Is your Luxury Condo Safe?
31
July
A reader reminder me of this EPA website where you can see what kind of reported environmental issues are in your neighborhood…
He said:
“Thought you might find this interesting. I wonder if all those new mommies and daddies and overpriced condo buyers are aware how close they are living to toxic dumps.”
The site listed the following in Hoboken:
- Facilities that produce and release air pollutants: 48
- Facilities that have reported toxic releases: 5
- Facilities that have reported hazardous waste activities: 117
- Number of Large Quantity Generators: 15
- Number of Small Quantity Generators: 14
- Number of Transporters: 3
- Potential hazardous waste sites that are part of Superfund that exist: 2
- Sites Currently on the Final NPL: 1
- Sites Not on the NPL: 1
- Facilities that generate hazardous waste from large quantity generators: 0
-
Facilities issued permits to discharge to waters of the United States: 4
- Community Water Systems that serve the same people year-round (e.g. in homes or businesses): 6
Fun Stuff
Recommended
July 31st 2007 - 13:51:29 |
I’m always curious about these maps … I wonder what the air releases or toxic sites are along washington & hudson streets?? I don’t remember that ever being industrial throughout the history of the town…
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July 31st 2007 - 14:16:52 |
This actually isn’t all that unusual for this part of New Jersey. Even nice suburban towns around here have areas that were industrial.
Those gold coast homes on the Hudson just north of here are perfect examples. A bunch of them had to be built on concrete platforms because of soil contamination going straight through to the bedrock.
I grew up directly across the street from a chemical factory and just up the road from one of the largest emitters of airborne chemical byproducts in the state. You can practically spit in Berry’s Creek from there.
It doesn’t seem to have affected the growth in value of my childhood home in the least.
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July 31st 2007 - 14:30:38 |
Most of the data is compiled based on stuff filed with the EPA which means you can find more info.
All dry cleaners that are not ‘Green’ will show up. Any place that does a lot of printing.
Here is the details from one: http://tinyurl.com/yv59tr
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July 31st 2007 - 17:17:41 |
“Thought you might find this interesting. I wonder if all those new mommies and daddies and overpriced condo buyers are aware how close they are living to toxic dumps.”
As a matter of fact, THIS new daddy reviewed the environmental reports for his building before buying into the condo conversion from rental to condos.
What can I tell you? There were two big oil tanks under the ground, holding two different types of oil. Out came the tanks, out came some dirt. Same goes with the dirt that was under some transformers. Now put a big tarp over the entire complex, and cover it with clean dirt. Result — “no further action required” letters from the NJ Dept. of Enviro Watchdogging, or whatever they’re called.
It’s “brownfield” remediation, and it will be done from Boston to Virginia, and from Syracuse over through Minneapolis, as cities recover their former industrial zones, which are located inside what are otherwise ideally situated neighborhoods, near the power lines, rail tracks, water & sewer infrastructure, etc.
You might not have thought about it, but what is happening in Hoboken is going to be the future of America. Folks just cannot drive any farther. We’re going to in-fill, instead.
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July 31st 2007 - 17:34:08 |
bmacqueens re: “people cannot drive any farther.” The plans and funding are in motion now to build new tunnels and trains into NYC over the next 10 years. High speed double decker trains are coming on-line, with one seat ridership to a new 34th street station. I predict the suburban sprawl will continue for the forceable future and I also predict the Hoboken terminal will close in about a 12 years along with the ferries due to lack of ridership. What will your brownfield poorly built cardboard condo be worth then?
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July 31st 2007 - 17:47:01 |
YipYap wrote:
I doubt your prediction. There will always be people that do not want a long train ride or do not want to live in the suburbs. My family as two people that do not drive and do not have it high on our lists of lifestyle changes, are very happy living in a city.
Before you say we will change our mind when we are no longer 20-somethings, we hit those milestones some time ago. We are both over 35. Neither of us have ever driven, and while NJ will not stop me from getting a license, the NJ State Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired, highly recommended that I don’t get behind the wheel. I know what I can’t see, I don’t want to be behind the wheel, and trust me, no one else wants me their either.
Suburban sprawl and non-driving do not work very well together.
