Bergen Square Streetscape Project
Bergen Square Parking Inventory, click to enlarge the photo:
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March 30, 2006
March 25, 2006
Sidewalk Displays on Newark Avenue
Today, businesses on Newark Avenue received a district notification which indicated that all sidewalk displays are prohibited with the exception of the once-per-month sidewalk sale which is authorized and managed by the Special Improvement District. Upon delivering the notification, which I did without our detail officer present, those businesses that had displays on the sidewalk accepted the notification and our request that they remove the displays inside...they responded quickly and started to bring their items inside..I gave them 30 minutes to pack up their displays and then I returned with P.O. Steven Beck from the SID detail. When we returned we observed that those who had displays on the sidewalk were actively bringing the displays inside and were not hesitating in any way, they requested a few more minutes to finish-up and Steve and I allowed them that time.
Before/After
March 23, 2006
Sleap Cheap Furniture Blocking Sidewalk
This afternoon I worked with P.O. Dave Rodgers to explain to Rick March, the owner of Sleep Cheap, that the store can not leave delivery items on the sidewalk in front of the building. P.O. Rodgers indicated to Rick that he can receive a ticket of $500 for this infraction. Rick indicated that in the future he would try to make room inside the store before the delivery arrives so that he can transport the items inside immediately.
Illegal CD Peddler on Bergen Avenue
P.O. Dave Rodgers caught an illegal cd peddler on Bergen Avenue, the peddler was advised and left the area immediately.
March 19, 2006
Hotel Demolition Moves Forward
Workers continued their efforts on Sunday to remove the roof of the Hotel.
Kiosk: Supplemental lighting
I coordinated the installation of supplemental lighting on the kiosk this afternoon with Joe Wymbs from All American:
March 18, 2006
Illegal Signage/New Store Location
The Check Cashing Store that was formerly located at 14 JSQ has moved next to CH Martin. They had a temporary sign hanging off of the building, which I asked them to remove...they quickly complied.
Street Signage
New signage has been posted on the corner of Newkirk and Bergen warning pedestrians of the light.
Median/Crosswalk
The corner of the median at the crosswalk spanning JFK Blvd. from the Fountain to Cohen's Optical has worn away, several pieces were salvaged and brought back to the office.
On foot or behind the wheel, Square streets not for the timid
REPORTER'S NOTEBOOK
By STEVEN LEMONGELLO
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER
It was when the firefighters began scampering in front of oncoming traffic, cups of orange drink balanced precariously in their hands, that I realized that this section of Journal Square is absurd more than anything else.
The sometimes mad behavior of pedestrians at the intersections around Sip and Bergen avenues and Kennedy Boulevard, near The Jersey Journal, usually doesn't garner more than a second glance. Just once I wish I could drive to work without rounding a turn and finding a pedestrian blocking the way, shooting me a piercing look as if to ask what business I have driving a car on a street, of all places.
Or someone numbly wandering in front of my car who freezes up like a deer at the exact moment the light turns green.
Most of the time, the cars behind me then start honking, an apparent signal that I shouldn't let a mere thing of flesh and blood get in the way. And after awhile, I almost start to agree with them.
But standing there recently in the midst of it all, I began to sympathize with the hapless pedestrians. Kennedy Boulevard here doesn't resemble a city street as much as a cross between a highway and an ill-conceived go-cart track, with cars propelled like slingshots into the pedestrian crossings.
One attempt by the county to make peace between man and machine are the nine countdown devices at the traffic lights, which give pedestrians fair warning as to when the next wave of cars will come racing down the street.
Many believe it helps.
Jeanette Veniscofski, of Jersey City, says she "keeps an eye on it."
Bill McDonald, also of Jersey City, said he pays attention, but added: "I don't know if anyone else does."
One couple who arrived at the curb with the countdown still at 18, apparently misunderstanding, stopped and pressed the "push for crossing signal" button anyway.
But standing there recently in the midst of it all, I began to sympathize with the hapless pedestrians. Kennedy Boulevard here doesn't resemble a city street as much as a cross between a highway and an ill-conceived go-cart track, with cars propelled like slingshots into the pedestrian crossings.
