Jersey City Council Approves Plan That Could Bring In 7,000 Units

JERSEY CITY, NJ — The Jersey Avenue Redevelopment Plan was approved by the City Council in Wednesday night's meeting in an 8-1 vote.

The plan would redevelop just over 50 acres of land just north of the Holland Tunnel and makes room for possibly 7,000 new housing units and calls for just over 1,300 affordable housing units. The amendments were highlighted as a way to bring the plan in line with the city's new inclusionary zoning ordinance which prioritizes affordable housing.

The only vote against the plan was from Councilman at-large Rolando Lavarro. He noted that the inclusionary zoning ordinance that would be used in the new plan, which is set to bring both new housing and overhaul existing affordable housing, has too many loopholes for developers to avoid creating a minimum of 20 percent of affordable units.

One public speaker named Yvonne asked for the exact amount of affordable housing to be specified and the way the plan would increase taxes in the area. Ward C Councilman Richard Boggiano voted in favor of adopting the plan but noted that he agreed with Yvonne "wholeheartedly."

Within the redevelopment plan are two new schools, a new Hudson Bergen Light Rail station and improvements to the Holland Green Housing Complex. According to the ordinance, the amendments were finalized through a series of public outreach and three community meetings. Ward E Councilman James Solomon, who worked closely with the plans, told councilors and the public he was dedicated to working with the current residents to ensure a smooth transition.

Under the ordinance, the base count for the number of units is listed at just over 1,700 and bonus zoning units are listed at over 6,200. Of the 1,300 affordable housing units proposed, 250 would be under the Jersey City Housing Authority.

The redevelopment would open a gateway for the construction of a new Hudson-Bergen light rail station.

The full plan and ordinance can be found online.