Hudson County2012

The Hudson Reporter Newspapers

The Hoboken Reporter • The Midweek Reporter • The Jersey City Reporter

The North Bergen Reporter • The Secaucus Reporter • The Union City Reporter

The Weehawken Reporter • The West New York Reporter • Bayonne Community News

SUNDAY, MARCH 11, 2012

By Adriana Rambay FernándezReporter staff writer

Despite slow economic gains across thecountry, the Hudson County real estatemarket remains competitive, with sev-eral new residential buildings under

construction along the waterfront inWeehawken, Hoboken, and downtown JerseyCity.

National home ownership rates, which havedeclined to the lowest levels since 1998, may

keep dropping as the foreclosure crisis turnsmore Americans into renters, according toBloomberg News. Former homeowners seek-ing rentals in Hudson County will find fewervacancies and higher rents. The average ask-ing rent for an available apartment in HudsonCounty increased by 7.2 percent from 2010 to2011, according to industry reports.

While higher rents may push out local resi-dents to outer-lying neighborhoods, New YorkCity professionals continue to seek out HudsonCounty’s waterfront communities for more

affordable living and close proximity toManhattan.

Hudson leads the state in the rental housingmarket and has 13,000 Class A luxury units, thehighest number in New Jersey, according to arecent story in The New York Times. The aver-age monthly rent in Hudson County hasreached $2,600, the highest average in thestate, according to the article.

According to the latest data from the U.S.Bureau of the Census on housing units author-ized by building permits, New Jersey had1,282 new units authorized for constructionduring the month of December 2011. HudsonCounty ranked second to Bergen County with108 units, including 101 multi-family units and 7single-family units. The multi-family unitsinclude 42 planned for Secaucus and 25 inHoboken.

Besides its proximity to jobs in Manhattan,Hudson County offers waterfront views, abooming restaurant scene, and multiple formsof mass transit.

Jersey City“There are definitely more families coming

into the area – young professionals with one ortwo kids – they want to be close to everything,they want city living,” said real estate agentTony Armagno of Armagno Agency in JerseyCity. He has been in the real estate industry formore than 30 years. “There are always people

that want to be close to work, and if work is inManhattan, Hudson County is still the leastexpensive option.”

In his experience, the area hasn’t felt theeffects of either the recent economic gains orthe past major downturn, and the rental andhousing market has remained steady. He saidthat people are buying homes and that rentalshave been trending up.

“The past six months, the rental market hasbeen very strong,” said Armagno. “The rentshave increased; The supply has decreased.”

He said many people seek out rentalsbecause they don’t have good credit or enoughmoney for a down payment on a house orcondo.

“There is more demand for rental homes thanthere has been supply over the last five years,”said Carl Goldberg, a partner in RoselandProperties, which has developed many housingunits on the Hudson waterfront. “This has beenespecially true since 2008. We are marketingour community to a renter by choice. They aremaking a conscious decision to rent a homeinstead of purchasing a home. They are veryfocused on quality of life, services, and ameni-ties.”

Several new developments are under way inJersey City including Laguna, a one and two-bedroom apartment building, which is part of theLeFrak Organization’s expansion of the massiveNewport neighborhood on the waterfront. Thenew building is set to open in January 2013.

Even if the national economy is still mov-ing slowly, life in Hudson County –across the river from New York City (andwith better views) – continues with new

developments, new businesses, and newmodes of transportation.

“Hudson County has been a real driver for thestate’s economy in the last 10 years,” saidMaria Nieves, the new executive director of theHudson County Chamber of Commerce,recently. “Hudson County is a bit more resilientthan the rest of the country.”

Even with unemployment topping 9 percentstatewide, plenty of people want to rent apart-ments here, as well as dine in the restaurants,shop in the stores, and perhaps open their ownsmall business. Ways of getting around areincreasing as well, with plans to extend theHudson-Bergen Light Rail line and possibly tobring a New York subway across the river toSecaucus and Hoboken.

And people developing these projects arebeing creative. As you’ll see within our pages,some of the new buildings in the county havewon awards for being environmentally friendly.Regarding transportation, Jersey City and

Hoboken may participate in a new “bike shar-ing” program. It’s not all about trains, ferries,and buses anymore! (Although those modesare plentiful as well.)

Within the pages of the Hudson Reporternewspaper group’s annual county ProgressReport, we share new information about devel-opment projects, businesses, job growth, trans-portation, education, and the county’s six localhospitals.

What’s on the drawing board? What’s downthe road? Read our annual issue and catch up!You can also check out the stories (as well asnews about local towns) athudsonreporter.com.

Progress 2012: New buildings,rail lines, businesses add toHudson County living

Local real estatestrong despite slownational recoveryIncreasing rents, fewer vacancies, andcatering to the luxury buyer

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The Van Leer Place development near theJersey City/Hoboken border is set to breakground at the end of 2012. Daniel Gans andGeorge Vallone of the Hoboken BrownstoneCompany are the developers of the property,which will have over 400 residential units at thesite of a former chocolate factory. A “green”building, the New Jersey Board of PublicUtilities awarded the project a $3.6 million alter-native energy grant (see sidebar).

Two years from now, two 500-unit high-risebuildings will go up on the waterfront next to theExchange Place PATH station as a joint projectbetween Ironstate Development Company andMack-Cali Realty Corporation.

The Manhattan Building Company is workingon a 20-story tower near the Holland Tunnel thatwill consist of two- and three-bedroom units.The project is halfway toward completion.

In the Paulus Hook neighborhood, FieldsDevelopment is building a 131-unit luxury rentalwith studios, one-bedrooms, and two-bed-rooms.

A new building, 18 Park, is scheduled to openby fall of 2013 and will have 422 units in down-town Jersey City. The building is being devel-oped by a partnership of IronstateDevelopment Company andKushner Real Estate Group.

Hartz Mountain Industries andRoseland Property Companyrecently announced that theyintend to build a 1,000-unit residen-tial complex at 99 Hudson St. Theproject proposes to be the largestrental project and one of the topfive tallest buildings in New Jersey.They are hoping to get an urbantax credit to build in Jersey City assoon as the state revives the popu-lar program.

Work is scheduled to begin onMarbella II in July, anotherRoseland property that will mirrorthe 400 unit Marbella building at425 Washington Blvd.

HobokenThe demand for rentals has not

deterred developers like TollBrothers in Hoboken – who devel-oped the Hudson Tea Buildingsand Maxwell Place – from investing in more lux-ury condo units. They recently added a newbuilding, 1450 Washington, to the uptown TeaBuilding complex.

“People are staying in Hoboken and making alife here. They are interested in buying asopposed to renting,” said John McCullough,vice president of Toll Brothers City Living.McCullough has lived in Hoboken for sevenyears. “We get a lot of different types of buy-ers.”

