Jefferson Trust – 1st and Clinton
25
January
1/25/2010 Update:
Seems like the Jefferson Trust project is still annoying the living daylights out of nearby residents!
The OSHA violation of the day
Anthony, who is one of those residing in the vicinity, has sent a myriad of communiqués to city officials for countless violations and other inconsiderate acts, with very little action or response. Although this project was shut down temporarily by Construction Code Official Al Arezzo in the last week or two for various other code violations.
But the violations continue – and on top of copying the Mayor and council members, Anthony is now including both the Federal and State Departments of Labor as well – for blatant OSHA violations, including this:
“Please note the following opening on the floor with a 20′ drop among other OSHA infractions that should be addressed. Please make a site visit and have this addressed. Thank you for your help.”
9/14/2009 Update:
Making Hoboken denser – one building at a time
The Jefferson Trust building (and controversy surrounding it) has been going on for nearly two and a half years. But with the debates behind us – the gutting of the building is complete, and construction is about to begin.
If you don’t get downtown (or out of your car) often – here’s what has to happen to “preserve history” in Hoboken:
A SLEW OF PREVIOUS UPDATES (BACK TO 2007) AFTER THE JUMP…
5/26/2009 Update:
“Like a (not so) good neighbor…”
Construction and development in a packed, densely populated city is no easy task. Permits from the city, approvals from planning and zoning boards, community acceptance and safety are all factors. Consideration for your neighbors should be paramount for any new project – and it seems like the Jefferson Trust Bank site is a source of controversy this week.
Anthony L., who is a resident (and board of trustees member) of the Jefferson Trust Condominiums adjacent to this project on First & Clinton is frustrated with the utter lack of regard the developer has for his neighbors. Unable to effectively contact First Ward councilwoman Theresa Castellano, he’s reached out to Mayoral candidates Peter Cammarano and Dawn Zimmer to see if they can help.
Can Mayoral Hopefuls save the day?
“Dawn / Peter,
I appeal to you both since one of you will be our Mayor in a matter of weeks. I live in 300 Newark St (aka Jefferson Trust Condominiums) on the corner of Willow and Newark Street and am on the Association Board of Trustees. We are in the first ward but I have not been able to contact Theresa Castellano; the email I have is not current.
I am writing about my concerns regarding the demolition of the adjacent building – the Jefferson Trust Bank Building. While our building is in favor of having the poorly maintained back buildings razed and a new building in it’s place, we are overwhelmed by the lack of adherence to an established easement agreement as well as any concern or consideration for the safety and welfare of the residents of our building. We have been involved in the evolution of this project for the last four years and have tried to act preemptively to prevent what is presently happening.
The developer is allowing his contractors to use our driveway (which is not permitted based on the easement agreement we entered in 1997) for dumpsters, trucks, bobcat, materials, etc. while we use this for our parents with small children, handicap access and a 15-minute parking space. We have gone out of our way to communicate with the developer (Mr. Seth Martin) but he has done nothing to keep us apprised of his plans. We have written letters and made numerous phone calls to no avail. In addition, we had just paid approximately $87k (a portion of which Mr. Martin still owes us) to repair the driveway and our back entrance, much of which will have to be rebuilt (I’m hoping to our satisfaction by Mr. Martin).
As an example, our lawyers were notified via fax at 2:17pm the day before work commenced in earnest. I have tried to speak to the construction official but he is convinced that the property is the developer’s and told me that he had a copy of the easement. This document clearly states that the property is ours and that there is a certain protocol to be followed. This protocol is being ignored as is our requests for a discourse with this developer. We have reached out to his lawyer and had a meeting scheduled yesterday which they canceled at the last minute. We have discussed our options with our lawyer but do not want to use our replacement reserve to achieve an unsatisfactory result in the courts at a point when most of the work is done. We spent about $120k in ‘07/’08 fighting the original application for an 8-story building. As someone who has worked in construction and development in NYC my entire career I am baffled that this is allowed to happen. From looking at the plans, there are many ways this work could be completed with minimal impact to the driveway area but my belief is that Mr. Martin is taking the most cost-effective and expedient route despite the affect on his neighbors or the legal obligations in place.
I want to reiterate that we are most concerned about the safety and welfare of our residents which is being compromised.
Thank you for your consideration,
Anthony“
Read more history about this project below…
5/20/2009 Bump / Update:
Quite a few area residents have been emailing me about the construction/demo that has been taking place at the old Jefferson Trust Bank site at First and Clinton.
Here’s a little background about the project from back in 2007…
9/26/2007 Update:
Local resident Sean, has an update regarding a compromise that has been reached for this project:
He writes:
“As a result of the public’s concern, the developer compromised by changing the part of the area of the proposed restaurant into a retail store & area for the condo project. Also, the height of the tower was reduced significantly, keeping in-line with the height of the surrounding neighborhood. Gone was the valet parking, and there is a still a point of contention about the parking which we hope to resolve soon.
