Hudson County has been full of news these past few weeks. So much so that it can be hard to keep up! With talk of a new gated community coming to Union City, FM Bar + Lounge closing, and the new Monroe’s Cocktail Bar soft-opening at the former Biggie’s location, it’s a real-time of change in our communities. But believe it or not, there are even more changes to come. Ready to get updated on all things Hudson County? Keep reading for the top local headlines from this past week.
Car Ends Up on Sidewalk After Crash, Leaves 6 Hurt Including Toddlers in Strollers
An accident at the intersection of Clinton and 3rd Streets in Hoboken left six people injured after two vehicles crashed, sending one of the cars onto the sidewalk on Wednesday. Of the six injured, two were children who were thrown from their strollers and onto the ground.
According to ABC7NY, the Hudson County Regional Crash Team is currently investigating the incident but at this time, does not believe speed played a role. As the cars collided, one of the vehicles jumped the curb, hit and bent around a metal pole, and struck two women and two children, a boy and a girl, in strollers. One child was two years old, while the other was 18 months.
The two women and two children were transported to Hoboken University Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries, with the women citing back pain. Both drivers were also taken to the hospital where they received treatment for minor injuries.
No arrests have been made at this time.
Advisory Issued About Scam Phone Call Information from the Hoboken Police Department
The Hoboken Police Department released a statement on Friday, February 7, regarding scam phone calls from the number (201) 590-4685 where the caller alleges to be a member of the Hoboken Police Department. Any receiving a call from this number should disregard the call as a scam. It is not a legitimate number and the matter is currently under investigation. Anyone with information should contact Detective E. Lepre at (201) 420-2100 ext 3051.
Christ Hospital in Jersey City Could Close Imminently
{Photo credit: Google Maps}
A shocking turn of events in the deal for CarePoint Health to sell to RWJBarnabas has left the Christ Hospital in a potential crisis and may actually force the hospital to close. Hoboken Girl first reported that RWJBarnabas’ plans to acquire both CarePoint Hospital in Hoboken and Christ Hospital in Jersey City last October, but now agreements between CarePoint and RWJBarnabas have reached “an impasse,” according to JC Mayor Steven Fulop.
“It has been brought to my attention that Christ Hospital and RWJ Barnabas are at an impasse, and it appears that the closing of Christ Hospital in Jersey City may be imminent,” Fulop wrote in a letter to NJ Governor Phil Murphy earlier this week. “Should a closure occur, thousands of our residents may abruptly lose access to health care that has been available for generations. Furthermore, more than a thousand employees and their families face the prospect of losing employment.”
Missing Hoboken Man With Autism Found and Treated at Hospital
A 21-year-old man with autism was reported missing in Hoboken earlier this week and has since been found. According to a police spokesperson via Patch, Christopher was reported missing around 4:00AM and was found by 4:30PM. The spokesperson said, “Christopher has been found. He is at the Jersey City Medical Center in good health. His family has been notified.”
Christopher apparently was last seen around 4:00AM near Adams Street and was not dressed appropriately for the cold weather. He was since treated at Jersey City Medical Center.
Journal Square Tower Design Revealed in New Image Renderings
{Image rendering courtesy of MVMK Architecture}
A 27-story mixed-use development has been approved by the Jersey City planning board as of last week and now, the first image renderings of the potential building have been released. The new Journal Square Tower will be designed by MVMK Architecture and comes from Jersey-City based company 626 Summit Ave LLC. For now, the tower — which hails 285 feet, includes 209 residential units, a 1,372 square foot ground-floor retail area, and 16,000 square feet of offices — is being called 626 Summit Ave.
Hoboken Prepping New Parking Initiatives
The way Hoboken approaches parking is about to change – with a new series of parking initiatives. First off, as Hoboken Girl reported earlier this year, City Council has moved forward with raising the prices of the residential parking passes. Residential rates will go from $15 a year to $52 a year for the first car, from $30 to $104 a year for the second car, and increase to $208 a year for the third car.