McCullough said that buyers varied andincluded: recent college students who had helpfrom their parents to buy small homes; youngfamilies with dual incomes; and empty nestersthat left a big home in the suburbs to be free ofmaintaining it.

“I still think there is an ongoing flight towardsquality and towards urban living,” saidMcCullough. “They always say when the mar-ket turns down, the best stuff turns down lastand it comes back first. I think that is what wefound here.”

McCullough said Toll Brothers plans toexpand the City Living brand to a propertyacross the street from 1450 Washington andanother one east of that. There will also be twonew properties at Maxwell Place on the centralwaterfront.

“This part of Hoboken was underserved as faras new construction for sale product,” saidMcCullough. “It turns out that there have beenpeople sitting on the sidelines for a few yearsand there is some pent-up demand.”

1450 Washington is 60 percent sold and isdue for completion this month. It consists of157 luxury units priced from high $300,000 forstudios, which have all been sold, to $900,000for large three bedrooms.

On 14th street, Advance Realty continues itsconstruction of 14 Willow, a mixed-use and res-idential building on Willow Avenue, which is

scheduled for completion at the start of 2013.

North Bergen andGuttenberg

In North Bergen, the AvalonBay project brokeground in June. The community, located nearKennedy Boulevard and 56th Street, will consistof 164 studio, one-, and two-bedroom apart-ments and an underground garage. The unitswill be a short walk from the Bergenline light railstation.

Officials in North Bergen recently announcedthat they have plans to rezone the area of theformer Hudson News building along PatersonPlank Road to allow for residential and retaildevelopment.

Certain other developments in North Bergenand Guttenberg have proven controversial ifthey were either too close to the Palisade Cliffsor to a natural gas pipeline. Activists and neigh-bors have come to recent Planning Board meet-ings to speak up about those proposals.

SecaucusHartz Mountain Industries, the biggest devel-

oper in Secaucus, began acquiring luxurymulti-family rental properties in 2010. Hartzannounced in September 2011 that it had pur-chased a stake in Roseland Management, theproperty management arm of RoselandProperty Company, covering more than 1,100units in four New Jersey properties. Roselandwill also manage Hartz residential buildingswhen construction on new buildings is com-plete and existing management agreementsexpire.

Roseland is set to develop Osprey Cove, anew residential building in Secaucus.

Meanwhile, Phase III of the development of

rental apartments at Xchange atSecaucus Junction is set for completionin June. The project will include 269market-rate units and 48 units designat-ed as affordable housing. The buildingsconsist of one-two, and three-bedroomapartments along the Hackensack Riverand are minutes away from the Frank R.Lautenberg Rail Station. The develop-ment used LEED certified products,including the installation of solar tubeson the roof to supply energy to all of thehallway lights on the top floors duringthe day. They also built a solar field thatmeasures 4 acres across and feedsenergy to the common spaces.

Union CityDensely populated Union City is going

against popular development trendsand plans to impose restrictions to pre-vent the building and construction of anynew high rises. The mayor and Board ofCommissioners recently held a series of

meetings to determine what can be developedin the landlocked city.

The discussions reflect changes to the UnionCity Planning Board’s master plan, which hadn’tbeen updated in seven years, that determinebuilding size and height and how much parkingwill be allowed per unit, among other zoningrules.

Future buildings in some parts of town may belimited to five to six stories as compared with22-story buildings that were allowed in the past.Future development will also be limited forareas containing two- or three-family dwellings.The mayor and commissioners will vote on thechanges in March. Existing buildings will not beaffected.

The city has 24,931 housing units, with 22,814of those units occupied, according to the 2010Census.

WeehawkenHartz Mountain Industries, in partnership with

Roseland Property Company, has several prop-erties under construction on the Weehawkenwaterfront.

These include the Estuary, a 589-unit luxurycomplex at Lincoln Harbor, and RiverParc atPort Imperial, which will start construction inSeptember and consist of approximately 300units.

West New YorkIn West New York, Roseland Property broke

ground last year on the $120 million luxury proj-ect RiverTrace, a 316-unit rental building in thePort Imperial neighborhood on the waterfront.The groundbreaking for RiverTrace came lessthan two weeks after Roseland began work fur-ther south along the waterfront on a new section

of the Henley on the Hudson project inWeehawken.

BayonneBayonne has a number of development proj-

ects in the pipeline, including the conversion ofan old Maidenform factory on Avenue E to a 99-unit residential development with amenities.The City Council approved an ordinance inNovember that paved the way for redevelop-ment of such properties.

Another such project is Camelot at Bayonne.The downtown building will consist of 96upscale rental units. Construction is set tobegin in 2012. It is located on a 1-acre parcelthat once housed a bus terminal but had beenvacant for many years. The project, on KennedyBoulevard between Second and Third streets,offers views of the Bayonne Bridge.

A 47-unit residential facility to consist ofaffordable rental units is proposed for Avenue Eand East 45th Street. This property is part of thecity’s scattered site redevelopment. The site isone of a series of properties along Avenue Enear the New Jersey Turnpike exit that the cityis seeking to have upgraded.

Two properties adjacent to this site are part ofa proposed park expansion. The units will begeared towards working people earning frombetween $20,000 to about $60,000 a year –although there will be some market-rate rentals,as well as six units dedicated to military veter-ans. Six units will be set aside for residentswhose family includes someone suffering frommultiple sclerosis.

ParksMeanwhile, several towns are hoping to pre-

serve the remaining open space areas forparks. The towns of Weehawken and Union Cityplan to buy a 14-acre reservoir near their borderand use government grants to preserve thearea.

North Bergen and Guttenberg are working ona waterfront park that should be completed thisfall. The estimated $3.5 million 1.5 acre park willinclude a passive open space, a playground, ashaded area, an amphitheater, rest rooms, anda parking lot.

The mayor and Town Council in Secaucushave undertaken initiatives to upgrade everypark in the municipality.

Hoboken has plans for several new parks,including at least one at the city’s border withWeehawken.

LUXURY CITY LIVING – The City Living brand of Toll Brothers includes the 1450Washington Street Condo in Hoboken, which includes amenities like a 24 hourconcierge, indoor fitness center, and playroom.

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Building greenOver the past few years, several Hudson

County developers have made a pointof including environmentally friendly featuresfor their buildings, and have won awards fordoing so. They include:

In Hoboken, the uptown Berkshire apart-ment building in the Shipyard developmentreceived LEED (Leadership in Energy andEnvironmental Design) Gold Certification, arecognition given to projects with a commit-ment to environmentally friendly building. Itwas one of only four residential projects inthe state to receive that designation.

