What a week in Hudson County! From confirmed cases of Coronavirus making their way into New York and New Jersey to new openings throughout Jersey City + Hoboken, there is a lot — and we mean, a lot — to catch up on. You’ve also got water main and park construction happening throughout the Mile Square, so there are temporary road closures to look out for, not to mention Governor Murphy announcing the Light Rail extension into west Jersey City. Keep reading for all the local news from this past week.
Several Hoboken Roads Closed This Week for Water Main Work and Park Construction
As Hoboken continues replacing water mains throughout the city, several roads will be temporarily closed this week. A total of 7,000 linear feet of Hoboken’s water mains will be replaced as part of the project. Simultaneously, Hoboken is also continuing construction on the Northwest Resiliency Park, which will also cause temporary road closures this week.
Here’s everything you need to know about which roads are closing when for water mains, via Patch.com.
- Tuesday: Monroe Street between 3rd and 4th Streets will be closed at times between the hours of 8:00AM-4:00PM for the installation of a new water main.
- Tuesday: Garden Street at 5th Street will be closed between 8:00AM-4:00PM for abandoning the old water main.
- Wednesday and Thursday: Jefferson Street at 11th Street will be closed at times between the hours of 8:00AM-4:00PM for abandoning the old water main.
- Wednesday: Garden Street at 3rd Street will be closed at times between the hours of 8:00AM-4:00PM for abandoning the old water main.
- Wednesday through Friday: Garden Street between 12th and 14th Streets will be closed at times between the hours of 8:00AM-4:00PM for the installation of a new water main.
- Thursday and Friday: Bloomfield Street between 2nd and 4th Streets will be closed at times between the hours of 8:00AM-4:00PM for installation of a new water main.
Here’s everything you need to know about which roads are closing when for Northwest Resiliency Park construction, via Patch.com.
- Monday through Friday: Construction will occur to build the cistern which will hold water for reuse in irrigation, and excavate the area for the 1 million gallon detention tank.
- Thursday and Friday: Adams and Jefferson Streets between 11th and 12th Streets, and 12th Street between Jefferson and Adams Streets will be closed from 8:00AM-4:00PM for water infrastructure work related to the new park.
RWJBarnabas Health Opens Center for Sleep Disorders in Jersey City
Jersey City Medical Center has opened the Center for Sleep Disorders in Jersey City, according to RWJBarnabas Health. The center is located at 410 Jersey Avenue and will offer consultations, diagnostics, and treatment services to any Hudson County-based patient older than five years old.
Jyoti Matta, a pulmonologist and medical director of the Center said, “If sleepiness interferes with work or other daytime activities, and if you’re an adult who gets less than seven hours of sleep a night despite going to go to bed on time, it’s a good idea to get a sleep evaluation.”
The Center for Sleep Disorders will treat a variety of sleep disorders — everything from restless leg syndrome to sleep apnea and more.
Woodhouse Day Spa Taking Over Former Bliss Spa in W Hotel
The Woodhouse Day Spa is coming into the now-vacant space inside the W Hotel that once was Bliss Spa.
Associate broker Blake Shanaphy of Jones Lang LaSalle real estate made the announcement Sunday on LinkedIn. Shanaphy wrote, “The Woodhouse Day Spa has committed to a long term deal with my clients at Ironstate Development Company and will join our W Hotel amenity space, formerly the ‘Bliss Spa’ located at 225 River Street, as the new replacement spa tenant for the W project.”
It looks like Woodhouse may bring may coveted nail services to the W Hotel, which were taken off the Bliss Spa menu shortly before it closed its doors. Other services also include the Signature Minkyti Facial, Four-Handed Massage, and the Woodhouse Escape — a 110-minute spa experience that seeks to align body, mind, and spirit with dry brushing, therapeutic stone massage, neck and shoulder massage, acupressure, and a scalp, hand and arm massage. A reflexology session ends the treatment.
Other Woodhouse Spa locations throughout New Jersey include Montclair, Summit, and Red Bank.