Other new parking initiatives from the Hoboken Parking Utility include an ordinance that will bring meter prices to $2 per hour in the city’s business districts. The ordinance, which is only on first and second readings at this point, would coincide with a discounted employee parking program, according to a press release. Employees of Hoboken-based businesses will be eligible to receive a 69% discount of $5 for 12 hours in Garages B, D, and Midtown.
Other initiatives meant to improve the Hoboken parking experience include Virtual Visitor Permits {VVP} — the soft launch of which will begin on February 10th and will allow residents and guests to purchase and activate visitor permits through mobile devices — a six-month pilot parking sensor program on Washington Street that uses in-street vehicle detector sensors to alert drivers to parking availability on Washington Street through the ParkMobile app, upgrades to parking access and revenue control systems in Garage B, D, G, and Midtown, and the launch of an on-street merchant validation program.
VVPs will now cost $4 for four hours, $5 for eight, and $6 for 24 hours. Registering for a text message notification will allow residents or guests to get an alert to their phone 30 minutes prior to their VVP expiring.
For more information on VVPs, pricing, and instructional videos, visit here.
These new PARC systems will also feature license plate recognition cameras, which is thought to eliminate the need for transponders and ultimately, streamline the entry and exit process in garages. Also, parking guidance systems will be installed; these systems will have exterior signage that lets drivers know how many spaces are available in real-time. Other changes will include an ability for monthly customers to pay online and for visitors to reserve parking spaces in advance online before leaving home.
Hoboken Parking Utility will also partner with ParkMobile to introduce an on-street merchant validation program. As part of the program, merchants can purchase promo codes from HPU and use these codes to validate parking meter fees for customers.
JC Oddities Market Returning to Harborside for 4th Annual Valentine’s Market, Til Death Do Us Part
Grab your loved one’s hand as tight as you can because this year’s fourth annual JC Oddities Market will be called Til Death Do Us Part. Kicking off on February 9th from 12:00PM-6:00PM at Harborside Atrium, over 80 artists, crafters, and collectors from the tri-state area will be featured. You’ll find everything from taxidermy, bone jewelry, and artwork to photography, antiques, and more. There’s no charge for entry, but a $3 donation is suggested. There will also be live magic and other exciting performances for all attendees to enjoy.
For more information, check JC Oddities Market out on Instagram or visit their Til Death Do Us Part Facebook event.
All Signs {Sadly} Point to Sushi House Unexpectedly Closing
{Photo credit: Google Maps}
Hoboken Girl has been receiving many messages from eagle-eyed readers who have sadly reported that Sushi House in Hoboken appears to have unexpectedly closed. The phone number for Sushi House is no longer in service and according to Yelp, the Japanese sushi bar located at 155 1st Street in the Mile Square is officially closed as well. PS: Don’t you just love this Google Maps pic?
Diesel + Duke in Jersey City Celebrates Its Grand Reopening
{Photo credit: @eatdiesel}
With locations throughout New Jersey — including Montclair, Caldwell, New Brunswick, and Princeton — burger and fry joint Diesel + Duke recently celebrated its grand reopening at its Jersey City location last week. Attendees came to 389 Monmouth Street to celebrate with music, giveaways, specials, and more, and all proceeds benefitted the Boys and Girls Club of Hudson County. Congratulations on the grand reopening, Diesel + Duke!
Crime Rates Significantly Drop in Hoboken from 2018 to 2019
Crime rates in the Mile Square continue to drop. According to the latest data from the Hoboken police department, state police, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation {FBI}, Hoboken’s violent crime decreased by 34.2% from 2018 to 2019.
Police Chief Ken Ferrante broke the news, citing that violent crimes include homicide, rape, and robberies. In 2019, there were two rapes, 14 robberies, and 63 aggravated assaults, while 2018 saw four rapes, 23 robberies, and 93 aggravated assaults. In both 2018 and 2019, there were no reported homicides.
Nonviolent crimes in Hoboken have also dropped significantly. While 2018 saw a total of 841 nonviolent incidents, 2019 had 664 incidents total, resulting in a 22.9% drop.
