Hoboken Hosting Virtual Public Meeting on New Jersey Transit Records Building — APRIL 16

The City of Hoboken is co-hosting a virtual public meeting with New Jersey Transit on the future of the New Jersey Transit Records Building on April 16 from 5:00 – 6:30 pm via the WebEx online platform. This meeting replaces the March 17 public meeting that was postponed due to the outbreak of COVID-19.

Previously, New Jersey Transit was prepared to adhere to a March 31 deadline for a decision on the building, but agreed to push it back at the request of the City and the Responsible Development Task Force.

The New Jersey Transit Records Building was constructed in 1904 and has thus been deemed a historic property. However, it has fallen into a state of disrepair and has been recently deemed an unsafe structure by the NJ Department of Community Affairs. Although the property sits smack-dab within the Hoboken Rail Yard Redevelopment Zone, New Jersey Transit is conducting an analysis of alternatives to demolition of the building—as required by State Historic Preservation Office (“SHPO”).

The Record Building, a unique, historic structure is at risk. NJDCA has declared it an “unsafe structure.” Please complete @CityofHoboken online survey & participate in an April 16 online public meeting. https://t.co/0IEtDbmkxp More info on our website: https://t.co/u82uv3Mqtk pic.twitter.com/RL334HpKL5

— Better Waterfront (@Hoboken_FBW) April 13, 2020

The Responsible Development Task Force has been involved with the Hoboken Rail Yard Redevelopment process long before the 2014 plan came into place, and continues to scrutinize the ever-evolving proposals as the game continues to change. Their preferred plan for the New Jersey Transit Records Building is one of  “Adaptive Reuse,” says task force spokesman Terry Pranses. “This approach is actually a two-step one: The building would first be stabilized in place, then with public inputs, it would be adapted for a new use.”

According to Pranses, the Adaptive Reuse (#4 Alternative) approach, “has been reviewed by New Jersey’s Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) and identified as a positive outcome for this historic building. It could be an important link to the past with increased visibility as the Hoboken Yards will be bringing new people to our downtown area.” He adds, “Alternative #4 has also received a positive evaluation by Engineer Donald Friedman, who specializes in historic preservation and structural engineering. His firm is Old Structures Engineering (OSE).”

For more information on the records building, including an online survey and instructions on how to join the virtual meeting on April 16, please visit https://www.hobokennj.gov/resources/lackawanna-records-building.

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