The wait is over.
After weeks of meetings and deliberation between Stevens, the Hoboken community, and the Hoboken Planning Board, the Planning Board unanimously approved Stevens’ application for its two towers replacing Jacobus and Hayden Halls at last night’s Planning Board meeting.
These towers — which will have enough beds to house approximately 966 students and provide the student community with new student organization offices, fitness center space, a game room, and a marketplace, among other amenities — is a major component of Stevens’ ten-year plan.
In early August, the Hoboken City Council approved zoning changes to allow Stevens to pursue the towers project, only once Stevens received the necessary approvals from several municipal boards, including the Planning Board.
Stevens received approval on the completeness of their application from the Planning Board in early September. Stevens then went before the Planning Board in late October with the hope of receiving approval on their towers at this meeting; however, that meeting ran so long that not all of Stevens’ witnesses could speak at the meeting and a vote could not be taken.
At yesterday’s meeting, Kennan Hughes, a representative for Stevens, delivered his testimony, and then public comment opened. Several members of the Hoboken community went before the board and attested to the importance of these buildings.
“It puts the entire student body closer to the business district,” said one small business owner, in favor of the plan.
“For 31 years, I’ve been very cognizant of everything going on at Stevens,” said Mary Ondrejka, a Hoboken resident. “The reason I came to this town was because of Stevens. I never went to Stevens, but it’s very close to my heart. It’s important for me that they move forward, and now they can. I have nothing else to say other than I’m very pleased [with this project].”
A small congregate of Stevens students attended the meeting in a demonstration of support for these towers. Lucas Gallo, President of the Student Government Association, testified before the Planning Board, offering reasons why these towers are necessary for the Stevens community.
“As Stevens grows, we want it to continue to have that small community feel, and these buildings will help us in that endeavor,” Gallo said. “Hoboken has become my favorite city in the world, and this approval given no variances will give future Stevens students a residence in the city that they will be proud to call home.”
Once the public comment portion ended, the members of the Planning Board each commended Stevens and themselves for presenting an application that had no variances and that had gone through vigorous discourse, discussion, and public comment.
“Stevens isn’t just part of Hoboken; they are Hoboken,” said Mike DeFusco, a Hoboken city councilmember. “Accompanying the students on campus is part of an important planning process. This is a tremendous step forward for this board and the entire city.”
“Stevens is so important for this city,” said Anthony Romano, a Hudson County freeholder. “Coming together as a consensus to remind everyone that Stevens is part of Hoboken is very important.”
After the public officials finished their comments, they closed discussion and called a vote. Every member of the Planning Board voted in favor of the application.
“The unanimous approval of the Hoboken Planning Board of the Student Housing/University Center project is a validation of the importance of this project not only for Stevens but for the City of Hoboken,” said Beth McGrath, Vice President for Government and Community Relations and the Chief of Staff. “This is a watershed event, and we are so appreciative for the judicious and fair review by the Planning Board, the cooperation of the City of Hoboken, and, especially, for the active engagement and support of the students and other members of the Stevens community to effect this outcome. We are on the way to building a world-class University Center and student dormitory that will make Stevens an even better environment.”
Stevens must still discuss this project with other municipal boards, such as the Shade Tree Commission. The towers are expected to be complete by August of 2021.
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