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A controversial plan to convert this parking lot, between Atlantic and Warren streets, into a downtown park has been discussed at meetings of the Hackensack City Council, which last week approved a $650,000 bond to help pay for it. Now, The Record reports, the plan is called "an open-air venue" that will complement the city's planned Performing Arts Center (old Masonic Hall, rear right).
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By VICTOR E. SASSON
EDITOR
An outdoor stage and a green; a groundbreaking set for the end of October, and, eventually, a 300-seat performing arts center.
New details of what has been called the Atlantic Street Park in downtown Hackensack were reported today in The Record (L-1).
The space -- to replace a parking lot used mainly by law firms lining Atlantic and Warren streets -- is now being called an "open-air venue for entertainment and community events."
A $650,000 bond approved by the City Council last week and a $268,085 Bergen County Open Space Trust Fund grant will pay for the work.
Renovation of the old Masonic Hall the city acquired in 2010 is estimated to cost $1.3 million, but it hasn't been funded yet.
Bad headline
The story makes clear groundbreaking for the new green space must take place by the end of October or the city risks losing the county grant, but the headlines refer incorrectly to Hackensack starting work "on art center," presumably meaning the Masonic Hall.
Where was Production Editor Liz Houlton, who gets paid six figures to keep such errors out of the paper.
Real estate and business interests, including prominent members of the Main Street Business Alliance, pushed for the new green space to make downtown Hackensack more attractive for redevelopment.
Still, the group has refused to pay for it.
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| First the Shell station on Cedar Lane and River Road in Teaneck went out of business, and now the Cedar Lane Grill next to it has closed, above and below. |
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| The shuttered gas station has been an eyesore for years. |
This is local?
A Page 1 story today reports New Jersey colleges are enrolling many more foreign students (A-1).
But the editors of our daily local paper decided to use a photo from Rutgers University in New Brunswick on the front page instead of one from Fairleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck (A-1).
More than once, the story makes it a point of reporting the wealthy international students chose Rutgers and Fairleigh because they are "close to New York."
So, Fairleigh students likely won't even notice the sad condition of Teaneck's main business district, including the double eyesore of a long-shuttered gas station and diner at Cedar Lane and River Road, less than a block from the campus.
Where is Starbucks Coffee when you really need them? The nearest company store is on Essex Street in Hackensack.
Sad state of TV
The sad state of television is exposed in today's coverage of the Emmy Awards (A-1 and BL-1).
The awards for top drama and best actor in a drama went to "Breaking Bad," described as the tale of a "cancer-stricken high school science teacher who turned into a crystal meth kingpin" (A-1).
Julia Louis-Dreyfus won for best actress in a comedy for "Veep," one of the un-funniest shows I have ever had the misfortune to watch (one or two episodes) -- especially in view of the paralysis in Washington.
Wake up, Marty
Editor Martin Gottlieb, the former editor of The New York Times' international edition, seems to forget he no longer works in Paris.
Gottlieb keeps on putting international news on Page 1 and burying local stories, such as the terrific interview with one of the last farmers in Bergen and Passaic counties (L-9).
Todd Kuehm, the fourth generation at the 120-year-old Farms View in Wayne, refuses to sell out to developers, and has "turned down huge numbers that would boggle most people's mind, but I don't care."
Neither does Marty, who probably lives in Manhattan and could care less about the Garden State.
What a poor choice Gottlieb was to replace the incompetent Francis "Frank" Scandale.
Hackensack Park. The subject article does not point out the opposition to the open air venue as described. the opposition from two significant attorneys will greatly challenge the project, especially in light of an October cutoff date to get the project started in order to receive funds from the state. Additionally, the article does not go into detail regarding the mess the so called Cultural Arts Center is in with regard to construction and cost overruns, and that seating for "300" makes it a relatively small venue in scope and the scheme of things in light of the development in the downtown. Hopefully this park if it gets started will attract people. Sadly, the existing parks in the city are empty.
ReplyDeleteThe lawyers' opposition won't stop the project. Of course, they love to sue and give business to their greedy colleagues. But what grounds would they cite -- that they would be forced to cross the street to the garage to park their Mercedes-Benzes?
DeleteThe Masonic Hall is left over from the last administration. Sure, it's a boondoggle, but what can the current council do but follow through and build a performing arts center?
Maybe you could put up some bucks and renovate the old masonic hall. Do something good for your beloved city.
ReplyDeleteWhat have you done for your town lately besides taking a dump there and alienating your neighbors?
