City Opens Bids For Municipal Garage

Business Administrator Arch Liston and Director of Environmental Services Jennifer Maier opened seven sealed bids for a temporary garage space for the city on Tuesday at 2 p.m. in City Hall. 

The city put out two Requests for Proposals (RFPs), one to lease an interior garage and one to lease an outside parking lot to relocate vehicles from the current municipal garage on Observer Highway. The city currently leases the municipal garage for $100,000 a month. 

After weeks of discussion about potential locations—the so-called Pino site at 6th and Jackson Streets or the Stevens Institute of Technology campus—seven real options were presented on Tuesday. 

Councilwoman Beth Mason, who had said she did not want to vote for a $16 million bond to buy back the old garage before seeing some other options, was there on Tuesday to look at the bids. 

At least two of the bids are located in Jersey City. Stevens put in a bid as well, but did not specify an exact location. Former mayoral candidate Frank Raia put in a bid with Hoboken Excalibur, which consisted of only one page, rather than a full lease agreement. 

City Council will have to discuss and vote on the bids before anything will be decided. The bids are not on the agenda for tomorrow night though, but may be discussed during the June 22 special meeting that Mayor Dawn Zimmer said she will call. The public can attend that meeting and speak about the possible locations during a public portion. 

The owner of the Pino site on Sixth and Jackson put in a bid, but did not specify a location on the RFP. 

"The administration will review and evaluate the bids based on multiple factors, including location, cost, and impact on the community," according to a statement sent out by City Hall. 

According to a release sent out by City Spokesman Juan Melli, these are the bids for the interior garage:

• IANA Company, LLC. 173 16^th Street and 619 Luis M. Marin Blvd, Jersey City, NJ. For 9,000 sq ft for $25,000/month.
• 1414-1418 Grand St. LLC. 1414 Grand Street, Hoboken, NJ. 5,000 sq ft interior and 2,500 sq ft exterior for $28,917/month.
• Trustees of Stevens Institute of Technology. Location not clear. 2,000 sq ft for $3,750/month.
• Theresa Pino. Location not clear. 5,000 sq ft for $3,000/month.

For the exterior garage:

• Hoboken Excalibur. 720-32 Grand St/727-33 Adams St, Hoboken, NJ. 27,500 sq ft for $20,000/month.
• S2 Group. 39 New York Ave, Jersey City, NJ. 55,000 sq ft for $7,500/month.
• Theresa Pino. Location not clear. 25,000/45,000 sq ft for $5,000/$10,000/month.