Temporary Improvements To Hoboken's "Monarch" Site Discussed In Virtual Meeting

On Tuesday night, Hoboken Director of Environmental Services Jennifer Gonzalez led a virtual community meeting to discuss the planned, temporary, improvements to the city’s extreme, northeastern waterfront, commonly referred to as the “Monarch” site.

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The city will ultimately design a park for the property, but last night’s meeting was aimed at discussing the immediate plans for the walkway along Shipyard Lane so the public has access.

Joining in the discussion were Hoboken’s City Engineer Olga Garcia; Meredith Hayes from GZA Consultants; and Ryan Sharp, Hoboken’s Transportation and Parking Director.

Overall, the temporary improvements will include:

• Installing a walkway on the west side of the site along Shipyard Lane between Frank Sinatra Drive and 15th Street to connect the existing waterfront walkway
• Removing the former fenced-in trash storage area
• Upgrading site fencing
• General debris removal and cleanup of the existing gravel surface.
• Adding planters

Currently in the design phase, officials hope to award a contract in June, with construction finishing sometime in July.  The cost for the temporary improvements has yet to be determined, but taxpayers will not be impacted according to Gonzalez. The city hopes to used funds from the Monarch settlement and other sources to pay for the work.

The city acquired the land, along with undeveloped property at Monroe and Eighth Streets in 2021, as part of a land swap arrangement with Ironstate Development Company.  In exchange, the developer will take ownership of 256 Observer Highway, currently the site of Hoboken’s public works facility.  They will revitalize the property into a mixed-use development with 30,000-square-feet of commercial space and 360 residential units.

Ironstate Development will also be responsible for tearing down the current DPW facility, as well as creating a new municipal garage for the city.