One attempt by the county to make peace between man and machine are the nine countdown devices at the traffic lights, which give pedestrians fair warning as to when the next wave of cars will come racing down the street.
Many believe it helps.
Jeanette Veniscofski, of Jersey City, says she "keeps an eye on it."
Bill McDonald, also of Jersey City, said he pays attention, but added: "I don't know if anyone else does."
One couple who arrived at the curb with the countdown still at 18, apparently misunderstanding, stopped and pressed the "push for crossing signal" button anyway.
And there are still some intersections, like Bergen and Sip avenues, where ignoring signals is the rule.
The wait to legally cross them both could take up to two minutes and 15 seconds, but after a minute goes by, the temptation to cross anyway is often too strong to resist.
By the time the "walk" flashes - for the briefest of moments - this previously law-abiding citizen is already on line at Dunkin' Donuts.
One man seemed the most typical of the frantic pedestrians here.
He stopped for a few seconds to explain that he pays attention to the signals most of the time, "except when I have a train to catch."
He then turned and rushed away, and never gave me his name.
© 2006 The Jersey Journal
© 2006 NJ.com All Rights Reserved.
March 16, 2006
Police action in kiosk area
Police today apprehended several individuals after a brief fight broke out in the MacDonald's parking lot. P.O. Chuck Lauziere who was working the SID detail at the time responded immediately along with several other North District officers and the SID Ambassadors.
March 14, 2006
Light Pole at 35 JSQ
The cobra pole at 35 JSQ was removed at 10:30 pm tonight. I was able to retrieve the banner and associated hardware from the pole.
Fence put up around demo area
A fence has been installed to keep the public away from the buildings at 8 through 14 JSQ.
March 11, 2006
Little India: Moving fruits and vegetables inside
P.O. Steve Beck and I visited all grocery stores in Little India this afternoon and informed them that they are not allowed to set-up produce displays on the sidewalk in front of their stores.
March 10, 2006
New fence installed to secure demolition area at former 22 Journal Square site
Inspecting vehicles left in State Square Parking Deck
Upon the request of the Manager at the State Square Parking Deck I asked P.O. Dave Brown to investigate 2 vehicles in the deck that have been there for over 2 months. The vehicles are from out-of-state, Texas and Virginia. P.O. Brown called the license plates in to see if the vehicles would turn-up stolen...they did not. P.O. Brown indiciated to the Manager that he should have them towed.
March 7, 2006
Break-in on 3rd floor of Govinda Sanskar Temple
At 7:35 pm I received a call from Raju Patel who indicated that there had been a break-in on the third floor of the Govinda Sanskar Temple...Raju asked if I could coordinate a police response. I immediately called the North District and talked with P.O. Moffit, who transferred me to the radio-car dispatch. After reporting the incident to the dispatch, I then called Harold Tolluck who put a follow-up call into the district. At approximately 8:10 pm the police arrived on the scene and began to conduct an investigation. The apartment that was broken into is the residence of the Head Priest at Govinda Sanskar. The officers who responded to the scene, and who are shown in the pictures above, are P.O. Mike Stise and P.O. Andrea Farenhoulz.
March 4, 2006
62 Tonnelle/ MABA Meeting
11:00 A.M.
Pictures from this morning's activities on Magnolia Avenue are shown above. At 10:30 a.m. I received a call from Don indicating that Tito's vehicle was illegally parked in the lot. Upon reviewing the site with P.O. Buska we discovered that Tito's vehicle was not there. Following our review of the lot P.O. Buska and I attended the monthly MABA meeting where I updated the group on this past week's efforts regarding 62 Tonnelle and our attempt to stop illegal parking from taking place on the property. P.O. Buska shared with the group his thoughts on the matter and explained the process for removing illegal parkers. He did an excellent job.
6:30 P.M.
