Waterfront Conservancy Works to Connect Parks in Jersey City
The Jersey City Waterfront Parks Conservancy recently unveiled its “Connect the Parks” conceptual master plan, which seeks to develop parkland surrounding the Little Morris Canal Basin at the foots of Hudson and Washington Streets and to connect these parks to each other.
The plan, based on community input collected during earlier surveys and community meetings, was put together by landscape architects Starr Whitehouse, in collaboration with Architects.
Currently, the separate parcels of parkland are in a state of disrepair, eroding at a rapid pace or, in some cases, not available to the public. The conceptual master plan calls for linking the Northeastern shore of the basin to the peninsula’s end with an “Infinity Bridge.” This connection of the two major parcels of parkland will result in a continuous walkway from Exchange Place to the Liberty Harbor Marina area.
The plan also includes gardens, a slide mound, swings, water features and a dog run. To promote nature and children’s interaction with the natural world, a floating aquatic, vegetative island promoting aquatic life, a wet meadow and several points of access to the water’s edge also are featured in the plan.
In place of the corrugated steel bulkheading used to the north and south of the park, this conceptual master plan incorporates a cost-effective, visually appealing and less obtrusive means of erosion control, via a natural protection system. Finally, two pavilions will provide family gathering areas, seating, a comfort station and a venue for events such as concerts or puppet shows.
The master plan was made possible by community donations and supplemented by corporate sponsorship from LibertyHealth, ERA Avalon Realty, and Light Horse Tavern.
Work Begins on $210-Million Monaco Towers Project
While the new commercial real estate ventures have been stalled across the country due to the recession, in Jersey City ground recently was broken for Monaco Towers, a $210-million project that has generated 400 construction jobs.
Monaco Towers will consist of two towers and 524 residential rental units and 11,000-squarefeet of ground floor retail space. The project also will conform to the city’s Project Labor Agreement, which means that a percentage of the jobs will be dedicated to city residents in apprenticeships with the building trades unions.
“This project is a prime example of the resiliency of the Jersey City housing market,” said Mayor Jerramiah Healy. “We are excited to break ground on such a large-scale project that will infuse jobs and new housing into our city.”
Additionally, the project will provide $700,000 to the city’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund.
“We’re thrilled to be embarking on this new project in Jersey City,” said Carl Goldberg, one of the principals at Roseland Property Company. “The Monaco will provide a mix of residential and retail spaces and contribute to Jersey City’s status not just as a gateway to Manhattan but as a premier destination in its own right.”
