Officials, Residents Want to See Demolition of Burned Out Building
Mayor Dawn Zimmer and Councilman Tim Occhipinti provided an update on the situation on the corner of First and Jackson Streets.
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The owner of the former Nardine's Restaurant, which burned down in December, will have to comply with the city's request to demolish at least part of the building by March 3, according to an update on the matter from Mayor Dawn Zimmer, before the city will have to step in and do the work itself.
On Jan. 3, the owner of the building—Esmat Zaklama, who also owns the lot across the street—was given a notice to partially demolish the building, to keep the structure from collapsing. On Jan. 9 he was told to remove unsafe debris from the site, according to city documents.
Councilman Tim Occhipinti, who represents the area where the building stands on First and Jackson Streets, said he would like to see a small park be built there, as well as across the street.
"The city should be looking to acquire this land," Occhipinti said in a phone interview late last week. "Eventually," he continued, "I'd like to see a pocket park where the building burned down."
In her memo, Zimmer wrote that the city is ready to step in and do the work if the owner of the building doesn't meet the deadline.
"As a resident of the neighborhood," Zimmer wrote, "I understand how frustrating the slow progress has been."
In early January, a safety fence was installed by the city after Zaklama didn't complete the work and the side walk has been re-opened. But still, local officials and residents alike say they would like to see the site cleaned up.
"If this structure existed anywhere else in Hoboken, it would have been demolished," one resident wrote in an email. "This is a serious health and safety issue for our neighborhood."
QJ201
11:09 am on Monday, February 6, 2012
...the former Nardine's restaurant...which closed TWO decades ago. I always thought the owner was just waiting for the right offer from a developer considering how unkept the property has been for a very very long time.
Redrider765
11:47 am on Monday, February 6, 2012
Pocket parks are a complete waste of money.
Journey
12:01 pm on Monday, February 6, 2012
Another community garden might be more interesting than a pocket park
Redrider765
12:27 pm on Monday, February 6, 2012
Just don't want to waste the money on these hodgepodge type parks when the priority should be a very contiguous park in the SW zone.
Journey
9:54 am on Tuesday, February 7, 2012
True, if they can only do one, I would also vote for focusing on the larger park.
FAP
12:35 pm on Monday, February 6, 2012
Has Occhipinti explained how spending open space money on this property fits into a larger open space plan? Everything bought has to be paid for.
Hobbs
4:25 pm on Monday, February 6, 2012
We all know that Occhipinti understands the concept of being bought and paid for ... and if he ever forgets Beth will remind him. ;-)
HobokenDad
12:54 pm on Monday, February 6, 2012
Councilman Mello who lives a block away from these two sites and has been pro-active in the getting the sidewalks repaired and fencing in place on the west side of the street property has told me that all legal options are being persued by the City to clear and secure the Nardine's site as well.
My opinion that both these sites are better suited for homes and street level retail stores. Whatever funds are available should be used to put together one cohesive larger open space in SW Hoboken.
IPZ790
9:05 am on Tuesday, February 7, 2012
I live next door, this building still smells and pieces occasionally fall of it onto the sidewalk. At least they put a solid metal gate where the parking lot entrance was, this keeps the one drunk on 1st from expelling every bodily fluid known to man as well as his empty vodka bottles back there. This whole lot lets to be leveled. The city and council keep saying they suggest and want it done but have yet to do anything. They're more worried about people running out of meetings and chili cookoffs. There was a fence around it, the fence got moved back and now it's completely gone. Just take the thing down already it's becoming a safety hazard for those that live around it.