Hoboken Ranks On List Of ‘Best Commutes to Manhattan’
Patch.com has reported that PropertyShark recognized Hoboken as number 20 on a list of the best places to live in New Jersey if you commute to Manhattan. The list makers noted, “Because commute time is not the only concern when it comes to location, we also broadened the scope and looked at the following attributes for each town: median home price, school rating according to GreatSchools.com and crime rate according to the FBI database. We weighted the metrics of each attribute as follows: 40 percent for commute time, 30 percent for home affordability, 15 percent for crime rate and 15 percent for school score.”
LoDG Doughnut Shop Bringing Craft Doughnuts to the Heights
{Photo credit: @the_lodg}
The Law of Donutgineering — also known as LoDG —is opening soon at 7 Bleecker Street and is ready to bring craft doughnuts to the people of Jersey City Heights.
Having opened on March 6th, LoDG is a delivery-based doughnut shop engineering doughnut flavors and flavor combinations you’ve never seen before. From Apples, 5 Spice & Everything Nice — a five-spice apple cider cake doughnut with orange zest and orange sugar crystals — Cheesecake-O-Lantern — a pumpkin cheesecake doughnut with a sweet Bourbon glaze — El Balsero — a Cuban-inspired guava cake doughnut drizzled with cream cheese — to Platandough — a yeast doughnut with a creamy plantain filling, cinnamon sugar glaze, topped with a fried sweet plantain — there’s certainly a flavor for everybody.
Blush Tan Celebrates Opening in Hoboken
Blushtan has officially opened at 161 4th Street in Hoboken. Offering organic, hypoallergenic and paraben-free spray tans, as well as Cryoskin, new clients are being treated to 50% off all full-body spray tans and package deals. You can book an appointment at Blushtan Hoboken online.
Light Rail Extension Into Jersey City West Side Begins Construction
In an official announcement, Governor Phil Murphy revealed the state has begun extending the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail into Jersey City’s westside.
“We are here today together to celebrate the beginning of construction on this exciting and much-needed extension of the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail,” Murphy said while making the announcement at West Side Avenue terminal on March 3rd. “Extending the Light Rail will enable more Jersey City residents to get out of their cars and onto mass transit… and enable Jersey City to maximize the potential of the Hackensack River waterfront area for smart redevelopment and economic revitalization.”
The goal behind the project is to “support Jersey City’s planned development on the Hackensack waterfront,” the $180 million Bayfront Development, a mixed-use residential development with more than 7,000 units.
Murphy said the extension — which is estimated to cost upwards of $200 million — will take three-and-a-half years to complete once ground is broken. Right now, the “preliminary engineering phase” is said to last until mid-April. No word yet on when construction will begin.
New York City Confirms First Coronavirus Case, Fort Lee Man Also Tests Positive
The first confirmed case of Coronavirus has been confirmed in New York State. The victim is a New York City woman who recently traveled to Iran, where she contracted the virus.
“This evening we learned of the first positive case of novel coronavirus — or COVID-19 — in New York State,” Governor Andrew Cuomo said in an official statement. “The patient, a woman in her late thirties, contracted the virus while traveling abroad in Iran, and is currently isolated in her home. The patient has respiratory symptoms, but is not in serious condition and has been in a controlled situation since arriving to New York.”
Cuomo continued, “There is no cause for [a] surprise — this was expected. As I said from the beginning, it was a matter of when, not if there would be a positive case of [the] novel coronavirus in New York.”
As of right now, there are 76 confirmed cases of Coronavirus throughout the U.S. One person, a man from Washington in his late 50s, became the first to die from the virus in the U.S. As of Thursday, there is one confirmed case of Coronavirus in New Jersey. NJ.com reports a 32-year-old Fort Lee man has tested positive and remains in isolation, Mayor Mark Sokolich says.
In light of Coronavirus confirmed in both New York and New Jersey, Hoboken has been preparing the city for a potential outbreak here.
“While there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in our city at this time, we are taking all necessary precautionary measures to ensure the safety and well-being of our residents,” Mayor Bhalla said on March 3rd. “In an effort to maintain a healthy environment, our city employees have increased the frequency of cleanings and sanitizing procedures in municipal buildings in accordance with CDC guidelines.”
