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The Kiosk, 1 JSQ Plaza and Stanley Theater were clear all night.
P.O. Pete Loracca and I toured the entire district in the SID's F-150 Maintenance Vehicle. We had 2 incidents on Bergen Avenue, 1) A homeless person inside the ATM lobby at Provident Bank and 2) A homeless person sleeping on the stairs at the Old Bergen Church, both actors were advised and moved on:
The Journal Square SID's Holiday Music Program started today at 1 Journal Square Plaza. Building employees enjoyed live jazz music by the Greg Murphy trio and received copies of the Jersey City Magazine, the Journal Square Guide to eating and shopping and free tickets to St. Peter's College Basketball games.
Jordan Galatz presents Steve Miller, Assistant Business Administrator for the City of Jersey City, with free St. Peter's College Basketball tickets for his staff. From left to right: SID Ambassador, Mark Blue, P.O. Juan Berrios, JSRC Board Member, Jordan Galatz, Assistant Business Administrator, Steve Miller and P.O. Peter Clavero.
The SID presented free basketball tickets to Jennifer Morrill, Assistant Director of the Division of Neighborhood Improvement (NID) and NID staff member Grace Wilson. From left to right are SID Ambassador, Mark Blue, P.O. Juan Berrios, Assistant Director, Jennifer Morrill, Staff Member, Grace Wilson and P.O. Peter Clavero.
By KEN THORBOURNE
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER
Two down, one to go.
The Jersey City Redevelopment Agency has purchased two of three buildings standing in the way of a massive redevelopment project on a key block of Journal Square, an official said yesterday.
The two properties - 12 & 14 Journal Square, the site of a closed Wendy's and a still-open Kentucky Fried Chicken - will be conveyed to the developer within two weeks, said JCRA Executive Director Robert Antonicello.
Jersey City-based Harwood Properties inked a deal with the JCRA in May to build two residential/retail towers adjacent to the Journal Square PATH Transportation Center.
In keeping with that agreement, Antonicello said, Harwood Properties will reimburse the JCRA the $2.7 million it paid to acquire the two properties from Florham Park-based developer Fred Kruvant.
Robert Kang, owner of the third property - 15-16 Journal, which houses a McDonald's, Song's Hallmark, HT Wireless, and a dentist's office - is disputing the $2.5 million figure the JCRA maintains is the value of his property, Antonicello said.
Kang has paid for his own appraisal, which the JCRA is reviewing, Antonicello said. Antonicello declined to say how much money Kang is seeking, and Kang couldn't be reached for comment.
Harwood Properties is under contract to buy the other properties still standing on that block before the end of the year, officials said. Two businesses still operate out of 1-7 Journal Square - Three Brothers Pizza and Daily Tortillas.
The owner of these buildings, New York investor Ralph Tawil Jr., agreed to sell to Harwood Properties in March, after paying the city a record $1.1 million in fire and building code fines.
Harwood Properties officials hope to break ground on their $350 million project early next year and anticipate a two-year construction timetable.
The sounds of music will fill the air and entertain Journal Square employees on their lunch hours on four successive Wednesdays, beginning November 29th, at 1 Journal Square Plaza, with the jazz styling of Greg Murphy. On December 6th, Bryan Beninghove will present his sweet saxophone sounds at 2 Journal Square Plaza. December 13th brings Monika Oliviera and her Band to 26 Journal Square with both Brazilian jazz and holiday tunes, and the series wraps up on December 20th with a final jazz performance at 35 Journal Square by keyboardist Rob Siebert.
The Salvation Army Brass Ensemble will also perform at the Fountain in the Square from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on two Fridays, December 8th and 15th. They are a perennial favorite and their unique sound is synonymous with the holiday season.
The Journal Square Restoration Corporation (JSRC) has decorated the district with festive wreaths as a bright backdrop to these activities and invites Journal Square employees, residents, visitors, and business owners to come out and enjoy the sights and sounds of the season!