Larcenies and burglaries have also decreased in the Mile Square. In 2019, larceny went down 22.9% and burglary also decreased by about 26.2%. Motor vehicle thefts have decreased by 16.2%
“It’s a combination of the proactive patrols of our uniform division and the strong investigative work done by our detectives and the information shared back and forth between the two,” Ferrante said. “We also use social media and put out crime prevention ideas or alerts to the public to let them know what’s going on, and all of that boils down to a constant flow of information and communication between us and the residents and fosters that relationship.”
Despite the many decreases, “white-collar crimes” such as identity theft have been on the rise in Hoboken recently.
“We live in such a technology-driven environment now. When I came in as chief about six years ago, we started seeing more identity thefts, and now it’s pretty rampant,” Ferrante said. “We get multiple reports daily.”
As far as an initiative or efforts to combat the rise in identity theft and other white-collar crimes, Ferrante cited that Captain Gino Jacobelli would be creating a unit comprised of several detectives that would specifically focus on these cases.
New Deli Called Sub Master Slipping Into Former Chill Convenience Store
{Photo courtesy of HG reader, Kim}
Hoboken has said goodbye to Chill Convenience at 305 1st Street and hello to a new deli. Sub Master is now open between 1st and Willow Street. According to Sub Master‘s website, the deli is open Monday through Thursday from 7:00AM-10:00PM, Fridays 7:00AM-2:00PM, Saturdays 8:00AM-2:00AM, and Sundays 8:00AM-10:00PM.
New Jersey Shopping Mall Helps Kids With Disabilities Learn Life Skills and Prepare for the Real Thing
https://www.instagram.com/p/B8H1Q9vgLt-/?igshid=ssx2blnw2lwb
LifeTown is a 15,000 square foot shopping mall in New Jersey that’s actually not a “real” shopping mall at all. The center was built for kids with disabilities in mind, so that they could have a safe space to learn and understand what to expect while banking, shopping, and visiting shopping centers, malls, and movie theatres out in “the real world.” LifeTown is run by more than 1,000 volunteers and is open to educators across the United States to bring their students to learn about real-world expectations.
New Three-Building Structure Proposed for 930 Monroe Street
{Image rendering courtesy of S9 Architecture}
Two Men Arrested After Shots Fired in Hoboken
Crime rates in Hoboken may have significantly dropped in the past few years, but a recent incident has residents of the Mile Square reeling. Two men have been arrested and charged in connection with shots fired in Hoboken earlier this week.
Thomas Bates, 32, and Malik High, 31, both of Hoboken were arrested after a report of shots fired on Monday, February 3rd near 5th and Jackson Streets. Officers Tyrone Huggins and Michael Aviles dispatched to the area on the report of a gunshot around 10:30PM. Upon coming across the scene, officers witnessed Bates pacing near a group of people near 501 Marshall Drive, according to Hudson Reporter.
Officers then allegedly saw Bates pull a handgun out of his pocket. Both Huggins and Aviles approached Bates, but according to a press release, Bates allegedly ran on foot until he fell to the ground. As Bates fell, officers say the gun fired once, but no one was hit by the shot.
Initially, Bates was charged with aggravated assault, resisting arrest, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, unlawful possession of a weapon, and certain persons not to have a weapon. After being placed on warrant and transported to Hudson County Correctional Facility, investigations into the incident continued and Detective Sergeant William Collins, Detective Adam Colon, and Detective John Quinones determined a second person was involved.
Malik High had also been seen in front of 501 Marshall, removing a handgun from his pocket and shooting a single shot into the air. Upon investigation, Collins discovered a bullet casing near 501 Marshall, and it was determined that this gunshot was the report that led police to the area.
On February 4th, Sergeant David Olivera, Officer Frank Francolino, and Officer Anthony Rutkowski located Malik High and called in as backup. High was arrested and charged with aggravated assault, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, unlawful possession of a weapon, and a certain person not to have a weapon at police headquarters. High was also placed on warrant and transported to Hudson County Correctional Facility.
Razza Pizzeria Is Reportedly Expanding Its Grove Street Location
Don’t worry, pizza lovers. Razza — an artisan pizzeria featuring wood-fired pies and a bar with cocktails and Italian craft beer— isn’t going anywhere. They’re just expanding. According to sources, Razza will be staying in the same location — 275 Grove Street in Jersey City — but will be renovating the space so that it’s bigger.