Teenager Arrested in Conjunction With Hoboken Stabbing
A 16-year-old has been arrested after being linked to a Hoboken stabbing, hMag reports. Hoboken police say they received a call around 3:43PM on March 4th that a female was stabbed near 532 Jackson Street. The call specified the female was stabbed by another female. The victim had been stabbed multiple times.
Hoboken Police Units responded to the area and Emergency Service Unit Sgt. Luke Sezsotarski identified and pursued the suspect to 540 Marshall Drive. The 16-year-old suspect was brought to Hoboken Police Headquarters.
Police are asking any witnesses with information or video regarding the incident to come forward by contacting Hoboken Police Detective Sergeant William Collins at 201-420-5112 or collinsw@hobokenpd.org.
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Awards Almost $20M to Hudson County
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development {HUD} has awarded nearly $20 million to Hudson County for its public housing improvements, Jersey Digs reports. Across the U.S., HUD has awarded more than $2.7 billion to public housing authorities in total.
“Few issues at HUD are more important to me than the repair and preservation of public housing,” said Lynne Patton, HUD Regional Administrator for New York and New Jersey. “HUD’s Capital Fund Program is essential to the restoration of affordable housing because it provides resources to ensure low-income residents live in healthy, safe and sanitary homes.”
The State of New Jersey was awarded $85 million, $19,047,210 of which will go directly to Hudson County’s public housing authorities in Bayonne, Guttenberg, Harrison, Hoboken, Jersey City, North Bergen, and Union City.
The largest doling of money in Hudson County goes to Jersey City, which will get $6,908,645. Hoboken receives $3,885,367 and Bayonne will receive $3,381,942.
Hoboken-Based Curry Up Now to Appear in Netflix Series “Ugly Delicious”
You might notice a familiar face {or at least dish} on Netflix’s series Ugly Delicious. The original documentary series follows award-winning chef David Chang as he tries dishes that explore the intersection of food and culture. Season 2 premiered on Friday, and on episode 2, “Don’t Call It Curry,” Curry Up Now in Hoboken is featured!
Chinese Dumpling Spot Yaso Opening Soon in Jersey City
{Photo credit: reddit}
Chinese dumpling spot Yaso Tangbao’s — located at 30 Hudson in Jersey City — looks like it could be opening soon. Signage is up and the coverings from the windows have been removed.
Jersey Upfront reports that representatives for Yaso have said they are “experiencing some delays” in the opening. However, it looks like the wait is almost up.
The fast-casual eatery will offer Shanghainese street food — everything from dumplings to bao and noodles.
Hoboken City Hall Employees Receive Notice of Potential Layoffs
Last Friday, 79 notices of potential layoffs were distributed to employees of Hoboken’s City Hall. With a budget deficit of $7 million, officials say the layoffs might be a necessity. However, city spokesperson Vijay Chaudhuri calls the notices “a precaution” before the new budget is introduced later in March.
“Layoffs are a worst-case scenario, and Mayor Bhalla and his administration continue to work around the clock to produce a budget with the City Council that reduces costs and keeps Hoboken fiscally sound for the long-term,” Chaudhuri said.
Large increases are expected in the projected healthcare costs for City employees. The healthcare plan the majority of City employees utilize faces an increase of approximately $1.5 million from last year. State pension costs have also increased by approximately $600,000, and previously negotiated union contracts have added another $3.5 million to the projected budget. Accompanied by a loss of revenue from municipal court, parking, and more, the City of Hoboken is facing a substantial shortfall in 2020.
Mayor Bhalla commented, “One way we can overcome some of the rising fixed costs beyond the control of the City, is engaging in concessionary bargaining with the six municipal labor unions that encompass a majority of City employees. We’ve been conducting good faith negotiations with the leaders of the unions to potentially negotiate contracts and health care plans that provide the necessary benefits that City employees deserve, while also being mindful to the taxpayer going forward.”
While this is told be a “worst case scenario,” others have differing opinions on the matter.
In comments to Hudson County View, Councilwoman Tiffanie Fisher said, “There are inconsistencies in the mayor’s statement vs. what I have observed over the past few months, which is a finance team guided by sound fiscal principles and an inexperienced mayor’s office driven by concerns about the potential negative headlines surrounding this budget mess.”
