Jersey City is in the midst of trying to decide whether or not to acquire 100 acres near the waterfront of Hackensack River, a purchase which would cost an estimated $180 million. Mayor Steve Fulop has informed members of the council that such an acquisition would be aggressive but would ensure more affordable housing on the western side of the city.
This plan, which was presented for Bayfront, would make it one of New Jersey’s biggest residential areas. The spot situated to the south of Hudson Mall is a piece of land which has been the subject of contention among local activists who have been working for decades to eradicate chromium contamination. Fulop has said that the purchase is an incredible opportunity that will reshape the city.
Acquisition Details
$105 million of the $180 million would be used for the purchase itself, while the remaining $75 million would be allocated towards fresh infrastructure. The city would play a key role in master development, possibly dividing the land amongst numerous developers. No final decision has been made yet, but Fulop has stated he’d like the council’s input on three possible proposals. Honeywell would like the purchase to be completed before the close of 2018.
The plan for Bayfront Redevelopment was first passed in 2008, and the city has collaborated with Honeywell on the process. The cleanup has been done and environmental approvals are in the process of being finalized. Jersey City Together, a regional activist group, has stated that the initiative for housing in Bayfront which is affordable is a step in the right direction, exactly what the site needs.
Origin Of Chromium Contamination
The contamination present in the site has existed for decades, the result of a Chromium plant which was operated by Mutual Chemical Company. In 1999 Honeywell assumed the liability as a result of its merger with Mutual Chemical. By 2003 a judge demanded that Honeywell clean up its area, which encompassed about sixty acres, with the remaining 40 acres being city owned. By 2008 Jersey City made an agreement with Honeywell for them to clean up the remaining forty acres, which would allow for the development of Bayfront. This agreement was reached in the aftermath of a settlement between Jersey City and Honeywell regarding chromium contamination.
The original 2008 plan required Honeywell to dispense with the site to developers who could construct as many as 8,000 units for residential use, which would also include offices, parks and retail shops. About five percent of these units would be reserved for housing which is affordable. Jersey City would receive a percentage of the sale, which would not include the $25 million already distributed to the city by Honeywell.
Fulop has mentioned that he wants to rewrite the plan so that fifty percent of the housing would be affordable, but this is a stipulation that Honeywell opposes. Another option would involve the city kicking in more than $40 million to cover fresh infrastructure while bumping the share of affordable housing to ten percent.
