Drayage Brokersin Hoboken, NJ

HOBOKEN, N.J. (PIX11) — As Hoboken continues to recover from a massive water main break, a precautionary citywide boil water advisory was issued late Tuesday.

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection order was issued nearly 36 hours after the Monday morning water main break, with city officials attributing the delay to Veolia, the operator of the city’s water system.

“Throughout yesterday and today, Veolia has given continued assurances to the city that there was no boil water advisory and that the water was safe to drink, as they had repeatedly reiterated on social media and in writing,” a statement posted to the city’s website read in part. “The city relied on these professional assurances from Veolia, the manager of Hoboken’s water system, and their assurances that the water was safe to drink, which the city then communicated to the public.”

The statement went on to say that had Veolia brought the issue to the city’s attention before Wednesday evening, “the city would have promptly communicated it to the public.”

Hoboken residents are now advised to boil their water for one minute before using it for “drinking, cooking, baking, washing dishes, making ice cubes, taking medication, brushing teeth, washing food, mixing baby formula, mixing juices or drinks, feeding pets or other consumption.” Showering and washing clothes do not require using boiled water, the city said.

The water main was ruptured on Monday during construction work by a Public Service Electric & Gas contractor near Observer Highway and Madison Street. According to PSE&G, the water pipe was either unmarked or marked incorrectly.

In addition to leaving much of the city with low or no water pressure, the break forced Hoboken University Medical Center to evacuate out of an abundance of caution, hospital officials said.

Veolia announced Tuesday that it had isolated the ruptured main, but that repairs would continue overnight into Wednesday.

Seventeen bottled water distribution centers have been opened in Hoboken. They are located at:

The city's "responsible" bar crawl has been called off, but the family-friendly St. Patrick's Float is on, as is the private LepreCon.

|Updated Sat, Mar 4, 2023 at 9:13 am ET

HOBOKEN, NJ — Had a rough week in Hoboken? This Saturday, you can enjoy the Hoboken Business Alliance's float and entertainment, planned to start Saturday at noon. There will be a special guest: Helena Nolan, the consul general of Ireland. More details and a map are here.

If you're a business owner who had to close, you may be in luck: there may be more revelers in town on Saturday. The private entrepreneurs holding "LepreCon" are still selling tickets for the infamous bar crawl, starting at 10 a.m.

A separate, "responsible" bar crawl incorporating other restaurants and businesses has been called off for that day. However, residents can still shop and eat local in the mile-square city this weekend.

Support Your Local Businesses

"Unfortunately, this event WILL NOT be taking place on March 4th," says the site. "The businesses participating in this event will be open regular hours. Please check with venues individually on hours of operation and offerings on this day." Crawls are planned in town on other weekends.

Find out what's happening in Hobokenwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

A Hoboken city spokesperson confirmed that Mayor Ravi Bhalla had asked bar owners to cancel the latter crawl.

Public Safety Director Reacts To LepreCon

Regarding LepreCon, Hoboken Public Safety Director Ken Ferrante said Friday, "Besides the float, any additional activities over the weekend are not sanctioned or approved by the city. The city stands ready to protect and serve the Hoboken community this, and every weekend. Those who do not abide by those laws will be held responsible and prosecuted to the fullest extent, as they would be any day of the year."

Read more about LepreCon and why it started here.

The litigation over the Western Edge Redevelopment Plan in Hoboken was prompted by the rejection of an application for an 18-story building by Pegasus Partners after height complaints from Union City.Photo Credit: Fogarty Finger Architects

Photo Credit: City of Union City

One emphasis of 930 Monroe Street will be on the ground floor commercial space.Photo Credit: City of Hoboken

The litigation over the Western Edge Redevelopment Plan in Hoboken was prompted by the rejection of an application for an 18-story building by Pegasus Partners after height complaints from Union City.Photo Credit: Fogarty Finger Architects

PublishedMarch 3, 2023 at 3:07 PM

HOBOKEN, NJ = The Hoboken City Council again opted to carry a resolution approving a settlement agreement for the litigation over the Western Edge Redevelopment Area.