The Van Leer Place development in JerseyCity received a $3.6 million alternative ener-gy grant from the New Jersey Board ofPublic Utilities. It will utilize a number ofgreen technologies including solar energyand solar water heaters.

The first LEED certified residential buildingin the state, Garden Street Lofts – 30 luxurycondominiums – was created by DeveloperLawrence Bijou, who moved to Hoboken in2003 to pursue his vision to create a greenbuilding. He converted an old coconut pro-cessing and storage warehouse into anenvironment with sustainable design inmind. The multi-use building was construct-ed with a special metal panel system andreused materials in its design and alsoincludes air filtration, low flow plumbing, anda green roof among other green features.

ROOM FOR FAMILIES – The indoor play room at 1450Washington includes half of a real boat. More families withchildren under 5 are moving to uptown Hoboken.

By Ray SmithReporter staff writer

Hudson County’s main streets are mak-ing a comeback, with empty store-fronts downtown beginning to fill up.“I think the mantra for 2012 is that we’re

cautiously optimistic about business and busi-ness growth,” said Maria Nieves, the new exec-utive director of the Hudson County Chamberof Commerce. “Hudson County is a bit moreresilient than the rest of the country.”

In 2011, the county saw the announceddeparture of a few major economic players,such as Panasonic in Secaucus, which movedto Newark to take advantage of a tax credit formoving to the state’s urban communities. Butthe same program has lured businesses toHoboken and Jersey City.

Pearson Education recently signed a 15-yearlease to bring its 900 jobs to an office buildingslated to open in 2014 on Hoboken’s southwaterfront, two blocks from the main street,

Washington Street. An $82 million tax creditfrom the state’s Urban Hub Tax Credit programhelped sweeten the deal for the publishingcompany.

Representatives from Pearson noted earlierthis month that in addition to tax credits offeredby the state, Hudson County’s lower rental ratesmade the west side of the Hudson River anattractive destination.

New Jersey also awarded Goya Foods inSecaucus an $82 million tax credit to stay in thestate. The company will move 369 of their jobsto Jersey City.

In Bayonne, last year’s arrival of Walmart cre-ated 900 new jobs in Hudson County’s south-ernmost city.

On a smaller level, several local towns are try-ing to revitalize their town squares and plazasto increase their value as a shopping destina-tion. Last year saw new restaurants, art gal-leries, and taverns.

HobokenHoboken’s Washington Street continues to be

a prime destination, running from the bottom tothe top end of the mile-square city.

“We’re very encouraged by thenew Office Depot location,” saidMike Novak, the president of theHoboken Chamber of Commerce.The opening of the Office Depot at59 Washington Street in Januaryfilled a void created when Barnesand Noble closed its doors in2010.

The former Blockbuster Videolocation in the 400 block ofWashington Street remains thelargest empty storefront space inHoboken.

But smaller spaces are filling up.“There has been some activity in

the bar and restaurant communitythat we think indicates that retail isalive and well in Hoboken,” Novaksaid.

In 2011, two art galleries (LanaSantorelli Gallery and Gallery1200) opened on WashingtonStreet.

SecaucusIn Secaucus, a community more

suburban than its Hudson Countyneighbors, “Main Street” is more ofan expression than an actual areain the town. But Mayor MichaelGonnelli has been fixing up thedowntown center, or SecaucusPlaza area, to make it more of adestination.

“A year ago we put together asmall business association andthey’ve been pretty active,”Gonnelli said. “I’m pleased toannounce that in our downtownthere are no vacancies.”

The town has run many events inthe Plaza in the past year.

“We have a street fair comingup,” Gonnelli said, “and we’reencouraging as many people aspossible to come.”

He said a lot of small businessesin Secaucus have been “poolingtheir resources” so that they’reable to do more advertising.

Gonnelli also said that the townhad “the busiest year in the historyof Secaucus” last year in develop-ment. He added that the munici-pality is trying to lure a new super-market to open in town, somethingthat has been a goal for severalyears.

Jersey CityIn Jersey City, business communities are

expanding “in pockets of town” in addition tomain streets like Newark Avenue and neighbor-hoods like Newport.

“We’re seeing more business development insome corners of town,” Nieves said. “We’vesigned new members [of the chamber] inHamilton Square, and in the burgeoning down-town district.”

Nieves said the countywide Chamber ofCommerce is looking to become “less JerseyCity-centric,” but much of the business devel-opment in the county is indeed driven by theeconomic state of New Jersey’s second largestcity.

Jersey City, along with Hoboken, is part of theUrban Transit Hub Tax Credit program. The pro-gram offers tax subsidies for companies thatare willing to move near mass transit hubs,encouraging employees to take New JerseyTransit or other modes of public transportation.

North Bergen andGuttenberg

North Bergen Mayor and State Sen. NicholasSacco said his town boasts “two excellentshopping districts full of small businesses” onBergenline Avenue and Broadway.

“They contain everything from mom-and-popretailers to national chains to fantastic localrestaurants,” Sacco said.

Sacco said his town benefits from an UrbanEnterprise Zone program, which provides alower sales tax rate to encourage businessdevelopment in urban areas in New Jersey.Businesses in the zone can charge 3.5 percentsales tax and also use that money for renova-tions and public safety in the district.

Towns like Guttenberg, Union City, and WestNew York are also in the program.

“Unfortunately the UEZ program has beensignificantly cut by Governor Chris Christie,”Sacco noted, “and is in danger of total col-lapse, which could have a negative impact onmany small businesses in North Bergen andother urban areas. Although the program hasbeen drastically cut by the governor, memberbusinesses are currently still able to takeadvantage of the reduced sales tax provision.”

Sacco said the state of small business inNorth Bergen is still strong.

“More new small businesses are opening allthe time,” Sacco said. He added that the townhas made capital investments in the businessareas, including installing new sidewalks andsewerage systems, repaving streets, putting innew lighting and signage, and increasing theavailability of public parking.

“Making the area more attractive to cus-tomers helps small businesses grow and suc-ceed and we will continue our efforts to keepboth shopping districts clean and safe,” hesaid.

The state of MainStreetBig and small businesses are growingin Hudson County

see BUSINESS page 11

SHOPPING HUB – Hoboken’s Washington Street saw new businesses come in lastyear, and remains a very walkable and shoppable avenue.

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By Stephen LaMarcaReporter Staff Writer

Hudson County is already a mass transithub, with buses, rail lines, and ferryroutes to New York City and the sub-urbs. But still, more projects are under-

way or planned for the future, including anexpansion of the light rail line to Bergen Countyand two new stops in Jersey City, and a newAmtrak rail tunnel to New York City.