Councilman Michael Russo also said City Hall would be “absolutely decimated” if there were to be mass layoffs, according to NJ.com. “Morale is horrible,” he said to the news site. “Everyone is scared about what the outcomes may be here. It’s a scary thing to know you have a job and then all of a sudden you’re potentially not going to have that job. How do you feed your family? How do you pay your rent? How do you pay your mortgage?”
Freeholder Anthony Romano shared his thoughts directly at the Council meeting, “Every one of these workers is important to the City of Hoboken. You and this administration have a chance to do what should have been in the past,” he said. “We have to compromise and save these jobs.”
The Hoboken City Council meeting was held on Wednesday evening and we posted the live stream on our Facebook page. City employees shared their grievances, upset, and frustration with the manner in which the potential layoff notices were distributed. The notice states that any layoffs that may occur will become effective after May 7th, 2020. We share a full recap of this situation as it unfolds here.
Jersey City Board of Education Debates LGBTQ Curriculum
The subject of an LGBTQ curriculum has made its way into the Jersey City Board of Education meeting for the second time in a month. The particular mandate being discussed is a statewide one that requires public schools to make curriculum updates to include “instruction, and adopt instructional materials, that accurately portray political, economic, and social contributions of persons with disabilities and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people,” Hudson County View reports.
The bill was signed into law by Governor Phil Murphy one year ago but proves today to be a controversy.
Several residents came forward during the meeting to make their negative thoughts about the law known.
Trustee Gerald Lyons, an openly gay man, however, criticized the hateful comments. He also wore an American rainbow flag to the meeting.
“We heard arguments that gays want to turn children gay, and that they need to be taught control and how to control their sexual desires, and not teach us how to accommodate their sick and unnatural desires,” Lyons said. “Pedophilia and AIDS were brought up to support their arguments. Unfortunately, one speaker chose to speak for Dr. Martin Luther King, and said that Dr. King’s message of love for all would not include equal rights for the LGBTQ community. I find it very offensive that this hate monger would use Dr. King to spread his message of hate.”
Similar comments in regard to the state mandate were also heard earlier in the month at Bayonne’s BOE meeting.
Man Trying to Steal Bike Thwarted by Hoboken Do-Gooder
Not today! When Guillermo Mesa, 29, of Jersey City attempted to steal a bicycle that was not his, the employee of a Hoboken building confronted him, grabbing him by the sweater. Because the bicycle was a resident’s from the building, the Hoboken knew it was being stolen.
Mesa allegedly pushed the Hoboken employee to the ground and escaped. Police then responded to the call near 1400 Clinton Street and identified Mesa entering the 9th Street Light Rail elevator. Police pursued Mesa up the hill.
Upon searching Mesa, police found a folding knife and burglar’s tool.
According to police, Mesa was arrested on Palisade Avenue last Sunday after a pursuit. He was charged with robbery, burglary, hindering apprehension, contempt of court, interception of emergency communications, certain person not to have weapons, burglar’s tool, and criminal mischief.
Renderings Show Jersey City Buy-Rite Location Transforming Into New Building Called Gateway
{Image rendering courtesy of SBLM via Jersey Digs}
Jersey City’s Buy-Rite liquor store looks like it might be getting a makeover. Plans and image renderings for a new project at the site, 575 Manila Avenue, show the former Buy-Rite turning into an innovative building that would house 20 individual spaces — 30% retail, 25% office, 25% recreational, and 20% hotel. The project, according to Jersey Digs, is being referred to as Gateway.
Construction for Gateway would require demolition of the current site. The new building would rise five stories high and feature a rooftop terrace, renderings of which show murals, a fire pit, and a garden terrace with seating. Mock-ups also depict a restaurant on the roof.
Jersey Digs reports that a formal application for Gateway has not yet been submitted to the planning committee yet. However, real estate listings say spaces could be available as early as September 2022.
Local Musician James Calleo Releases New Single
Hoboken-based musician James Calleo is back with a new track. Calleo just released a new single called “Austin to Boston,” which is now available on streaming services like Spotify. You can download or listen to the song on Spotify.
