This article is sponsored by the Historic Downtown Special Improvement District (HDSID).
The holiday season has officially arrived in Hudson County and if you’re like us here at The Hoboken Girl, we can’t wait to partake in all of the fun and festive holiday happenings going on locally. One can’t-miss holiday event you should be putting on your calendar for 2024 is the Historic Downtown Special Improvement District (HDSID) Happy Holiday Market in Jersey City. The event will take place on December 14th + 15th, as well as December 21st + 22nd, and will include 130+ local artists and makers to shop small, sweet and savory eats, festive photo opportunities, kid-friendly holiday activities, and more. This year’s market will be at two Chilltown locations — the Grove Street PATH Plaza and The Ashford rooftop (located at 145 Newark Avenue). Read on to learn more about this year’s HDSID Happy Holiday Market taking place in Jersey City this December.
All About the Happy Holiday Market
This year’s HDSID Happy Holiday Market is sure to be four days full of holiday cheer. With two locations and 130+ rotating local artists and makers participating, this is a great opportunity to shop small for the holiday season and check some names off your gift-giving list.
On Saturday, December 14th + Sunday, December 15th, as well as Saturday, December 21st + Sunday, December 22nd, locals can visit both locations below, each with its own holiday activations.
At The Ashford’s heated, enclosed, and decorated rooftop, located at 145 Newark Avenue in Jersey City, visitors can enjoy brunch and festive drinks while they shop. This location will feature vendors you do not want to miss, including Heyday Skincare — a new Jersey City spa that will provide mini facials — and permanent jewelry vendors. Every date has a new group of rotating vendors.
At the Grove Street PATH Plaza in Jersey City, visitors will find endless local vendors, holiday photo opportunities, music, bounce houses (including slides, mechanical reindeer, + more), and other holiday activities. A new activation for this year’s market will be a holiday photo booth, sponsored by Jersey City Cultural Affairs.
In addition, the first five customers to shop at each vendor at both locations will receive a limited edition Holiday Market shopping bag, sponsored by HDSID, Xfinity, Metro PCs, and Heyday Skincare.
Local Vendors
This art and handmade goods market celebrates the talents of hundreds of local creatives in the Hudson County area. Discovering the passion and connecting with the creators is what this market is all about.
Here are just a few of the 100+ artists and makers set to attend this year’s holiday market:
Aunt Lullie’s — delicious cookies.
BabaBoogs — fun crafted candles.
Bridge & Tunnel Vintage — vintage and thrifted goods.
Frenzye — French bakery.
Froth on Franklin — coffee shop.
Grayhill Woodworking — woodworked home goods.
Greenhouse on Greendell — flower shop selling holiday decor on December 14th only.
Hayley’s Donut — gluten-free doughnuts.
High Hun’s Handmade Ceramics — ceramics.
Holy Mold — poet and candle crafter.
IndieVynl — vinyl collector.
Letz Connect Permanent Jewelry — permanent jewelry.
Love The Clutter — home decor boutique.
PlantDad by Moobience — beautiful plant terrariums.
Sweet Aurora Soap + Candle — handcrafted soaps and homey candles.
Yardsale Press — NJ-themed print press.
About HDSID
The Historic Downtown Special Improvement District (HDSID) is a public-private partnership, 501(C) which allows local business owners to directly impact the neighborhoods in Historic Downtown Jersey City. The non-profit expanded to include 26 more businesses this spring and works with local businesses, property owners, and neighborhood associations in partnership with the city government. HDSID also has a clean team on duty seven days a week from 5AM-7PM to ensure the cleanliness of the downtown area.
HDSID hosts events all year long and the Happy Holiday Market is just one of the holiday celebrations taking place in Downtown Jersey City this season. HDSID also presents an annual Christmas Tree + Menorah Lighting which took place on Tuesday, December 3rd, 2024 from 5:30PM to 7PM. The event is fun for the whole family and attendees enjoyed hot chocolate, cookies, gifts from Santa, and plenty of holiday cheer.
HDSID’s 2024 Happy Holiday Market will take place in downtown Jersey City at the Grove Street PATH Plaza and The Ashford Rooftop on December 14th + 15th, as well as December 21st + 22nd, from 12PM-6PM.
The Jordan in Hoboken Refiles Lawsuit After Dismissal
Rent prices in the Hoboken area have skyrocketed within the past few years, with some neighborhoods charging tenants similar prices to those who live across the Hudson. Such affordability issues have led to a lawsuit surrounding rent control. The parties in this particular suit are The Jordan, a luxury apartment building located at 1200 Clinton Street in Hoboken; the City of Hoboken; and the City's Rent Leveling + Stabilization Board. Read on for details about the outcome of the lawsuit and what this means for tenants of The Jordan in Hoboken, New Jersey.
Updates as of 1/27
According to Hudson County View, The Jordan has refiled its lawsuit in Hudson County Superior Court. Unwilling to accept its status as a rent-controlled property, the re-filing took place just eight days after the federal judge's ruling and 24 hours after the release of Mayor Bhalla and 5th Ward Councilman Phil Cohen's statement celebrating the court's decision.
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The lawsuit, which can be found in its entirety at this link, shared by Hudson County View, states that “The Board’s actions and the Resolution stripping The Jordan of its exemption under the Rent Control Exemption law is contrary to law because the decision was arbitrary, capricious and unreasonable as:
a. The Jordan met the only condition precedent to obtaining the exemption under the New Jersey Rent Control Exemption Law;
b. The Board may not limit or impair the Exemption that was properly claimed under the New Jersey rent Control Exemption Law; and
c. The Resolution stripping The Jordan’s exemption is preempted by the Rent Control Exemption Law.”
The Hoboken Girl has team has reached out to The Jordan and this piece will be updated with any further comments.
The Details as of 1/23
Living expenses in New Jersey are 13.9% higher than the national average, according to a report released by GoBankingRates. As many already know, this is no different in Hoboken, where affordability concerns have sparked a legal dispute over rent control between the local government and The Jordan, an apartment building located at 1200 Clinton Street.
On September 13th, 2023, the Rent Leveling + Stabilization Board in Hoboken decided that The Jordan was subject to rent control. This was because the building did not comply with the City of Hoboken’s Municipal Rent Control Ordinance, which among other things, states that tenants must receive sufficient notice that the property they're living in is exempt from rent control or rent leveling. Specifics regarding this ordinance can be found here.
In January 2024, LPF 1200 Clinton Equity, LLC, the owner of The Jordan, filed a lawsuit against the City and the Board contesting the Board’s decision. An Amended Complaint from the owner then followed in April 2024. The City of Hoboken and the board filed a motion to dismiss that complaint.
The issue was essentially left unresolved until January 14th, 2025, when United States District Judge for the District of New Jersey William J. Martini issued an order to dismiss the case, establishing that the property was, in fact, subject to rent control, as the Judge determined that the landlord failed to provide proper notice of the exemption to its tenants.
According to a statement released by the City of Hoboken, the outcome of the case "represents a milestone victory for Hoboken tenants and reinforces the City’s commitment to preserving housing affordability."
Hoboken residents can be assured that the City "will continue to enforce its rent control ordinance to protect the residents of The Jordan," Mayor Ravi S. Bhalla said in the statement. Mayor Bhalla also shared that the City will "continue to aggressively defend against corporate landlord attempts to gauge rents and displace families in our community."
With this rent control ordinance in place and an outcome such as this, Hoboken residents can be hopeful that the Mile Square City is moving toward greater affordability across the board.
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