The ordinance approving the amendments to the Western Edge Redevelopment Area was again carried to the March 15 City Council meeting, after first being appearing on a City Council agenda on November 14 of 2022. At the meeting, 4th Ward City Councilman Ruben Ramos asked for an update, to which officials responded there wasn't any update yet.

The proposed ordinance supports the redevelopment project proposed for 930 Monroe Street by adding language clarifying the calculation methodology for determining the amount of outdoor amenity space provided and building coverage percentage. Specifically, this amendment to the plan originally adopted in 2015 would specify whether multi-purpose stairs and terracing spaces within the front yard along Monroe Street should or should not count towards these requirements within the Upper Monroe Subarea.

Sign Up for FREE Hoboken Newsletter

Get local news you can trust in your inbox.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

The proposed project calls for three new, 11-story mixed-use buildings with 675 residential units(68 set aside for affordable housing) and 46,806 square feet of ground-floor retail and commercial spaces. The proposal indicates a building coverage of 69.7 percent or 130,456 square feet, excluding the stairs and terracing spaces’ area, which complies with the maximum of 70 percent. The proposal also indicates 52,130 square feet of outdoor amenity space, including the stairs and terracing spaces’ area, which complies with the minimum of 40,000 square feet.

According to the ordinance, the stairs and terracing spaces proposed serve multiple purposes, including the provision of public seating and landscaped areas as well to raise the building floor area to protect it from flood impacts. The Western Edge Redevelopment Plan currently does not provide guidance for whether these multipurpose terracing spaces should count towards building coverage or outdoor amenity spaces.

The ordinance states that, as such, a plan amendment is necessary to clarify that these spaces should not count towards building coverage and may count towards the total outdoor amenity space within the Upper Monroe Subarea. The requirement for the provision of a minimum of 40,000 square feet of on-grade outdoor amenity space remains the same, but language is added to clarify that stairs and terracing within the front yard may count towards complying with this requirement so long as the spaces are designed to accommodate public uses and seating with landscaping.

According to the ordinance, the requirement for a maximum street-level building coverage of 70 percent remains the same. However, the language is added to clarify that stairs and terracing within the front yard along Monroe Street, which are not covered by upper building stories, shall not count towards building coverage, where such features raise building floor area and protect is from flooding impacts, and provide public seating and landscaping features.

In addition to the Hoboken City Council carrying the ordinance, the resolution adopting the settlement agreement for litigation relating to the Western Edge Redevelopment Area was carried to the March 15 council meeting as well. At the end of the meeting, Councilman Ruben Ramos asked for an update on the litigation, since it had been carried again after the Hoboken City Council had done so a number of times in the past.

Pegasus Partners filed a lawsuit over the plan in 2021 after the Hoboken Planning Board denied its application at 1300 Jefferson Street after outcry from a neighboring municipality. The application for an 18-story, 357-unit residential building was rejected after Union City officials argued against the project citing the height of the project would exceed the height of the cliffs, blocking views of New York City in Union City.

The 18-story residential building is just one part of the project, as the full plans also entail a 16-story hotel and residential building. A redevelopment agreement was signed between the city and the redeveloper in July 2020, and the redevelopment plan approved by the Hoboken Planning Board in 2015 also allowed the proposed height of the redevelopment.

Before the public hearing was held for the application before the Hoboken Planning Board, Mayor Ravi Bhalla had asked the redeveloper to build lower amid Union City outrage. The city said the redeveloper had apparently agreed to reduce the height, although Pegasus Partners later disputed that and stayed course with their original application per the original redevelopment plan.

Regardless, the Hoboken Planning Board eventually rejected the project and Pegasus Partners filed suit against Hoboken and Union City alleging the city allowed the neighboring municipality to interfere with the redevelopment. Their suit is seeking to overturn the Hoboken Planning Board rejection and void the redevelopment plan among other things, thus preventing this amendment to the redevelopment plan to be approved.

Since then, to complicate things further, Union City has filed a lawsuit against Hoboken and Madigan Development subsidiaries over plans for 930 Monroe Street, the thing for which the redevelopment plan is being amended. That suit, although unrelated to the proposed settlement between Pegasus Partners and the city over 1300 Jefferson and the Western Edge Redevelopment Plan, alleges that the height of the buildings at 930 Monroe Street will exceed the Palisade Cliffs and block views of New York City from Union City.