And, when Spring returns, the JSRC will be scheduling the return of the sidewalk sales on the first Thursday, Friday and Saturday of each month where you’ll find a world of value at your feet-starting in April. Then, sounds of music at our entertainment series resumes in May for your lunchtime pleasure.
Watch for the 2007-2008 edition of “The Square’s Guide to Shopping, Eating, and Events” to see what’s going on around Journal Square in 2007, and visit www.TheNewJournalSquare.com for items of interest to Journal Square residents, visitors, and business owners.
Shoppers heading to several of Jersey City's commercial strips will be able to park at meters for free for up to two hours through Jan. 1 - officials are calling it a "small gift" to make the season less harried.
The two-hours-free parking is in effect on the street and in lots in the following districts: Central Avenue, McGinley Square, Journal Square and Downtown.
"I wish everyone a warm and safe holiday season," Mayor Jerramiah Healy said. "I hope this small gift makes holiday shopping a little easier and more pleasant for Jersey City residents and visitors, and brings some extra business to our shopping districts."
Parking Authority Executive Director Robert Dalton noted an added draw is that sales tax in many of the shops in those districts is only 3.5 percent because of the Urban Enterprise Zone program.
By MICHAELANGELO CONTE
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER
A 59-year-old Jersey City man was attacked near Journal Square by several men who threw a bag over his head and beat him unconscious, officials said.
Police responded to Jones and Newkirk streets Wednesday at 9:07 p.m. after a call from someone who found the victim lying on the ground unconscious, reports said.
When police arrived they found the Baldwin Avenue man whose face was swollen and bleeding from both ears, reports said.
He told police he was approached by three or four people; one asked him for the time, but before he could respond, they put a bag over his head and started beating him, reports said.
He told police he could not give a description of his attackers because his head was covered and because he suffered some memory loss as a result of the assault, reports said. He said his watch and his wallet were taken, but he couldn't remember how much money was in it, reports said.
Officers drove him home after he refused medical attention, reports said.
The sink hole that was reported on Saturday night at Liberty and Van Winkle has been covered.
Click on thumbnails
Joe Wymbs installed the holiday decorations on the kiosk today.
Click on photos to enlarge
P.O. Sonny Silver and I toured the district between 3am-4:30am. The kiosk and surrounding plaza area were clear of any homeless activity. Several taxi drivers commented to me on how clear the area has been overnight in recent months and noted the police presence that they've seen.
Taxi driver Mikhail Abdelmaler (right) thanked us for keeping the homeless out of the kiosk area. He said, "You don't see them anymore, no more cardboard."
There were homeless individuals detected at the Stanley Theater on the Pavonia Avenue side of the building..I noted that I had seen them on PA property earlier in the night. We quickly roused them and they moved on.
1 Journal Square Plaza was clear of any homeless activity....periodic checks with building security have indicated that the problem has decreased significantly since the summer.
We walked down Bergen Avenue to inspect the steps of the Old Bergen Church to see if any of our homeless people were moving down to that area but no activity was detected.
We detected a vagrant camping out inside the ATM lobby at Provident Bank, she was quickly escorted out.
Students from the Chubb Institute utilizing the cigarette butt container outside of 40 Journal Square.
Installation of the new decorative light poles has started, along with our annual holiday wreaths.
New trees have been installed on Bergen Avenue as part of the Bergen Avenue Streetscape Project.
In remembrance of all those who have served, and who are currently serving our country around the world Journal Square Watch would like to present the following video. Press the small play button (arrow) on the movie toolbar along the bottom of the video:
New trees are being planted on Bergen Avenue this week as part of the streetscape project.
P.O. Dave Rodgers keeps an eye out for any suspicious activity during this morning's 7am-11am off-duty police detail.
P.O. Dave Rodgers patrols the area trying detect any potential quality of life issues.
P.O. Tom Jones on post for the Journal Square SID making sure the traffic flow remains steady in front of the kiosk/fountain area during the commuter rush hour.
Hotel Front
Corner of Sip/Bergen
Sip Ave.
Sip/Parking lot
Rear of hotel
