Earlier this morning, a water main break occurred on Observer Highway and Madison Street in Hoboken after private construction workers hit the main — closing a portion of the roads. Now, a State of Emergency has been declared due to the main break, forcing schools and businesses to close. Read on for more about what’s going on.
#Hoboken: Contractors working on an unrelated project have struck a large main on Observer and Madison, impacting water pressure citywide.
Crews are working to restore pressure.
There is no boil water advisory. Traffic restrictions in that vicinity @HobokenOEM @CityofHoboken pic.twitter.com/djMEbEmc5e— Veolia Water NJ (@VeoliaWaterNJ) February 27, 2023
As per the New Jersey Department of Health, all establishments, including all gyms, restaurants, bars, and hair and nail salons, without running water must close until water is restored. All establishments with running water including supermarkets, pharmacies, and entities selling water can remain open.
The State of Emergency will remain in place until water is restored and the order is lifted by the Office of Emergency Management.
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According to the announcement released by the City of Hoboken, repairs are ongoing and expected to continue overnight. Residents should be prepared to have their service impacted overnight into early tomorrow morning.
All drivers are instructed to avoid downtown and enter and exit the city from northern routes.
. @HobokenOEM has issued a State of Emergency due to the water main break
Water will be available at 7 locations starting at 4:30 p.m.
-HUMC
-220 Adams St.
-221 Jackson St.
-Fox Hills
-4th & Harrison Streets
-Columbian Towers
-Stevens’ Wesley Howe Centerhttps://t.co/RLWN31PmfM— City of Hoboken (@CityofHoboken) February 27, 2023
Per the city of Hoboken, The Office of Emergency Management and Veolia was supposed to make drinking water available at seven locations starting at 4:30PM, but this has been delayed due to traffic. New time estimate is 6:00PM. Residents must bring their own containers to fill.
The water will be located at the following locations:
- Hoboken University Medical Center, 308 Willow Ave.
- 220 Adams St.
- 221 Jackson St.
- Fox Hills, 1301 Willow Ave.
- Fourth and Harrison Streets
- Columbian Towers, 76 Bloomfield St.
- Stevens’ Wesley Howe Center, 1 Castlepoint Terrace.
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Proposed Plan Looks To Redevelop Hoboken Parking Garage Into Mixed-Use Apartment Building
A 40-year-old parking garage in downtown Hoboken could be transformed into a new apartment building. The City of Hoboken proposed plans to transform Municipal Parking Garage B at 28 2nd Street in Hoboken into a mixed-use building. The plan was unveiled during a virtual community meeting on January 7th, 2025, but has yet to be adopted by City Council. There will be another community meeting on Wednesday, January 29th at 7PM to learn more about the plan. Here’s what we know so far about the proposed plan to revitalize one of Hoboken’s largest parking garages.
The Plan
The goal is to redevelop Garage B into a transit-oriented, mixed-use site. The City wants it to have a new, updated parking garage, ground-floor retail space, a school, and residential housing. According to the plan, “Garage B is the only garage that exists as a standalone building, without other buildings attached to or flanking the garage structure. Garage B is also located furthest south and is closest to the Hoboken Terminal. For these reasons, Garage B has fewer barriers to construction than the other Garages locations.”
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The housing portion of the new site would include a minimum of 20% affordable housing for low to moderate-income households. The remaining balance would be affordable for households that don’t make more than 120% of the regional median household income in the region. No market-rate housing is part of this redevelopment plan.
“The intent of workforce housing is to provide opportunities for working- and middle-class residents to live within the City of Hoboken,” said Marilyn Baer from the City of Hoboken. “These residents can include police and fire officers, teachers, municipal workers, nurses, and other essential workers.”
According to a recent study done by the City of Hoboken, the parking garage is in substantial need of repair. The garage would be getting a much-needed update and Hoboken says the new space will have the same or possibly more parking spaces for residents and visitors to use, along with modern technology to help make the parking process a breeze.
The Goals
This plan is part of Hoboken’s Redevelopment Plans, aiming to improve the City to make it safer for both residents and visitors. Some of the other goals for this site include maximizing the future building’s proximity to the Hoboken Terminal, increasing access to to NJ Transit, the PATH, the Light Rail, and ferry services. Project leaders aim for new construction to be compatible with the surrounding area. They also want to make sure ground floor space is spaced and utilized well to improve the pedestrian experience on Hudson Place and River Street.
This redevelopment plan also calls for pedestrian safety improvements in line with the City’s Vision Zero goals. It will also use stormwater mitigation strategies to help reduce local flooding.
Again, this is still just a proposed plan. If it’s adopted by the City Council, the City of Hoboken plans to send out a Request for Proposals from developers for concept plans. From there, the City will provide for an additional public process ahead of a potential Redevelopment Agreement between Hoboken and a developer, according to Marilyn Baer.
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Community Meeting on 1/29
Per a Nixle alert sent out by the City of Hoboken, there will be another community meeting to learn more about the proposed redevelopment plan on Wednesday, January 29th at 7PM in the City Hall Council Chambers, located at 94 Washington Street in Hoboken.
The Department of Community Development will present proposed uses for the 40-year-old municipal parking garage which could transform the property into a transit-oriented, mixed-use site with active ground-floor retail, residential housing, school space, and parking.
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