Light rail expansionThe Hudson-Bergen Light Rail began operat-

ing in April 2000 and connects Bayonne withJersey City, Hoboken, Weehawken, Union City,and North Bergen. It provides more than40,000 weekday trips among 24 stops. Thelight rail most recently expanded in January2011 to its Eighth Street station in Bayonne.

Now NJ Transit is considering how far toextend the line into Bergen County. Dubbed theNorthern Branch Corridor Project, a potentialextension could serve up to 10 more stationstops. The line could extend past North Bergento Ridgefield, Palisades Park, Leonia,Englewood, and Tenafly. A new stop insideNorth Bergen will also be added.

While simultaneously planning for the NorthBranch Corridor Project, NJ Transit approved aplan in May to extend the light rail across Route440 from its Jersey City stations at West Sideand Claremont avenues to the Society Hill areaand future 100-acre Bayside/Bayfront develop-

ment on the Hackensack River waterfront.The expansion could be a big boost for the

future Bayfront site, which is slated by the city’sredevelopment agency to “become a new com-munity with public waterfront access, 20 acresof parks and open space, new businesses,housing opportunities and access to masstransit.” The project is being built by BayfrontRedevelopment, LLC, a subsidiary ofHoneywell International.

Other light rail stops have spurred moredevelopment. Hudson County CommunityCollege recently expanded to a location inclose proximity to the light rail station in UnionCity. The site features a glass-enclosed pedes-trian bridge linking the structure with the sta-tion.

Make way, BayonneBridge

The light rail may even extend to Staten Islandwhen the Bayonne Bridge is raised.

As it currently stands, the Bayonne Bridgecannot accommodate the new, larger contain-er-carrying ships bound for the ports ofElizabeth and Newark. The ships are expectedto arrive on the east coast in 2014 due to thewidening of the Panama Canal.

The Port Authority announced early last yearthat the bridge will be raised without having toseize nearby property. Called the BayonneBridge Navigation Project, the project will cost$1 billion. The redesigned bridge will include

wider lanes, a breakdown shoulder, a walkway,and a bikeway. The span will also have thepotential to add the light rail link.

Earlier this month, blasting and drilling beganin Newark Bay to create deeper lanes for ship-ping in local bodies of water.

The light at the end ofthe tunnel?

Many New Jersey commuters and officialsplaced hope in the Access to the Region’s CoreTunnel, two NJ Transit tubes that were sup-posed to allow 25 trains per hour to travel under

the Hudson River and into an expanded PennStation. The project was expected to be com-pleted by 2018, and could have created 44,000jobs.

Gov. Christopher Christie cancelled the $8.7billion ARC tunnel in late 2010 due to cost over-runs. But that wasn’t the end.

Last February, Amtrak announced theGateway Tunnel Project, a plan to add 13 trainsper hour that would travel along the same 9-mile route.

The project, with an expected cost of $13.5billion, is currently slated for completion in2020.

Light rail, ferry, buses,and bikesTransportation projects surge forward

see TRANSPORTATION page 11

RAISING – The Bayonne Bridge will be raised to accommodate the large contain-er-carrying ships due in 2014.

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Gennarose PopeReporter Staff Writer

Hudson County sits across from a citywith some of the nation’s most presti-gious educational institutions, and isneighbors with some of the state’s

more affluent counties with prestigious publicschool options. In order to keep local families’kids in the local schools, Hudson County andits individual districts have made strides in edu-cational variety, technology, and performance.

Besides the regular public schools, parentsand educators in Hudson County have founded13 charter schools, accounting for nearly 18percent of the 75 total in the state, with more inthe works. They provide students with free andsometimes specialized education, likeHoboken’s English-Spanish language school,HoLA.

Around 50 local private and parochial schoolsin the area allow families to pay for the privilegeof an education tailored to specific interests orreligious beliefs (see sidebar).

Even some of the public schools have strictadmissions processes and offer specializededucations, such as the high-ranking McNairAcademic high school in Jersey City, or thecountywide High Tech High School, currentlybased in North Bergen.

Redefining public education

Retaining students beyond the elementarylevel is a challenge for school districts. Magnetand charter schools, and now more and morepublic schools, offer intense college preparato-ry curricula geared toward preparing studentsfor acceptance into their university of choice. Atthe same time, some districts have been recog-nized for programs geared toward technology,health, and special education, depending onthe school.

NNoorrtthh BBeerrggeenn’’ss ppuubblliicc sscchhooooll ddiissttrriicctt wasnominated last year for the Blue Ribbon

Schools Award, a national program that honorspublic and private elementary, middle, andhigh schools that are either high performingacademically or have improved studentachievement to greater levels. They were oneout of nine schools chosen statewide.

The district also implemented and expandedtheir program for autistic students from pre-kindergarten through first grade. The programhas allowed many students who had previous-ly lacked basic language skills to communicateand even transition into regular classrooms.

WWeesstt NNeeww YYoorrkk’’ss ppuubblliicc sscchhooooll ssyysstteemm hasearned presidential acclaim for its fitness andnutritional achievements over recent years.They have been recognized many times by theAlliance for a Healthier Generation; a founda-tion developed by former President Bill Clintonin conjunction with the American HeartAssociation. They have met health and nutritionstandards by providing after-school fitness pro-grams for all children and implementing a fac-ulty boot camp. They also have improvedschool meals and incorporated fresh fruits andvegetables into their snack programs, andeliminated candy and soda from their fundrais-ers. They’ve also developed a student wellnessambassador program that allows students tohave a say in the schools’ wellness-orientedactivities.

Clinton made a surprise visit to P.S. 2 inJanuary to commend the district on its suc-cesses. Last October, the alliance awarded thedistrict’s Food Service Director Sal Valenzia theHealthy Schools Program Champion award.

HHiigghh TTeecchh HHiigghh’’ss admissions process hasbecome so competitive that students areencouraged to begin preparing in fifth or sixthgrade. Out of 1,250 applicants last year, 162students across the county were accepted intothe freshman class. Total school enrollment is620. They offer performing arts, science, andcommunications with technology as an under-lying focus, and students may choose majorsto explore career interests. Students frequentlygo on to attend Ivy League schools after grad-uation.

MMccNNaaiirr AAccaaddeemmiicc HHiigghh SScchhooooll iinn JJeerrsseeyy CCiittyy,,a magnet school in Jersey City, was rankedsecond best in the state in 2010 by N.J.Monthly, and 43rd in the country according toU.S. Weekly’s Gold Medal Schools rating.McNair currently has 692 students enrolled.Out of approximately 1,000 applicants last year,200 freshmen were accepted. Applicants mustapply in eighth grade, be residents of JerseyCity, and complete an extensive entrance examwhich includes the PSAT. Occasionally stu-dents are accepted on a transfer basis.