DC’s Tavern in Hoboken is Closing
Another day, another closure. This time around, it’s DC’s tavern. This locally-loved dive bar at 505 8th Street is closing. After being on 8th Street for nearly 20 years, it’s been confirmed that this local watering hole will be closing its doors. According to hMag, DC’s bartender Bill Moylan said that it’s been “a decision that has been coming for a long time.”
“It’s nearly happened a few times. This time it’s actually going through,” Moylan told hMag.
We have reached out for additional comments from the owners, but the outreach went unanswered. Find out more about the closure here. DC’s, you will be missed!
Monroe’s Cocktail Bar Hoboken Soft Opens
When one locale closes, another opens. Monroe’s Cocktail Bar Hoboken, located at 36-42 Newark Street, has just soft opened. Taking over the former Biggie’s space, this new spot is Marylin Monroe-inspired with an emphasis on cocktails + food, and includes “speakeasy” downstairs. Read more about Monroe’s here — welcome to the neighborhood!
Brooke + Bel Opening in Hoboken
A women’s boutique is coming to Hoboken and it’s called Brooke + Bel. Opening at 60 4th Street, this new shop will be “focused on a contemporary mid-tier pricepoint and carrying brands such as Loveshackfancy, Weworewhat, Levi’s, Lagence, Cotton Citizen, X Karla, Assouline, and more,” owners Sam and Brooke told Hoboken Girl in an email. In that email, they said they are “targeting a launch in March,” so stay tuned for updates on this new locale.
Hoboken Spot that Was Formerly a Famous Mafia Hangout Is Being Knocked Down
It’s no secret that NJ has some deep mafioso roots {ahem, please see The Sopranos}, but this time around, a former famed mafia hangout is being torn down in Hoboken. According to hMag.com, the property at 609 1st Street in Hoboken is going to be knocked down following a property inspection. The space, however, was formerly called “Casella’s” {and Nardine’s and Pascale’s at other points in time}, “was perhaps the quintessential mob headquarters, meeting place and hangout,” it was “safe haven” for Louis Anthony “Bobby” Manna, according to MafiaNJ.com.
Water Fountains in Jersey City Public Schools That Were Shut Off in November Are Going to be Reactivated
Back in November, a slew of Jersey City public schools had their water fountains turned off with the promise of making their fountains lead-free, according to the Jersey City Times. The fountains have been shut off since then, but now, are scheduled to be reactivated as of March 1st. This long-time news comes after the fountains were originally shut off in November of 2019 and were supposed to be reopened within 30 days according to a press release, Harshal Rajesh Agrawal told the Jersey City Times.
Passengers On a Cruise Ship That Docked in Bayonne Have Been Screened for Coronavirus
A Royal Caribbean cruise ship that docked in Bayonne on Friday morning had four passengers aboard that had recently been to China — these passengers were sent to a local hospital after being screened for coronavirus, according to USAToday.com. “New Jersey currently has no confirmed cases of novel coronavirus and the risk to residents remains low,” New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy said. Mayor of Bayonne Jimmy Davis announced on Twitter that “all other passengers released with] no action needed.” We will keep you updated on this developing story.
Union City Woman Charged with Burglary + Theft for Stealing an Uber Eats Vehicle Left Running in Hoboken
A woman from Union City has been charged with burglary and theft for stealing an Uber Eats vehicle that was left in Hoboken last Sunday, according to Hudson County View. Last Sunday at 3:56AM, a report of a stolen vehicle was issued at 234 Washington Street, to which officers Ricky Truppner and Marvin Dejesus responded. The victim of the theft was an Uber Eats driver.
According to Hudson County View, the driver had left his vehicle unattended and running when he went into McDonald’s to retrieve an order. While he was inside the eatery, he saw a woman enter his car, who then fled with the car.
The vehicle was then found by the Hudson County Sherrif’s Office in Union City near 15th Street and John F. Kennedy Boulevard. Dianna Penherrera was charged with the burglary and theft.
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