The developer also detailed multiple structural enhancements, keeping in line with the historic preservation of the site. The Bank sits in a flood plain, and the developer also plans to increase the height of the entire structure (more details on this to follow, from what I understood it would be raised about 5 feet). The facade, windows, moulding and copper treatments would be restored. The sidewalk, lighting and trees would be enhanced or added.”
Continue reading previous updates below…
6/18/2007 Update:
The Zoning Board has cancelled the meeting that was supposed to happen Tuesday the 19th, which means the Jefferson Trust Bank Building item will be carried, along with the rest of the agenda, to July 17th at 7pm. There was some question as to whether the ZBA would consider the Jefferson Trust item while it was still pending at the Historic Preservation Board. A developer proposal to build a seven story parking garage across Newark Street from the Jefferson Trust Condos in between Neumann Leather and the Napa Auto Parts was also on Tuesday’s ZBA agenda, and will be carried to July. Updated the Event Calender accordingly.
6/15/2007 Update:
Hoboken411 reader ‘Furey”, who’s a condo owner in the area had attended the recent meeting regarding this project.
He said:
There is simply no support by the public here, and many members of the committee seriously questioned this project. Everyone loves his idea to restore the Bank and how it could be made to look, but mostly everyone agrees that adding residential units on top of the building isn’t in the best interest of the community. The owner is trying to get thirteen – THIRTEEN – variances for this property.
6/9/2007 Update:
Originally, the next Historical Preservation Committee meeting was scheduled for Tuesday, June 12th. However, the city has moved the date up to MONDAY, June 11th at 7pm. The Hoboken Planning Board meeting is still on for Tuesday, June 19th at 7pm.
5/22/2007 Update:
In case anyone is interested, there will be a low-key review of this proposal in front of the Historic Preservation Committee tonight at 7:00pm (basement of city hall).
There will be an opportunity for the public to comment or “inquire within”. Not many important people will be there it seems, as some have other commitments. However, it has been said that this project/property shouldn’t even be listed by any Realtor since there is no official zoning in place. It may considered unethical, etc..
5/14/2007:
Over at the forever vacant (and still historically intact) Jefferson Trust building on 1st and Clinton, there finally appears to be some action happening.
Here is the letter that has been posted as of late (thanks 411 reader Furey):
“Dear Neighbor,
Below is an artist’s rendering of the proposed changed to the Jefferson Trust Bank Building.
The proposed changes are scheduled to be discussed at the Tuesday June 19th meeting of the Hoboken Zoning Board of Adjustment, City Hall, at 7pm.
If you’d like to voice your opinions regarding the proposed changes, I urge you to attend.
If possible, please could you notify any of your neighbors who may also be interested in attending.
Bill wfs4@optonline.net
wfs4@optonline.net”
Another reader wrote in that they have requested the city for numerous variances to build this eight-story luxury building and an extension of the bank to accommodate retail space and a restaurant.
This is of great concern to the residents in the area, as it may dramatically block the natural light to nearby residences. It is interesting to note that the residents of his building apparently only received one letter addressed to the Condo Board. It’s possible that many other neighbors are completely unaware of this proposal.
There are other concerns regarding the restaurant and possible bar, which may be within 500 feet of existing bars, which is considered a zoning violation.
January 27th 2010 - 09:03:17 |
Remind us again how you are just a “concerned neighbor” and not associated with Seth Martin?
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January 27th 2010 - 10:20:35 |
Maybe when he kept using the word “we” he was speaking as a concerned neighbor? Uh – yeah, kinda probably not. My guess is the troll should have kept his posting to someone w/ a tad bit more intelligence.
In response to Furey who said:
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January 27th 2010 - 12:58:50 |
I did my neighborly duty last Friday night (1/22/10).
I was out walking my dog at 11:45 before bed and saw a shadowy figure on the premises, and heard him speaking Spanish. I called the cops on my cell phone and told them I saw someone, either a homeless or a vandal at the Jefferson Trust Bank.
The cops come and find a guy in the unfinished construction site. The man was older, maybe 55 years to 60 years old, dressed in a heavy coat and a hat with gloves. He didn’t speak English and a police officer asked him questions, and translated for us.
Turns out the guy worked for “Seth Martin” (yes, he said that) and was “ordered” to stay on site from 7pm to 7am (Fri night to Saturday morning).
The cops talked to another security guy (who wasn’t aware this employee was even on site!) that worked for Seth Martin. The other security guy was sitting in his car, on the shared easement, watching the site, too. They couldn’t confirm or deny if the guy worked for Seth Martin and let him go back to doing his thing.