Their curriculum is college preparation-focused and academically rigorous, and offers25 Advanced Placement (AP) courses. Amajority of the non-AP courses are on the hon-ors level. The courseload is heavy, and McNairrequires students complete 160 credits to grad-uate whereas the Jersey City district standardis 140, and the statewide standard is 110.

Between 99 and 100 percent of students areaccepted into college upon graduation, andmany go to Ivy League schools.

Charters for childrenCharter schools are still public schools, but

they are not governed by all of the same rulesand regulations. They must be approved by thestate Department of Education, and inexchange for meeting state educational stan-dards, they are allowed to run under their own

“charter,” or governing principles.Admissions are open to all New Jersey resi-

dents; however, within an anonymous lotteryselection process, there are designated “priori-ty groups” which almost always consist ofapplicants who reside in the same town or cityas the school.

Hoboken Charter School has two facilities,one for kindergarten through eighth grade with191 currently enrolled students, and a highschool with 79 students. While anyone canattend, Hoboken Charter’s lottery priority goesto Hoboken residents with siblings alreadyenrolled, and the majority of the student body ismade up of residents. A primary focus of thecurriculum is learning through service.

Another charter option with a particularlyunique guiding educational principle is JerseyCity’s Ethical Community Charter School.Kindergarten through third grade students’ cur-riculum is taught with ethics, service, andsocial justice underlying each and every les-son. They also strongly emphasize conflict res-olution through discussion and constantly pro-vide students with the opportunity to participatein community service.

TToo ccoommmmeenntt oonn tthhiiss ssttoorryy oonn--lliinnee,, ggoo ttoo oouurrwweebbssiittee,, www.hudsonreporter.com,, aanndd ccoomm--mmeenntt bbeellooww.. Gennarose Pope may be reachedat gpope@hudsonreporter.com.

Come to HudsonCounty for learningIncreasing local educational optionsand improvements keep families inarea

PRESIDENTIAL ACCLAIM – Bill Clinton visited West New York’s P.S. 2 in Januaryto praise the town for its recent efforts in transforming the school system’s nutri-tional program.

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Private andparochialschools

Hudson County has around 50 pri-vate and parochial schools. Here arejust some of the options:

Hoboken Catholic Academy

Hoboken Catholic Academy servesPre-Kindergarten, age 3 througheighth grade. Total current enrollmentis 392 students, and this past year, of200 applicants, 100 were accepted.While there are no applicant restric-tions, preference is given first toHoboken parishioners and residents,then to Catholics, although any reli-gion may apply.

“We are best known for the valuesthat we teach,” Principal Rose Perrysaid. “We live our mission which isservice to God and to others. It’s anold-school Catholic school.”

The academics and the curriculumare rigorous and technology-integrat-ed, with smart boards in every class-room. Smart boards are white boardswith internet and computer connec-tivity that replace a typical blackboard.

St. Peter’s PrepSt. Peter’s Prep, a prestigious all-

boys parochial high school located inJersey City’s scenic waterfrontPaulus Hook district since 1872, isthe only Jesuit school in the state,and serves grades nine through 12.Total current enrollment is 950, andthis past year, of 900 applicants, 400were accepted.

There is no religious or residencyrequirement, but the applicationprocess is rigorous and a supple-mentary COOP exam is given inaccordance with the archdiocese ofNewark.

“The major factor that attracts stu-dents from a 50-mile radius is thatwe’re a Jesuit school,” Vice Presidentfor Planning and Principal Giving JimHoran said. “We strive for academicexcellence, we are very values-ori-ented, and we have an aggressiveacademic program based on intel-lectual curiosity.”

One hundred percent of studentsgo on to college after they graduate,Horan said, and many attend highly-acclaimed Jesuit colleges such asGeorgetown, Boston College, andFordham, because “they enjoy theculture, camaraderie and values theyfound at St. Peter’s.”

St. Aloysius ElementarySchool

St. Aloysius Elementary School inJersey City serves pre-kindergarten

(age 3) through eighth grade. Totalcurrent enrollment is 322 students,and students are accepted at thebeginning of the school year.

“The school’s draw is mostly value-based,” Technology CoordinatorJoanne Sommer said. “We look at theindividual child and try to help themachieve their goals in any way possi-ble”

The school boasts high academicachievements and offers a plethoraof after-school clubs and activities.“Any club you can think of,” Sommeradded.

Their unique pre-kindergarten pro-gram for three and four-year-oldsruns from 8:15 a.m. to 3 p.m., afterwhich “they come out almost readyfor first grade,” she said.

Marist High School

Marist High School in Bayonneserves grades nine through 12 andcurrently has 425 students. Theapplication process is selective,though not exclusionary based ondemographics, and students areurged to take the COOP exam sanc-tioned by the Newark Archdiocese inNovember of their eighth grade year.

“We are a Catholic school and wetake it very seriously,” AdmissionsOfficer Erin Sisk said. “Though wedon’t try to convert people in theprocess.”

They boast a 100 percent collegeacceptance rate, and last year their

graduating class of 100 studentsearned close to $6.5 million in schol-arships, “which is a great return onparents’ investment in our school,”Sisk said.

They provide students with pro-grams such as Model UnitedNations, and their innovativeMedQuest program, which is compa-rable to college-level pre-med cours-es and gives unique insight into apotential medical career.

Alongside their highly competitiveacademic program, Marist has astrong special needs education com-ponent to their curriculum to aidthose with alternate learning styles.

Privateschools

The Hudson School

The Hudson School in Hobokenprovides students grades fivethrough 12 with a community service-infused, rigorous college preparatoryprogram and has declared its mis-sion to instill “courage, compassion,and commitment” into its curriculumsince 1978. The school boasts alower-than-average private schooltuition that has, they say, increasedthe diversity of the student body, andsubsequent exposure to different cul-tures, languages, and ideas.

Stevens Cooperative

Stevens Cooperative has two loca-tions: one in Hoboken, and one inJersey City. The schools provide its400 students with a hands-on, “pro-gressive” education and tailor theircurricula to fit a wide variety of spe-cial learning needs. They teach tradi-tional subjects through an interdisci-plinary array of classes such asmovement, music, and art.

More parochial schools

Some of the county’s other promi-nent parochial schools include:The OLC (Our Lady ofCzestochowa) School (elementary),248 Luis Marin Blvd., Jersey CitySt. Anthony High School, 175 Eighth St., Jersey CityHudson Catholic High School, 790 Bergen Ave., Jersey CitySt. Dominic Academy (highschool), 2572 Kennedy Blvd., Jersey CitySt. Nicholas School (elementary),118 Ferry St., Jersey CitySt. Augustine School (elementary),3920 New York Ave., Union CityHoly Family Academy (highschool), 239 Avenue A, BayonneAll Saints Episcopal Day School(elementary), 527 Clinton St., and707 Washington St., Hoboken

By Al SullivanReporter staff writer

Over the last five years, hospitals inHudson County have struggled tosurvive, partly as the result ofchanges made by the federal gov-

ernment and insurance companies in the early1980s to help curb the skyrocketing costs ofhealthcare, and partly because of increasedcompetition for basic services by smaller clin-ics.

