Court fight over West St. stalls 42-story Jersey City, N.J., tower

HUDSON TV EXCLUSIVE

JERSEY CITY, N.J. — The 42-story, 696-unit residential tower proposed for 506 Summit Ave. in Journal Square was carried off the Jersey City Planning Board’s agenda again Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026 — this time over the developer’s objection, amid two new lawsuits over West Street.

Eugene T. “Gene” Paolino, a senior partner at Genova Burns LLC appearing for 500 Summit Avenue Owner LLC (listed on the agenda as SP 500 Summit-Dev Co LLC, with Genova Burns partner Gerard D. Pizzillo as attorney), told the board the city filed a complaint over the project Friday afternoon “at around 3:30,” and that a Judge Katz heard argument in Hudson County Superior Court at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, two hours before the board met (2:10:41). David B. Katz is the Hudson Vicinage assignment judge, according to the state judiciary.

Developer says judge barred West Street review

Paolino said Judge Katz “did direct one of the attorneys in my office to have me tell you that the board may not consider the circulation or the drainage at West Street as part of the application” (2:11:41). West Street is not part of the application, but “there is a circulation feature that the project requires that needs West Street,” he said (2:12:10).

He added that his client filed a separate suit within the past week to compel the city to vacate West Street. “The vacation was ordered about eight years ago by the municipal council and was never done,” Paolino said (2:12:36), adding that a decision on that suit is not expected until mid-November. He said the city’s case has a Dec. 3 return date.

Board counsel warns against running afoul of court order

Board attorney Santo Alampi said the board is not a party to the case and he had not seen the order. He questioned how the board could review a site plan without discussing West Street drainage and vehicle access. “I don’t want to run afoul of that order,” Alampi said (2:14:40), recommending a carry to Dec. 8.

Paolino objected, saying the as-of-right application was filed in December 2025 and has been carried about eight times. “I can’t consent to carrying it,” he said (2:16:48). Chairwoman Vidya Gangadin and the board carried the case to Dec. 8, 2026.

A West Street fight dating to 2012

The West Street vacation traces to a July 25, 2012 settlement of a zoning suit by prior owner Robinhood Plaza Inc. (HUD-L-5825-10). After courts ordered the city to honor that deal, the council voted 7-1 on Feb. 28, 2018, to adopt Ordinance 18-012 vacating part of the dead-end street. Later owner 500 Summit Avenue Mazal, LLC then sued, claiming its 2017 application was entitled to automatic approval (HUD-L-3805-18; 2:18-CV-15276). The council voted 8-0 on April 15, 2020, to settle (Res. 20-260). Track Jersey City records with Garden State AI.

Hudson TV asks: Was the Planning Board right to hold off on the 506 Summit Ave. tower until after the Dec. 3 court date?
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