I was kind of shocked because I wondered what kind of boss makes an employee sit at an unfinished construction site, without an obvious heat source, for 12 hours? I didn’t see a space heater or anything at all. Just the poor guy freezing his tail off in the cold winter night.
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January 27th 2010 - 15:29:44 |
There are other videos, and other eyewitness sightings, but he never sticks around long. All we can do is try and call the detective in charge when he is seen on or near the premises.
Hopefully the acts of destruction are over with. Now it is just about getting the perp arrested, and seeing exactly who is involved.
Dont really know how or when the arrest happens, but the police must have a pretty big dossier on these incidents. And I know there are other witnesses who have come forward to the police about the matter.
In response to Easy-E who said:
Could you post the clips with his car in it or when he’s doing the vandalism? Anything closer up?
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January 27th 2010 - 15:44:33 |
Furey has a legit question.
Matt_72 is unusually motivated to attack me.
A crime was committed.
I witnessed it, reported it, and captured video of the event. I want it to stop, because these things only get uglier once that line is crossed.
As far as the meaning of “we”:
“We” does refer to people around me who are affected by the acts of vandalism committed on my block.
“We” refers to me and my family or friends who may be present when I have the unfortunate privilege of witnessing criminal acts on my block.
“We” refers to the people who have to wait to eat dinner with me because I have to give another police report.
“We” refers to the people who work with me who have been interrupted by visits from detectives, or my trips to the police station.
“We” SHOULD refer to every neighbor on the block who thinks it is unacceptable to take a conflict and turn to criminal, physically violent behavior, in the form of vandalism.
If Seth Martin does decide to vandalize his neighbors at 300 Newark Street we will probably witness him as well. And since everybody posting here at 411 is anti Seth Martin, the moderator of 411 is anti Seth Martin, that would make me a hero.
I apologize that what I have seen does not make Martin the scumbag in this scenario. Apparently that is too much for some of you to absorb.
I only met Seth Martin the week the vandalism started, (Matt_72, do you recall the date?) and have interacted with him primarily to make statements with lawyers or detectives present. Prior to me witnessing crimes committed against his property I did not know the man.
The only reason I’m here is to share what I know so that the crimes come to an end. This situation sucks, and it is the fault of the vandal(s).
I’m not sorry that I have reported what I have seen to the police.
I’m not sorry because I do not want acts of vandalism committed against my neighbors.
I’m not sorry that the facts are dissappointing to those who seek to further some agenda that does not mix well with what I have seen and reported.
I’m uncomfortable with the fact that this guy is going to get picked up, and I am likely going to have to point him out in a lineup. Factor in the pleasure of knowing there are people capable of acts of violence who will know who I am. Or that I’ll get skewered on this site for not going with the flow on this topic. Regardless of the facts. No fun.
When I see someone from Seth Martins building commit acts of vandalism against the Jefferson Trust Condo Association I’ll point that out with equal vigor.
Until then, I’ve only seen hurtful acts committed in broad daylight by this man who is clearly involved with the 300 Newark Street Building. He is clearly committing acts against the new building construction. So what do you want me to do? Nothing? Blame Seth Martin?
Either way, I will appear to be swimming against the current on this website.
Matt_72, have you been vandalizing construction in my neighborhood?
You seem to have the vandals best interests in mind. Not sure why else you are attacking me for witnessing a crime and doing what I can to stop it.
I found this-here-post about the situation and pretty much assumed that the perp(s) friend was on here posting. He might stop committing crimes if he knew neighbors were watching. This fact seemed particularly important because the vandals appear totally unconcerned about being witnessed by anyone in the 300 Newark Street building.
Now you can all comment about this being a setup for the benefit of Seth Martin in an ongoing dispute between him and the neighbors in the Jefferson Trust Condo Assn.
All I know is what I’ve seen with my two eyes. I think somebody is going to end up in handcuffs. And it looks like most of you will be defending his actions on Hoboken411.com
I’d give my left arm to see some integrity on this blog, in this neighborhood. By then I’ll retire this screen name and be long gone from this beehive of negativity.
In response to matt_72 who said:
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January 27th 2010 - 23:19:24 |
I’ve never seen this guy before. There are only 2 people I see on a regular basis, the super, a latin fellow who is a short and a little stocky and the building manager who is a little overweight. Neither of them could be mistaken for the perp in your video. By the way, when did you take that clip?
All you’ve shown is a video of a guy picking up a yellow ladder, and then another clip of a yellow ladder in the entryway of 300 Newark St. Post the clips where he’s doing the vandalism. Maybe someone will recognize him.
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January 28th 2010 - 19:50:19 |
Hmmm. Well so far, nothing.
Can’t understand why you’d go so far as to post a video, that actually proves nothing.
Until I see some of the video you mentioned I’m calling BS.
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