In that lawsuit, Union City argues that Bhalla allegedly did not keep his word to Union City after apparently promising that the height would not exceed the Palisade Cliffs, although rendering show bulkheads atop the proposed building would do so. Union City is seeking to lower the height of the buildings, although this time things may be different since the project has already been approved by the Hoboken Planning Board.

At the March 1 meeting, Ramos asked Corporate Counsel Brian Aloia for an update on the status of the settlement negotiations with Pegasus Partners. There has not really been an update since December, when the settlement agreement was facing unclear opposition from some unnamed council members over core portions of the agreement.

The Oct. 20 settlement would accommodate Union City by lowering the height of the buildings and bulking them up otherwise. Overall, the height would be lowered by 145 feet, but the maximum residential density allowed would be increased from 701 to 801 residential units.

In addition, the community giveback by Pegasus Partners would be reduced from $3 million to $2 million to build affordable housing units, a new community center, and a public pool. The agreement would eliminate commercial units except for first floor retail and the Monroe Street Right of Way would be vacated by Hoboken and dedicated to the redeveloper.

The application for the Preliminary and Final Site Plan for 1300 Jefferson Street denied by the Hoboken Planning Board would be remanded with no new fees for consideration and approval. A hearing and approval of the settlement agreement before the board must be scheduled with 90 days of the execution of the settlement agreement by the Hoboken City Council.

The settlement agreement would also include a 30-year financial agreement. The terms involve an annual service charge equal to 10 percent of annual gross revenue, staged increases extended to the full extent permitted by law, a waiver of obligations under Chapter 23 of Hoboken Code, and no administration fee.

“We’re being sued for $100 plus million dollars," Ramos said. "It’s been carried and carried. Is there a pending court date that we have coming up?"

Ramos urged a for a settlement agreement in regards to the active litigation. He acknowledged there was still one on the agenda, and wanted to know its status.

“I know we have a settlement on the table here that some of us are agreeable to," Ramos said. "We’ve had discussions about it. What is our end game here, and what is our liability?”

Aloia said he would get an update and send it to council members. If there are any questions, the Hoboken City Council could have a closed session to resolve that.

Ramos then asked Aloia if he was making the decision to carry it. City Council President Emily Jabbour said she made decision after Aloia said there were no updates to schedule a closed session.

Follow us on Facebook and sign up for TAPinto Hoboken E-News alerts to be the first to read about all things Hoboken!

Download the FREE TAPinto App! Click here for Android - Click here for iOS for breaking news, traffic/weather alerts and special offers.

Know a story we should share with readers? Email editor Steve Lenox and tell him about it.

There’s a new coffee spot coming to Jersey City next weekend – an espresso bar, to be more precise. Kaffa Espresso Bar will be located at 276 Newark Ave, in Jersey City and will host their official opening and ribbon-cutting on Sunday, March 12th at noon. The HG Team spoke with the crew behind the new spot for an inside look at what’s to come. Read on for what we know about Kaffa Espresso Bar, opening soon in Jersey City.

The HG Team spoke with Al Hot, the owner of Kaffa Espresso Bar, to learn more about the new space. Though Kaffa will be new, this is not Al’s first business in the area. He is also the owner of a nearby barber shop in Jersey City.

Read more: Gussy’s Cafe: An All-Day Brunch Spot in Downtown Jersey City

Al shared with HG, “I have owned another Jersey City business for seven years – Balkan Barber Shop on Barrow Street. My staff and I drink a LOT of coffee and there are many good coffee shops in JC but we wanted really GREAT coffee. That is how Kaffa was born”.

Though the cafe will serve other items, Kaffa will be all about the coffee. Al told the HG, “After identifying a wonderful space (close to the barber shop of course!) We did a lot of tasting and decided on Coalition Coffee Roasters in Garfield for both medium and dark roasts”.

Become a local expert in no time.

Enter your email address to stay in-the-know. No spam, promise.

