Hotel Demolition
March 30 - April 13
April 18, 2006
March 19, 2006
Hotel Demolition Moves Forward
Workers continued their efforts on Sunday to remove the roof of the Hotel.
March 14, 2006
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 10, 2006
New fence installed to secure demolition area at former 22 Journal Square site
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.
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.
February 24, 2006
Tawil's day in court deferred for 4th time
By KEN THORBOURNE
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER
The owner of the biggest eyesores in Journal Square has a new court date - again.
Ralph Tawil Jr., who has racked up nearly $4 million in fines from building and fire code violations at his defunct Hotel-on-the-Square and other Journal Square properties, has a court date set for Wednesday in Jersey City Municipal Court, City Corporation Counsel Bill Matsikoudis said.
The trial is to determine if the fines are valid, and if - or how much - Tawil actually has to pay.
But it's no sure bet the court appearance will happen.
Jersey City officials agreed to postpone three prior court dates with Tawil in return for the landlord making steady progress demolishing dilapidated properties he owns on the block next to the Journal Square Transportation Center so the area can be redeveloped.
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