Sawyer Smith Residential Opens Second Hoboken Location
Sawyer Smith Residential has announced a second location in Hoboken. The new office will be located at 155 6th Street and will be led by Katherine Silver as the executive vice president and managing broker.
“When agents are successful and happy doing what they are good at, our clients benefit from the results they bring. We free our agents from the financial burden of maintaining their business, and our talented team of marketing experts assist them with marketing their services and the properties they represent,” founder and broker Sawyer Smith said in an official statement.
Sawyer Smith Residential is responsible for bringing high-profile properties such as Hamilton Square, Schroeder Lofts, and the Jersey City URBY to the market.
“We look forward to serving Hoboken with the same level of professionalism, care, and passion that Jersey City has come to expect from us,” Smith continued. “Our venture into Hoboken will solidify our reputation in Hudson County as the premier independent brokerage that connects people with their dreams.”
Tickets for the 4th Annual Hoboken Wellness Crawl are on Sale Now
Get ready to get your wellness on, as tickets for the 4th Annual Hoboken Wellness Crawl are currently on sale. The event, happening on Sunday, April 26th, will feature events, activities, and freebies from wellness, health, fitness, and beauty businesses in Hoboken + Jersey City. Find out more about the event here and get your tickets here.
Women Rising Teams Up with Local High School to Educate Students on Healthy Relationships
Having healthy relationships is an important part of life and for students at Weehawken High School, that importance is being taught on a regular basis. Maria Mattiace, a teacher + coach at Weehawken High School, got in touch with Hoboken Girl to tell us about an education initiative that the school is working on to help educate students on building healthy + positive relationships via Women Rising.
Margaret Abrams, the Domestic Violence Response Team Coordinator {DVRT} at Women Rising, visits the school to talk to students about building healthy relationships at a young age and how to recognize potentially abusive relationships in the hopes to avoid domestic violence from forming later on in life. The ultimate goal, according to Mattiace, is “spread awareness and light on relationships and mental health education.”
Beyond the regular visits from Margaret, students, teachers, and the Weehawken PBA also donate diapers and child care products regularly to Women Rising. Great work, everyone!
Hoboken Montessori School Expanding by Fall 2020
For parents + students of the Hoboken Montessori School {HMS}, good things are happening. HMS will be expanding into additional space in the Southeast corner of the Hudson Tea Building. Currently located at 158 14th Street, the new space will open as a toddler classroom over at 1450 Washington Street. “The classrooms will be designed with the same look and feel as the current spaces: calm, peaceful and purposeful with a continued focus on early childhood education,” the school wrote in a press release.
Hoboken LepreCon Arrest Stats + More
Hoboken Police Chief Ken Ferrante’s Twitter account was updated at 5pm on Saturday announcing that there were 4 arrests, 8 City Ordinances, 3 people taken to hospitals, and 193 calls to the police department during the Hoboken LepreCon. Final numbers + summaries of arrests will be posted later today and a press release with all the details of the arrests will be out on Monday. These numbers are a bit higher than those from last year, possibly due to the nice weather.
Medical Marijuana Dispensary Application Postponed in Hoboken
Back in 2018, Harmony Foundation {a Secaucus-based cannabis company} had previously filed an application with the Hoboken Planning Board to open a medical marijuana dispensary in Hoboken at 95 Hudson Street. Now, however, that application is being postponed due to Mayor Ravi Bhalla vetoing an “ordinance allowing medical cannabis sales in downtown Hoboken,” according to NJ.com.
“The reason for this veto is that {the ordinance} references compliance with two {2} sections of the Hoboken municipal code … which are currently in a state of flux,” Mayor Bhalla said in a statement. The original ordinance would have enabled the sale of medical marijuana in the C-1 zone district of Hoboken.
Got a news tip? Let us know — email us at hello@hobokengirl.com! We appreciate it.
Did you know: We started a podcast about all things news and lifestyle in Hoboken + Jersey City! Listen to the latest episode of Tea on the Hudson here and subscribe.
We release new episodes every Tuesday!
