11 Responses to ** Hoboken Historic Preservation Committee **

• 1. Tama Murden January 8th 2008 - 14:22:50 |

  Thanks, 411 for the reminder. In theory, an important municipal prescence. In reality, most HPC appointees have little relevant experience in hisoric preservation (beyond the perception they have “restored” their own home) despite possible good intentions.

  All one needs to do is review the HPC awardees & it’s abundantly clear that mostly, the majority of the HPC has its collective aesthetic head up its ass. (That hack, Dean Marchetto? The Luizzi brownstone abomination—despite honorable intentions?)

  With such truly lovely buildings and so much talent in this town, it’s a travesty to not have the HPC filled w/people who really know what they’re doing, in tandem w/good intentions. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if people could apply for a HPC appointment, w/their applications & skills posted for public review, prior to potential appointment? (Ditto w/the ZBA.)

  One might specifically question why our Council President continues her long tenure as Chair of the HPC. But then blurred boundaries & potential conflicts of interest are hallmarks of Hoboken’s City Government. Aside from her lack of any relevant professional preservation experience.

  And it’s my understanding there are now several vacancies on the HPC. For ex., Mary Beth Asher, while maintaining a Hoboken address, now lives/works overseas. And Paul Sommerville, one of the few genuinely qualified Commissioners, has apparently not been re-appointed, as of 12/31/7. Perhaps tonight’s meeting will also involve new appointments, tho’ it’s not specifically noted on the agenda.

  
  

  Login or Register to reply

• 2. westy January 9th 2008 - 03:29:11 |

  Ummm, It was my understanding that Hoboken was run by and for developers.
  Developers really do no want to preserve the old they make more money by getting rid of the old and putting up the new.

  That being said it is no wonder that Council President Castellano is head of that group. It is her kin Michael Russo son of the former mayor and convicted felon recently released from prison who took money from developers who for his infamous for his quote: It all depends of who’s developers we are talking about yours or mine.

  
  

  Login or Register to reply

• 3. strand tramp January 9th 2008 - 09:03:43 |

  i recall a conversation with castellano when the sushi place on 1st went up. compare it to buskers renovation. the horrible presence of the electric blue plastic compared to the beautiful restoration of buskers had me asking what happened? she said that they “do their best but nobody listens…” WTF? you’re the ead of the preservation committee and “nobody listens?” yeah well they would listen to a f’n STOP WORK order i bet. but how the hell do the design get approved in the first place? this woman is an idiot and she is personally responsible for allowing things like the Commerce Bank disaster that looks like f’n times square in our historic downtown area. yes, i hold her personally responsible. she should no longer hold the position on the committee OR on the city council.

  
  

  Login or Register to reply

• 4. MF January 9th 2008 - 10:58:41 |

  what’s wrong with the Commerce Bank? it’s a very impressive building with the soaring ceilings and what not. we need more buildings like that, and less chelsea realty’s (across the street)…or worse yet…eye-sore abandoned buildings like the old sam goody’s also in that area.

  
  

  Login or Register to reply

• 5. strand tramp January 9th 2008 - 11:26:32 |

  yes MF is is a gorgous building. by far one of the most impressive in town. so why are there at least 10 Commerce Bank signs hanging on the exterior, and on the door handles, and drilled into the f’n sidewalk? is ther any chance it could be mistaken for anything other than a bank? the 40 foot tall arched windows are spectacular…so why does every single one have a hidious 5foot tall red/blue corp sign hanging in it? wouldn’t one be plenty? how about 3? it looks like a grand old lady dressed up like a slut from queens.

  
  

  Login or Register to reply

• 6. rapperd January 9th 2008 - 12:07:55 |

  I agree with MF – I think they did a great job with the Commerce Bank building… Consider what it was before… A derelict…
  Commerce came in and restored the old Tiffany stained glass skylight, and had guys scrubbing the old vault door from the turn of the century with steel wool pads to bring it back to it’s old glory (it used to be a bathroom)…
  Regardless of the “C”s in the sidewalk, it looks great..

  
  

  Login or Register to reply

• 7. ron mexico January 9th 2008 - 12:09:52 |

  whats wrong with sluts from Queens?

  
  

  Login or Register to reply

• 8. homeworld January 9th 2008 - 12:23:01 |

  I’m glad the Hoboken Historic Preservation Committee gave us the Adams Family House in place of the Clam Broth House.

  
  

  Login or Register to reply

• 9. strand tramp January 9th 2008 - 12:26:36 |

  i personally prefer the restraint Starbuck’s has shown with their signage across the street. but that is just my personal opinion. also, i do believe the CB signage is a violation of the historic district code…but then again Quizno’s was redefined as a retail store and has NO bathrooms inside their store. so consider how f’d up that is and you can see why we have no uniform enforcement of historic building guidelines.

  
  

  Login or Register to reply

• 10. rapperd January 9th 2008 - 14:01:01 |

  strand tramp wrote:

  but then again Quizno’s was redefined as a retail store and has NO bathrooms inside their store. so consider how f’d up that is and you can see why we have no uniform enforcement of historic building guidelines.

  Yeah but the quiznos building is owned/built by bernie kenny, right? so of course the politician gets to break the rules…

  
  

  Login or Register to reply

• 11. homeworld January 9th 2008 - 17:33:06 |

  If Quizno’s is retail, can I return a sandwich for an exchange if I have a receipt?

  
  

  Login or Register to reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.