Included on the menu will be traditional favorites such as hot chocolate, chai tea, cortados, macchiatos, lattes, and of course espresso shots, along with other items. They will also provide a variety of milk substitutes including soy, oat, and almond milk. Al noted that they will be serving a range of coffee beverages as well as pastries and eventually sandwiches.

See more: Popular Grocery Store Brands You Might Not Know Are From North Jersey

Kaffa Espresso Bar will be open seven days a week starting at 7AM. Be sure to check them out for their grand opening on Sunday, March 12th at noon located at 276 Newark Ave, in Jersey City.

To stay in the know on all local happenings, follow @thehobokengirl on Instagram and TikTok.

Hummus Republic is branching out and opening its fourth New Jersey location in Journal Square. This nationwide Mediterranean franchise is known for serving fresh plant-based food and serving organic wraps, pitas, and bowls with different protein and hummus options. Located at 2 Journal Square Plaza, Jersey City, the new location will be opening in a few weeks – with a location in Hoboken soon to follow. Read on to learn more about Hummus Republic coming to JSQ.

^ Hummus Republic will be located at 2 Journal Square Plaza, Jersey City

(Photo credit: Courtesy of Hummus Republic JSQ)

The Hoboken Girl spoke with the new owners about opening a Hummus Republic in the area and what locals and commuters could expect.

Read more: Gussy’s Cafe: An All-Day Brunch Spot in Downtown Jersey City

“There are no upscale quick-serve restaurants that offer healthy food in the area, so for us, it was a no-brainer that this was the perfect location for a restaurant,” the owners, whose names would like to remain private, told HG.

“It’s in the heart of Jersey City’s burgeoning Journal Square area, which is undergoing a wave of redevelopment of high rises with residential and commercial units, and it’s the fastest growing neighborhood in the tri-state area.” The owners are excited about the opportunity to serve the wellness-savvy Journal Square community.

(Photo credit: @hummusrepublicjsq)

Hummus Republic would be joining the growing list of other quick pick-me-up spots in JSQ like Jolibee, Wendy’s, Nathan’s Famous, and Starbucks. Emma’s, Latham House’s sister restaurant that’s Southern-inspired, opened in May 2020 during the pandemic.

The owners of HR, who describe themselves as “two young foodies” and lovers of the food chain, added: “We have paid great attention to details — from the speed at which we can complete an order to providing the feel of an upscale restaurant ambiance and experience with our interior design… Come see it to believe it!”

(Photo credit: @hummusrepublicjsq)

The new Hummus Republic location’s menu will mimic the other locations. “It caters to everyone’s taste buds with a variety of vegetarian, vegan, and non-vegan options and with all different types of sauces and toppings. It’s very flavorful and most importantly it’s delicious.”

HR prides itself on letting the consumer customize their meal. First, consumers can choose if they want a wrap, pita, burger, or bowl. Then, they choose the base, such as organic Mediterranean couscous, warm garbanzo beans, or a salad mix. After that, they choose a hummus (harissa, traditional, roasted eggplant, or kalamata olive) or spread (zesty feta or tzatziki).

(Photo credit: @hummusrepublicjsq)

Then, consumers can pick a protein, such as falafel, Moroccan steak, or chicken shawarma. Finally, they can pick as many toppings as they’d like and a dressing to top it off. There are extras to choose from as a side, such as sweet potato sides, dolmades, or organic hummus pita chips. To drink, there are various lemonades, teas, and a tahini shake.

See more: Efi’s Gyro: Authentic Greek Food in Montclair

Hummus Republic JSQ is expected to open March 2023. Other locations in NJ that are currently open include Long Branch, Morristown, and North Brunswick. In addition to Jersey City, Paramus and Metuchen locations are under construction, and further down the road, according to the website, HR will be opening in Hoboken and Montclair.

“We are very excited to be part of the JC community and we’re looking forward to seeing how we can participate by being actively involved in social and service events whenever possible,” the owners told HG. “We’re just so so thrilled to see our dream come to reality and to share it with everyone.”

Follow Hummus Republic JSQ to be in the know about any updates on its opening.