DeleteAnd since you're a coward hiding behind an Anonymous tag, we don't know what your co-workers at The Wretched think of you.
The Wretched was the way AP reporters working in New Jersey referred to The Record in the 1980s, and nothing has changed.
In my town, houses are spaced so far apart I can't even see my so called neighbors
ReplyDeleteYou can't see them, but they detest you nonetheless.
DeleteLovely exchange. The point of "putting up bucks" should be directed to the Upper Main Alliance, and the larger property owners on "the street". I have always maintained that.. The Masonic hall is a white elephant and an unsuitable venue for cultural arts. What are you going to get there? A puppet show? The staging area or the park is just a bunch of puff. If some big acts get booked there or something worthwhile, fine. But if it is the same bunch of old hazbins who perform at the downtown events it is a waste of money, and it is BS. the local owners and the attorneys there in that local, have every right to litigate. It is their business, not yours. And "anonymous" is my name, like it or not. Would like to see something happen with good taste for a change in the city. Having been involved directly with the procuring of developers with closed deals, I can say I have contributed to this city; having been born in this city and belonging to an original family business on Main Street, Hope there are not puppet shows in the park venue either. Casting stones at the litigants as wealthy or greedy or whatever adjective you pull out of your hat doe not help . It in fact runs counter, and illustrates either your innate anger or hostility or jealousy or all of the above. It is childish as well. If you wish to run an intelligent forum then try to do so by example.
ReplyDeleteTouchy, aren't you? Many wealthy people are greedy, too, and maybe you are among them. Nothing childish about pointing out there are lawyers and others who think the world owes them thanks -- for what, I'm not sure. A lawyer losing a parking spot in front of his office and then suing over it is just B.S.
DeleteAs for you, go to hell.
There is no constitutional right to parking near your office. On Atlantic Street, that lot is owned by the city, which can do with it as it sees fit. The public interest here trumps narrow, selfish interests such as yours.
ReplyDeleteAs for your opinion about what entertainment should be provided, it is just that -- an opinion. Why should anyone care what you think?
I LOVE Saddle River. Not of this bullshit there. Wealth, wealth, wealth!
ReplyDeletePlease let me know when I can attend your lavish funeral. I'm sure it will be something unique.
DeleteThe so called Cultural Arts Center is inadequate to host any performance of distinction. The so called outdoor space will be a staging platform for puppet shows, and old, and tired acts such as has been the experience for the past years. All the hoopla about the green living space is fine; but not one individual has joined the premise with how miserable the Masonic Temple is as a basis for a Cultural Arts Center. It is laughable. Now, that is "perhaps". However, please understand the property owners who have and own property at the subject location have every right to stand up for their rights, and that is not greed. They are looking out for their business.
ReplyDeleteLawyers are a scourge, a pestilence, and the world would be a far better place without them. Their high fees deny many people access to the courts.
ReplyDeleteThey have no "property rights" when it comes to a city owned parking lot.
None of the lawyers lining Atlantic and Warren streets are loyal to Hackensack; their offices are here because the courthouse is here. Except for parking meter revenue and the money they spend to buy lunches on Main Street, their presence hasn't been much of an economic stimulus for the city.
Of course, I should have said "most" lawyers.
DeleteThe entire courthouse and county government complex is tax-exempt, and all of the taxes paid by law firms that own their buildings don't come anywhere near making up for that.
That is the precise reason development is necessary in the city. For a park it is ok, but for new rental units lining the block well there is a problem. Parks do not pay taxes either.
DeleteI've opposed the State Street development, because it was granted a 30-year tax exemption. As for other developments, there has been no discussion of where the added children will be going to school in view of Hackensack being at capacity in that regard and having to acquire a Catholic school that closed.
ReplyDeleteAgain, please let me remind you and others of the one ground rule for comments:
"If you want your comment to appear, refrain from personal attacks on the blogger."
The State Street development was the first to kick start progress. It is necessary to give more when there is no one else showing up to develop. Shopping Centers are notorious to have lead properties to generate business. It is not such a big deal. A minor skipping point should have been to hold the developer to build the little park.That was missed. Nobody gave away the store, as the editor consistently suggests. Rental properties, despite your constant claims, do not throw off as many children as you may think into the school system. That is a fact. Do a rundown before you make these claims of overcrowding and the sky is falling with regard to development.
ReplyDeleteThe schools are overcrowded. No one but you are argues that. And how would you know how many children the developments will generate? Are you the rental agent for all of them?
ReplyDelete