At 6:30 p.m. this evening P.O. Buska and I discovered that Tito had parked his car in the lot behind 62 Tonnelle. Upon seeing this I called the property owner to inform her that she had an illegal parker and I asked for her permission to call a tow company and have it taken away. She authorized the use of a tow and I proceeded to call Tito to inform him that a tow truck would be removing his car if he did not remove it. Within 5 minutes Tito appeared on the scene to remove his car and Officer Buska and I were there to greet him. Officer Buska indicated to Tito in the strongest terms possible that he was violating the law by parking in the lot without permission. Tito indicated that he would no longer park there and proceeded to move his car out of the lot. A ticket was issued citing the car's owner for illegal parking.
March 2, 2006
A Real Deal With Tawil
Ralph Tawil Jr., a landlord who has racked up nearly $4 million in fines on his Journal Square properties since 2004, plead guilty to the violations yesterday and cut a deal to pay the city $1.1 million — potentially the largest fine ever collected by the Jersey City Municipal Court, city officials said.
The majority of Tawil’s fire traps must be torn down within three months of when he receives his next demolition permit from the city, or he will have to pay the full $3.7 million amount, according to the agreement.
Hanging his head like chastised school-boy, a dour-faced Tawil signed the agreement yesterday morning before Jersey City Municipal Court Chief Judge Wanda Molina Judge -- who issued her own warning.
"If I find this plea agreement is not being abided by there could be potential jail time," Molina told Tawil.
Other than acknowledging he understood the terms of the plea deal, Tawil -- whose family began scooping up properties on the block next to the PATH Transporation Center in the late 1980s at bargain-basement rates — played no role in the hearing itself.
"The purpose of this (agreement) is to end this matter completely and get on with the progress at Journal Square," said George Campion, Tawil's attorney.
Tawil will deposit the $1.1 million penalty into an escrow account by next Friday, Campion said.
March 1, 2006
HIGH HOPES FOR SQUARE EYESORE
By KEN THORBOURNE
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER
Two glassy high-rise towers with apartments, retail stores, three levels of underground parking, and possibly a hotel.
It's all coming to Journal Square and Harwood Properties, a company with deep roots in Jersey City, is going to make it happen, city officials announced last week.
Last month, Harwood Properties signed a contract to purchase almost every property on the block next to the Journal Square Transportation Center, including the defunct Hotel-on-the-Square building, the hopeful developer and city officials said.
The third-generation family-run firm - which already owns the Ramp Garage behind the Loew's Jersey Theater, another parking lot on Sip Avenue and is part-owner of the recently opened State Theater apartment complex - is buying out Ralph Tawil Jr., a New York City investor who has racked up nearly $4 million in fines on his Journal Square holdings. All of Tawil's buildings are slated for demolition.
City officials hailed the purchase contract and the proposed plans as the biggest step forward to date toward the rebirth of the once storied square.
"This comes after two decades of eyesore and waste," Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy said. "Obviously the Harwoods have a long history in the city and in Journal Square in particular."
Lowell Harwood - a Lincoln High graduate and managing partner of the company - declined to say how much his firm is paying for the properties, citing a confidentiality agreement with Tawil.
However, he said he's already spent a hefty sum on the first phase of an environmental study, drillings to find out how much rock is on site, and renderings of the finished product.
Chris Fiore, interim director of the Jersey City Redevelopment Agency, said the limited partnership entity formed by the Harwoods to develop the site, Journal Square Development LLC, is likely to be named "designated developer" for the site at the agency's meeting on March 21.
Once that is accomplished, city officials and Harwood would negotiate the details of the plan, including the height of the towers, and how many apartments they will contain, Fiore said. A market study would help determine the feasibility of a hotel, Harwood said.
Harwood wouldn't say when a closing was scheduled, but pointed out that in order to be named "designated developer" for the site, Harwood Properties has to demonstrate that it owns or is about to own the land.
If all goes according to plan, Harwood said, construction will begin in January.
Harwood said he's in negotiations to purchase the three buildings on the block not owned by the Tawils - 15-16 Journal Square, which houses the McDonald's and Songs Hallmark; 14 Journal Square, which formerly housed a Wendy's; and 12 Journal Square, which houses Kentucky Fried Chicken.
© 2006 The Jersey Journal
© 2006 NJ.com All Rights Reserved.