Year by year, local hospitals slowly starved forfinancing, as reimbursement from insurancecompanies and Charity Care could not keep upwith the actual expenditures hospitals made.

Hospitals in Bayonne and Hoboken began tobleed money, the loss of resources coming atsuch a rapid rate that most thought they wouldclose. In both cases, local government inter-vened with financial support until each hospitalcould find a buyer. But other hospitals were notfar behind, particular Christ Hospital in JerseyCity, which a report issued by the state of NewJersey in 2008 identified as one of the hospitalsthat might close.

Most of the issues plaguing hospitals, this2008 report said, were beyond the facilities’control, and many could not afford to modern-ize their facilities.

A series of desperate and strategic moveshelped save many of the hospitals. The ownersof Jersey City Medical Center, which seemed tobe struggling, managed to downsize, selling offtheir other facility – Meadowlands Hospital inSecaucus – to private owners. The former St.Mary Hospital in Hoboken was saved from clos-ing by strong support from the city of Hoboken,and under a new name, Hoboken UniversityMedical Center, was ultimately sold to privateowners as well.

Bayonne Hospital was also sold to privateowners.

These changes did not come without criti-cism. The private owners of Bayonne andHoboken’s hospitals canceled many insurancecompany contracts in order to renegotiate reim-bursement rates. In the meantime, people withthose insurances were forced to find other facil-ities or risk paying high out-of-network rates forcare.

Three hospitals in the county remain non-prof-it: Palisades in North Bergen, Christ in JerseyCity, and Jersey City Medical Center. The own-ers of Christ are hoping to find a private buyer.

All six of the county’s hospitals are findingnew services to offer and other ways to staycompetitive.

Bayonne MedicalCenter

According to Dr. Mark Spektor, CEO ofBayonne Medical Center, hospitals have tobecome leaner and more efficient, focusing onthe areas they have the resources to handleand diverting patients to other hospitals whenneeded. For instance, Bayonne Medical Centerhas expanded its emergency room, but shut thedoors on services like those for maternity sincethere were not enough patients to justify keep-ing the departments open.

“Traditionally, we have been a center for can-cer diagnosis and treatment,” Dr. Spektor said.“We will continue in that role. We have alsofocused on treatment for vascular and pul-monary, and those programs we are continu-ing.”

Spektor said Hoboken University MedicalCenter, located in a city with a significantlyhigher rate of births, will likely become abirthing center. These changes, Spektor said,will allow both hospitals to draw from a widerarea than just the towns they are located in.

“Why should people have to go out of thecounty or the state to get treatment they needwhen they can find it here?” he said.

The 120 year-old Bayonne Medical Center,according to former CEO Dan Kane, has madesignificant investments in heart and cancertreatment, and recently rededicated its cancertreatment center with a $5 million investment in

diagnostic and treatment equipment.Although the owners have spent more money

on new equipment since taking over in 2008,the hospital had been leaning more towardsperforming diagnostic treatment procedures formore than a decade, with new managementreevaluating its strengths and enhancing them.

The results were almost immediate. The hos-pital showed a profit within a year of the newownership and continued profits since. Part ofthis has comes as a result of cooperative agree-ments between various entities that allowed thehospital to restore some services lost prior tothe new ownership. The new ownership broughtin new equipment such as the CAT and PETscanners, as well as upgrading those depart-ments.

Hoboken University Medical Center

Despite its fiscal woes over the last few years,the 328-bed Hoboken University MedicalCenter is New Jersey’s oldest continuing hospi-tal. Founded in 1863 by Franciscan Sisters ofthe Poor, St. Mary Hospital treated woundedsoldiers from the Civil War. Then later, it was atreatment center for incomingwounded from Europe during WorldWar I.

In 2007, the city stepped in tohelp keep it open. The hospitalcontinued to build on its servicesand expanded its emergencydepartment.

Last year, the hospital was sold toHoldCo, which also owns BayonneMedical Center.

Chief Executive Officer PhilSchaengold told the HobokenReporter earlier this year that it willenhance its labor delivery servicesas well as improvements to its car-diovascular services. The hospitalis in the process of installing a newcatheterization lab which will helppatients with chest pains, andplans are underway to fortify itsorthopedic unit.

The new owners have promisedto invest $20 million in the hospital,just as they did in Bayonne MedicalCenter after taking ownershipthere.

Christ HospitalAlthough in a fiscal crisis current-

ly, Christ Hospital has always had anumber of significant strengths,including a viable emergency roomand advanced technology in oncol-ogy and cardiac services.

Christ offers a broad range ofservices from primary angioplastyfor cardiac patients to intensitymodulated radiation therapy (IMRT)for those battling cancer. The med-ical staff at Christ Hospital includesover 500 physicians, most of whomare board-certified in specialtiesranging from allergies to vascularsurgery.

Caught in a whirlwind of eventsover the last decade, ChristHospital attempted to fortify its eco-nomic position through a number ofcooperative agreements with otherhospitals such as the former St.Mary Hospital in Hoboken.

Over the last decade, the hospitalmade significant investments in itssurgery unit, especially same-daysurgery facilities. It also investedover that period in its cardiac serv-ices.

Palisades MedicalCenter

Palisades Medical Center, an affiliate ofColumbia Presbyterian in New York, is actuallyexpanding. Located in North Bergen, the hospi-tal announced plans recently to build a new on-campus 56,000-square-foot facility to provideambulatory care services, including day sur-

gery.The latest innovation will include some med-

ical office space. The new facility is being co-

Not yet terminalSix local hospitals live to see another day

see HOSPITALS page 10

Nurses Patricia Mondello, Diane Mercurio, and Susan Clifford at MeadowlandsHospital in Secaucus last year.

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By E. Assata WrightReporter staff writer

In recent months the national news on unem-ployment has given job seekers some rea-son to be hopeful. Last month, the U.S.Department of Labor announced that the

national unemployment rate had fallen to 8.3percent, the lowest level since 2009. Locally,however, in both New Jersey and in HudsonCounty, unemployed residents are still waitingfor the nation’s economic recovery to trickledown to them.

According to several economists, what hasbeen called the Great Recession began in NewJersey in the summer of 2007, six monthsbefore it took hold nationally in December ofthat year. But being among the first states tofeel the recession apparently does not meanNew Jersey will be among the first ones torecover. Economists believe it could be 2016before the Garden State – and even New York-area based Hudson County – recovers and thejob sector fully rebounds.