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July 31st 2007 - 17:55:32 |
YipYap wrote:
Historically, the average sales price of a home nationwide has fallen only once since 1900 – and that was during The Great Depression. This year is expected to be the only time since then that we’ll see a year to year decline in average sales price, with the National Association of Realtors (N.A.R.) predicting a 1% drop.
Compare that to the average appreciation rate of a home. The appreciation rate of homes nationwide has been 6.4% per year since 1968.
Take another look at that: the worst year ever nationwide was a 1% decrease – and that only happened once! Yet your average year sees a 6.4% increase annually.
350k condo, after 12 years at 6.4%: $736,830
Markets are cyclical. Real estate is in a downturn, and will need to correct from the outrageous increases over the last 4 years. I’d hate to have to sell my place in the next 2 years. But the market will recover.
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July 31st 2007 - 18:00:33 |
Some of that data is so old it’s amazing.
I looked at the air pollution release sites and they included Maxwell House Coffee at 1125 Hudson, saying they released Sodium Hydroxide and Sulfuric Acid. The latest update? 1988.
How about these companies that are listed. Are any still around?
“Standard Brands” – 16th Street
“UNION DRY DOCK & REPAIR CO” – 9th and Sinatra
“BELROSE KNITTING MILL” – 404 3rd Street
“FERGUSON PROPELLER” – they closed 12 years ago
“WASHINGTON KNITTING MILLS INC.” – 50 Harrison St.
It’s a safe bet that none of those companies are still spewing air pollution.
Under “toxic releases”, every single business listed seems to no longer exist.
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July 31st 2007 - 23:54:15 |
411 why title this “Is your Luxury Condo Safe”? I count just as many problematic spots, if not more, along brownstone areas like midtown Hoboken, Washington to Clinton.
That aside, like Bmac I read the environmental report before purchasing my condo. It wasn’t a pretty story but the site was cleaned and the EPA did not require any additional remediation. So I bought the unit.
This environmental risk in our town is an interesting topic and one that is definitely worth examining. However, when I read the intro comment from your unnamed reader I sense a certain amount of renter/childless bitterness.
Perhaps that reader would care to correct my assessment.
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August 1st 2007 - 00:20:37 |
gman- I wrote it fast. I could have said “Is your home safe”… but all the wording I’ve seen in every corner of Hoboken has permanently burned the phrase “luxury condo” in my head.
I hope I didn’t offend anyone / throw them off…
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August 1st 2007 - 10:53:33 |
Yip, re. item # 5, you’re delusional, and probably an ass. Definitely an ignorant piece of trash.
Cardboard condo — I live in the Tea Bldg. That’s a 100-year old factory, built of iron girders and concrete floors. It’s practically indestructible.
My unit’s walls are thick fire-rated drywall, much better than most in town. The sub-floor is industrial concrete and the building’s roof is supported by rebar concrete joists. How do I know? B/c I’m the top floor and can see them. The firestairs are genuine steel, all the way down, with exhaust fans that roar with wind when activated. The windows (which no longer leak), are modern double-pane sealed units. I replaced the rental quality kitchen counter with a spread of oil/stain proof Silestone, because I’m a real cook. My home is built like a brick S—house.
The Tea Building will still be standing even if a small nuke dropped in Midtown. (OK, so the drywall will be gone, but the frame will be here.)
So get your head out of your colon.
As for the great new trains, etc., yes I agree that it will be nice when the new capacity has been added to NJ Transit. Lord knows, we need it. However, that doesn’t change the fact that Summit and Morristown are more than an hour from Midtown, and that’s before you factor in the subway trip to the office once you’ve finally arrived at Penn Station.
Residential suburban neighborhoods are going to fight greater density with everything they’ve got. Busybodies don’t want apt. bldgs. next to their American 4-Square or ranch.
Infill is going to continue. I’m right and you’re wrong. Sorry, Troll, but you lose this time.
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August 1st 2007 - 11:45:45 |
zxcv wrote:
Last time I walked by there (yesterday), they’re still around and going strong.
zxcv wrote:
Last I went by Stahl Soap Corp, they seem to be around as well.
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