning a park, if at all.We must stop the creation of yet another redevelopment zone from effectively killing yet another park. We must fight to see to it that meaningful park land is included in the redevelopment, not merely a few green strips of landscaping adjacent to the high-rise buildings. We must keep pressure on the City to acquire the parcels soon, and keep them from being re-zoned within the redevelopment area, and thus keeping the cost of acquisition lower (because of the related increase in property value).