If there is a silver lining in the local jobs pic-ture, it’s that there is evidence that workers aregetting hired – however slowly – and someworkers are beginning to find jobs in industriesthey worked in previously, meaning they areable to get back to work faster without havingto be retrained to work in a new field.

Last year, several companies either moved ormade commitments to move to Hudson County,bringing an estimated 2,169 permanent jobs.These companies included Pearson Educationin Hoboken, Office Depot in Hoboken, Walmartin Bayonne, and Goya Foods in Jersey City.These positions do not include temporary con-struction jobs.

Both Goya and the recently announced 99Hudson residential development being built byHartz Mountain Industries in Jersey City willbring an additional 2,150 construction jobs toarea.

Some of these companies were lured by thestate’s Urban Transit Hub Tax Credit, whichgoes to companies who move into certainurban areas.

Behind the numbersThe federal Bureau of Labor Statistics

includes 23 counties in the New York City met-ropolitan region, including Hudson County. Inthis New York metro region, the unemploymentrate is below the national unemployment rate of8.7 percent.

“This sounds promising, until you considerthe fact that the region’s numbers are helpedby strong job numbers in counties like Nassau

County, Rockland County, and WestchesterCounty,” said Jon Whiten, an economist withNew Jersey Policy Perspectives, a state thinktank.

In December 2011, the unemployment rate inHudson County was 9.6, according to theBureau of Labor Statistics. Not only was thisrate the fourth highest in the New York Cityregion, but it was higher than the state averageof 9.1 percent. (New Jersey has the 16th high-est unemployment rate in the nation, accordingto the bureau.)

Ironically, the problem for workers isn’t thatjobs aren’t being created, said Whiten. Theproblem is that the region has a “jobs deficit.”

“There are jobs being added to the localeconomy, both in Hudson County and in thestate as a whole,” he said. “But there is thisdeficit, which is the difference between thenumber of jobs we have had and the numberwe need to regain our pre-recession rate ofemployment. As of November 2011, we had217,700 fewer jobs in the state than we did inDecember 2007. In addition, we need aboutanother 105,200 jobs in the state to keep upwith the 2.6 percent growth in population we’veexperienced in the 46 months since the reces-sion began. In other words, our jobs deficit is322,900. We’re recovering from the recession.We’re just doing it at a much slower pace thanother parts of the country.”

Rutgers University economist Nancy Mantellagrees with this assessment.

“The forecast remains positive, although thepace of the recovery is not as rapid as wewould like,” said Mantell. “New problems, pri-marily at the national and international level,keep cropping up that diminish the chances ofan ongoing strong recovery. The [situation] inWashington, the likelihood that monetary policyhas gone about as far as it can go, theprospect of an extremely long and bitter elec-toral process, problems facing the world’seconomies because of the European debt cri-sis, and the turmoil in the Mideast” have allslowed job creation locally. According toMantell, between January 2008 and January2011, New Jersey’s net job loss was 265,700.The only growth sector in that three-year periodwas in the education, health, and social servic-es sectors. Although the state has begun torecover its losses, growth will be so slow thatthe average number of jobs in New Jersey willnot surpass the 2007 peak of 4,079,000 until2016.

Last year, however, the recovery spread tomore sectors of the economy, a positive sign.

Since January 2011, the private sector hasadded 31,200 jobs, although the public sectorhas lost 1,400.

“The positive note here is that while gainshave been small, they have occurred in everysector of the private economy except manufac-turing and information, and even the lattermight have grown were it not for the strike atVerizon,” Mantell said.

By the end of 2021, the state’s employmentbase could well surpass its previous employ-ment peak by 156,000 jobs.

Hanging on to whatwe’ve got

Since taking office, Gov. Christopher Christiehas said that he wants to keep and retain jobsin New Jersey by making the state more “busi-ness friendly.” Over the last two years thestate’s Economic Development Authority (EDA)has used several incentive programs to lure –or in some cases, keep – businesses in HudsonCounty that were considering moves to otherstates.

Within the last year alone, meatpackerDeBragga & Spitler was lured to Jersey Cityfrom Manhattan, and the Hudson County-based Goya Foods chose to remain in thecounty after briefly considering a move out-of-state. DeBragga moved into its new 25,000square foot facility on Amity Street last October,bringing about 50 workers from the meatpack-ing district across the Hudson River to JerseyCity.

To keep the Secaucus-based Goya Foods inHudson County, the EDA approved $81.9 mil-lion in tax breaks to convince the company tobuild a new facility in Jersey City. Jersey Citylater approved a controversial 20-year taxabatement for the company on top of the $81.9million offered by the state. The deal guaran-tees that 500 Goya jobs will remain in NewJersey, although only about six new jobs willactually be created, according to New JerseyPolicy Perspectives.

While touted as being victories for local work-ers, these moves will likely have minimal impacton them since few new jobs will be created.

Is there an upside?Despite the grim big picture, there are, econ-

omists, note, signs of hope.According to Erica Groshen, an economist

with the Federal Reserve in New York, indus-tries have expanded.

Groshen has studied the “churning” of old vs.new jobs in the workforce. “Old jobs,” sheexplained, are ones that are similar to workers’pervious employment and require little or notraining to obtain. “New jobs” are positions cre-ated in industries where workers have little orno experience, in sectors that are growing.These jobs are harder and take longer to getbecause workers often have to return to schoolor be retrained or get them.

At present, “old jobs” are rebounding morequickly than newly-created positions, especial-ly in science, administrative support, retail,finance, and insurance, she said.

“On balance, this is good news because itmeans workers can get back to work morequickly,” said Groshen.

The employment picture is also encouragingfor those with advanced education. Just 3 per-cent of workers with post-graduate degrees arejobless, according to numerous sources.

Finally, as the economy struggles to turnaround, unemployed residents who had givenup looking for work are now feeling encouragedenough to jumpstart their job searches – andthey’re getting hired, according to Mantell.

Last year, from August to October 34,000unemployed people in the New York metropoli-tan region went back to work.

Comment on our website, www.hudsonre-porter.com. E-mail E. Assata Wright atawright@hudsonreporter.com.

Getting back to work…slowlyRecovery for the unemployed makingprogress at glacial pace

Since entering office Gov. Christopher Christie has said that he wants to keep andretain jobs in New Jersey by making the state more “business friendly.”T

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developed by AMB Development Group andDuke Realty.

One strength of Palisade Medical Center ispartnerships with other quality medical institu-tions to provide expanded services that are notusual for a stand-alone hospital, and to providea higher-quality pool of physicians. Each year,the medical center seems to unveil a new initia-tive that focuses on the needs of the HudsonCounty population, whether it is a pain reliefcenter or a sleep center.

