Hoboken boasts one of the most amazing views in the entire world {in our opinion anyway}. From the Shipyard to the PATH station, the sweeping views of the Manhattan skyline can take your breath away and make you feel like a tourist regardless of how long you’ve lived here. Both residents and visitors alike are able to walk down Sinatra and stop at any of the beautiful parks or take a seat along a bench and enjoy the tranquility of the Hudson {framed by an expanse of architectural magnificence}. We don’t always realize how lucky we are, especially considering this was not always the plan.
^Hoboken view of downtown NYC
In 1990s the Port Authority of NY and NJ and the City of Hoboken had plans for a 3.2 million square foot development scheme for Hoboken’s waterfront. Their plan included residential and commercial buildings that extended out along all of the piers and right up to the river, eliminating all of the public waterfront views we now enjoy. On July 9th, 1990 Hoboken voters defeated that plan in a referendum vote, which gave way to the Fund for a Better Waterfront {FBW} organization.
The FBW joined volunteer professionals together to create a plan for Hoboken’s waterfront that would give public access to all the space had to offer. In February of 1995, the City of Hoboken accepted a new plan for the waterfront that included almost all of the recommendations from the FBW and that we now see in place as you walk along the Hudson today.
^original plans for the waterfront- note the giant building on Pier A
The FBW has continued to preserve the beauty and accessibility of the Hoboken waterfront for the last 25 years. Currently, FBW is working to extend the features of the southern waterfront throughout Hoboken’s central waterfront. Their current campaign: Connect the Waterfront, seeks to connect the remaining parts of Hoboken’s waterfront so that pedestrians can walk the entire length along the water. They’re proposing an extension of 4th and 5th Streets to Sinatra Drive to enlarge the Little League field by 33%, among many other projects. They’ve fought legal battles and offered support to our surrounding communities including Jersey City and Weehawken as they’ve worked to renew their waterfront communities.
On Thursday, October 22nd, Fund for a Better Waterfront will celebrate its 25-year anniversary by hosting an awards party to honor the volunteers who have worked for many years to preserve the public waterfront.
Tickets are available for purchase online for $75 or can be purchased at the door for $85. The organization is also accepting donations for anyone who would like to offer their support but cannot attend the event.
Make sure to support this amazing organization and thank them for all they’ve done for a community. Their cause is really one worth celebrating!
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