Hoboken Announces Plans To Improve Access Near The Former Monarch Property

The City of Hoboken today announced that construction on short-term improvements to increase accessibility near the former Monarch property will begin on Tuesday, February 21.

During the estimated two-month construction period, the City will install a paver walkway along the west side of the site to connect the existing waterfront walkway, remove the former fenced in trash area, upgrade site fencing, and remove existing debris. The City also plans to provide access to the Hudson River estuary at Weehawken Cove next to the site to allow for paddle sports and relocate the Harborside Park boathouse container to the former Monarch property.

“Hoboken is committed to upgrading our waterfront all the way from Pier A to Weehawken Cove, and I’m glad to share that these short-term improvements will further beautify our northern waterfront area,” said Mayor Bhalla. “We are able to take on these improvements thanks to our historic acquisition of the Monarch property two years ago, a possibility that seemed remote a decade ago. I look forward to working with the community to further revitalize our waterfront at the Monarch site and other areas in the months and years to come.”

The City acquired the property, originally slated for two 11-story residential towers, for the purposes of public open space through the landmark three-way land swap Monarch Settlement with Ironstate Development in November 2021. That agreement, negotiated by the Bhalla administration, also included the City’s acquisition of 800 Monroe for the purpose of a public park.

Hoboken’s comprehensive waterfront upgrades include the following:

• A public process to determine the features of Maritime Park at the former Union Dry Dock property, to connect the final piece of the Hoboken waterfront
• A redesign of Sinatra Drive between Fourth and 11th Streets to include a protected bike lane, green infrastructure, 164 street trees, and other Vision Zero improvements
• Recent improvements to the south waterfront between Newark and Fourth Streets, including new trees and plantings, a modern green bike lane surface, new pavers, the consolidation of crosswalks, and more.
• The rehabilitation of Weehawken Cove with the removal of 14 abandoned boats, the rehabilitation of the 16th Street bulkhead currently under construction, and the future creation of a living shoreline
• The creation of a new and expanded resiliency park at Harborside Park (15th and Garden Streets) through the Rebuild by Design project funded by the federal government and a $100 million grant from the State that will help protect Hoboken from storm surge events

For more information on the project, go to https://www.hobokennj.gov/resources/former-monarch-site-improvements.

For weekly construction schedules, go to www.hobokennj.gov/construction.