Several years ago, they expanded their emer-gency room and guaranteed that patients wouldbe treated in a matter of minutes, not hours, viatheir Rapid Evaluation Unit.

Still a non-profit hospital, Palisades is still in-network with many of the state’s insuranceproviders.

The existing site features a 202-bed hospitalon the waterfront, as well as The Harborage, a245-bed nursing home and rehabilitation center.The hospital has more than 1,300 employees

and an annual operating budget of approxi-mately $150 million.

Jersey City MedicalCenter

For Jersey City Medical Center, a 361-bedacute care facility on Grand Street in JerseyCity, downsizing has made it stronger. The clos-ing of Greenville Hospital and the sale ofMeadowlands Hospital has stopped some ofthe fiscal bleeding that it has undergone overthe last few years. Jersey City Medical Centerhas several significant strengths that it can buildon over the next few years. First of all, its reloca-tion into a new facility less than a decade agoremoved the prospect of maintaining the 1930s-era, unmanageable facility in which it was for-merly housed. But the hospital’s great strengthis it ambulance corps and its status as thecounty’s trauma center – which brings inpatients from around Hudson County.

The campus presently includes two facilities,the Wilzig Hospital and the Provident Bank

Ambulatory Center. The hospital serves as aregional referral and teaching hospital and pro-vides service for women and infants, trauma,and cardiac patients. The medical center is amajor teaching affiliate of the Mt. Sinai School ofMedicine.

Although it recently canceled its contract withAetna (they say they are still negotiating),Jersey City Medical Center still honors mostinsurance providers, and earned some signifi-cant distinctions over the last decade, includinga state authorized hospital for open heart sur-gery, and has been aligned with other facilitiesthrough the LibertyHealth System. LikePalisades Medical Center, JCMC is expected togrow stronger as the other hospitals become forprofit, drawing on that body of patients whoseinsurance plans they still accept.

Meadowlands HospitalWhen originally opened as Riverside Hospital

in Secaucus in 1976, the 250-bedMeadowlands Hospital was the first for-profithospital in the state.

In 1994, when the hospital was purchased byLibertyHealth, it became a not-for-profit hospi-tal. In 1986, it was renamed MeadowlandsHospital Medical Center to reflect its growingimportance in the region.

Meadowlands was purchased by the newly-formed and little known limited liability corpora-tion MHA in 2010 to once more operate as a pri-vately-owned facility.

Operating as a for-profit hospital,Meadowlands has been able to reinvest insome critical infrastructure, and has budgetedmore than $20 million towards a newInterventional Radiology Suit. It recently reno-vated its emergency room, increased the num-ber of beds in the ER, and has spent $5 millionfor two new MRI machines. The hospital is alsodeveloping an advanced brain trauma centerand is on track to become one of only two facil-ities in the country capable of handing certainkinds of head trauma cases.

Comment on our website, www.hudsonreporter.com. E-mail Al Sullivan atasullivan@hudsonreporter.com.

HOSPITALS from page 9

Weehawken, WestNew York and

Union CityWeehawken’s Park Avenue is most-

ly full of locally-owned stores eateriesand bars. And local business is likelyto get a boost next year when theFormula One Racing event comes tothe streets of Weehawken and WestNew York.

The three-day event is expected toattract 100,000 people and bring inapproximately $100 million in eco-nomic activity.

West New York Mayor Felix Roquehas called the Formula One event“the beginning of the rebirth of WestNew York.” He said the race will “setthe tone for future economic growthand development and stability for ourtowns.”

Neighboring Union City is also like-ly to see some of the economic ben-efits of the race.

Meanwhile small stores onBergenline Avenue in West New Yorkand Union City continue to sell theirunique specialties to area residents.

Super Bowl comingIn 2014, Hudson County is also like-

ly to play host thousands of guests in

town for the Super Bowl, to be playedat MetLife Stadium in EastRutherford.

Jim Kirkos, the president of theMeadowlands Liberty Conventionand Visitors Bureau, has estimatedthat the Super Bowl is expected topull in approximately $500 million inrevenue, and New Jersey can possi-bly capture 35 to 40 percent of thefinancial rewards, which will boostlocal businesses.

A National Football League commit-tee is visiting Hoboken in March, andthe group will scout out possiblelocations for concerts and events,which are also likely to bring in morebusiness to the area.

Hudson County has been able toweather the economic storm of thepast few years, Nieves said.

“Hudson County is not as sensitiveto the recession as the rest of thecountry,” she said.

The close proximity to Manhattanand the up and coming areas of thecounty make Hudson County a desir-able spot to do business.

So how will Hudson County’s busi-ness community fare in 2013?

“We started the year about thesame as 2011, but this year is goingto be better,” Nieves said. “Especiallyas we see the national economy con-tinue to grow.”

TToo ccoommmmeenntt oonn tthhiiss ssttoorryy oonn--lliinnee,,ggoo ttoo oouurr wweebbssiittee,, wwwwww..hhuuddssoonnrreeppoorrtteerr..ccoomm..

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Trains and subways to NYCLocal officials are hopeful that New York’s No. 7 subway

line – which currently runs from Flushing, Queens to TimesSquare – will be expanded to Secaucus and possiblyHoboken.

The No. 7 subway line is currently undergoing a majorextension to 34th Street and 11th Avenue in Manhattan.The proposed plan calls for an extension to New Jersey toterminate at the Frank R. Lautenberg Rail Station inSecaucus and would likely have a stop at the HobokenRail Terminal.

Last October, Christie said he would support the exten-sion of the train to Secaucus, offering to do New Jersey’sshare of the financing, according to Business Week mag-azine.

Many commuters utilize the PATH from the HobokenTerminal to commute to Manhattan. In August, the PortAuthority of New York and New Jersey voted to raise PATHfares by 25 cents, but the price of a trip is still low, at $2.

Bike sharingHoboken and Jersey City residents who want to get

exercise may someday be able to rent bikes docked attransport stations for quick trips around town to visit localparks and restaurants or to commute to work. Both citiesare currently soliciting feedback in a study led by HudsonCounty planners to gauge interest in a bike share pro-gram. A similar program has done well in Washington,D.C.

Stephen LaMarca may be reached at slamarca@hudsonreporter.com.

North Bergen

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area highways and New York City.

Mayor Nicholas J. SaccoCommissioners

Allen Pascual Hugo CabreraFrank Gargiulo Theresa Ferraro

BUSINESS from page 4

TRANSPORTATION from page 6

EXTENDING – New stopsare planned for the Hudson-Bergen Light Trail train inNorth Bergen, BergenCounty, and Jersey City.

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