Weehawken considers plan for 18-story towers on Hudson River waterfront

A 18-story two tower building may rise near Weehawken Cove

A rendering of the building proposed for a plot of land near Weehawken Cove (Courtesy of Fund for a Better Waterfront)

A pair of 18-story residential towers could reshape the Weehawken-Hoboken border.

The Weehawken planning board will hold a special meeting Tuesday to discuss whether a 344-unit project being developed by Hartz Mountain Industries just off Weehawken Cove should proceed.

The property, a small tract of land just southwest of another Hartz Mountain project under construction, boasts sweeping views of Manhattan and sits along the Hudson River Walkway. It is currently a parking lot.

While Hartz Mountain did not return a message seeking comment on the plan, not everyone is in support of the project, which will include a seven-story parking garage.

Just south of the proposed site for the new Hartz project, a four-acre waterfront park is being planned as part of the federal government’s Rebuild by Design initiative to develop ideas to improve physical, ecological, economic, and social resilience in regions affected by Superstorm Sandy. Once built, the park will serve as a barrier to future storm surges with the flood wall concealed within the park.

Ron Hine, executive director of the Fund for a Better Waterfront, a group that advocates for a contiguous public park along the Hudson River, pointed out the resiliency park would end abruptly at the property line for 18-story towers.

Daniel Steinhagen, a lawyer for the nearby apartment complex at 1700 Park Avenue, sent a letter to the planning board in May stating the project exceeds the maximum height of 50 feet permitted within the redevelopment zone and surpasses the 300-unit maximum allowed by Weehawken zoning limits.

A 18-story two tower building may rise near Weehawken Cove

A rendering of the building proposed for Weehawken Cove (Courtesy of Fund for a Better Waterfront)

Weehawken Mayor Richard Turner said Tuesday’s hearing will be the sixth time the plan is discussed. He added that the planning board has some concerns with the project, including its height, "but until the application is done we don’t want to prejudge it.”

Meanwhile, local resident Mary Ciuffitelli doesn’t think the site needs to be redeveloped, citing concerns about the city’s infrastructure.

“I don’t have running water today because of another major water main break," said Ciuffitelli. "Our outdated infrastructure is overloaded and collapsing. This is the new normal for anyone who lives here.”

The meeting will be held at 7:30 p.m. at Weehawken High School.

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