Hoboken Wins $230M Funding for Flood Management Project

A water management project aimed to protect Hoboken, Weehawken and northern Jersey City has won $230 million of federal funding as part of the Rebuild by Design resiliency competition.

“I have been advocating for a comprehensive solution to Hoboken’s flooding problems since I first ran for City Council in 2007,” Mayor Dawn Zimmer said in a statement.

“This project will implement a water management strategy that will comprehensively protect all of our residents, businesses, and the critical assets we share like the PATH, transit stations, and hospital. One of the elements of the plan will use parks as flood protection, creating more open space for our residents to enjoy.” 

The strategy was developed by an international team of experts led by the firm OMA. The proposal called, “Resist, Delay, Store, Discharge: a Comprehensive Urban Water Strategy” employs a multi-pronged approach to address Hoboken’s historic flooding challenges. Details of the proposal can be found here. 

“During Superstorm Sandy, the Shades area in southern Weehawken was severely flooded due to the storm surge which entered near our border with Hoboken,” Weehawken Mayor Richard F. Turner said in a statement. “This plan will fully protect the residents of Weehawken and could serve as a national model for regional urban resiliency.” 

Mayors Zimmer and Turner appreciated the efforts of HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan, Senior Advisor to Secretary Donovan Henk Ovink, Sen. Robert Menendez, Sen. Cory Booker, Rep. Albio Sires, Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop and the Christie Administration. 

“Over 50 elected officials, agencies, and community organizations, leaders and individuals provided letters of support for the OMA proposal, and on behalf of the City of Hoboken, I would like to say thank you to everyone,” Zimmer said. 

City officials will seek public input and will hold a series of community meetings to gather feedback and for residents and merchants to learn more about the project.