Powerhouse Arts District Neighborhood Association Responses from Ward A Candidate Frances O. Thompson Smith Team 2009 GENERAL How do you see the PAD best contributing to Jersey City? Most major cities have an area that is the pulse of the city where the cultural arts emanates. It is important that your group maintains the history and the ecstatic of Jersey City through the arts. As a 67 year old second generation lifetime resident I can remember many of the historic sites that you have mentioned DEVELOPMENT Were you aware that Mayor Healy's administration radically amended the PAD redevelopment plan April, 2008 to accommodate the development goals of national homebuilder Toll Brothers despite overwhelming citizen outcry? Yes, I make it my business to stay abreast of the major development and changes in the City. Are you aware the extent of these amendments as listed below? (see original questionnaire for list) Yes, but not to the extent that has been detailed in the questionnaire. If you were elected to office what would you do about these amendments? First, I would create a think tank of talented people who understand development, historic preservation, and people who share in what a true art district represents (that includes PAD) to discuss ways to resolve the problem. If the development has not started it can many times be pulled back and changes to meet the administrations requirements. All areas where there is a question of elimination or reduction will be revisited. There is know question that Jersey City has created ample "luxury high-rise" development. At one time this type development was needed to raise the economy and to make it a place where people wanted to come live. Over the past two decades these things have been accomplished and the need to continue expanding "luxury high rise" development in the downtown area no longer exists. Keep in mind, that elected officials are people like you. We need the input of experts to create sound decisions. Any elected official who does not reach out for talent in areas where they have limited knowledge is not working for the people but are making decision through emotion and they are not wise decision-makers. Currently there are four developments that have had final site plan approval since 2005. They have not broken ground despite there's being a major building boom at that time. It is widely supposed that the developers of these sites were waiting to see what Toll brothers" got" in order to then demand the same for themselves (elimination of affordable housing, greater density and height, demolition of warehouses). How will you address these developers? It is poor taste for an elected official to make assumptions concerning issues that impact the City and its citizenry. I would not assume that the reason a developer is holding a project without investigating the situation. First, I would investigate the "hold up" because the problem may be with HED or Redevelopment. Sometimes the there is a legitimate reason for the lack of "breaking ground" in a timely fashion. Many times elected officials do not know how to revisit development project problems. All you need is the support of (5) Council members to make thing happen. But, if what you suppose is a fact the developers will have a problem with this administration: there is a possibility that they can be de-designated for not starting the project in a timely fashion (if the fault is not the City's). The Council [by resolution and ordinances] along with the Mayor [by executive order] can have HED and the Redevelopment agency goes back to the drawing board. The bottom line is the problem must be and can be remedied. What steps will you take to ensure the Powerhouse is maintained and does not sink into further disrepair than it already has? Will you actively lobby for its development during your administration? If so, what steps will you take to secure the funding and consensus so that it is developed? As previously mentioned I would investigate the matter and if it's concluded that the developer Toll has gone against the present historic preservation of the area all attempts will be made to revisit the original plans and take the appropriate action necessary. There is a part of Jersey City that must remain in its original state. Your area is one of the last areas that maintains the history of the "Industrialization Era" of the north. Yes, I will lobby in behalf of the arts district and will attempt to ensure that CBDG funds are available in brick and mortar and service funding. In addition, the city would work in conjunction with PAD to sponsor major events like a National Jazz Festival and the Summer Muzic Fest [similar to the one held in Bethlehem, PA] that attracts diverse music and bands from all over the country. These week long events create an environment for the arts, produces revenue, and helps develop an interest in the arts. QUALITY OF LIFE The Powerhouse Arts District currently has no street cleaning services from the city. In addition, there are many unoccupied warehouses and lots with private owners that are currently covered with trash (around the Butler Brothers Building, Manischewitz and Caputo Lots, lots on First Street) and graffiti. Currently we have individual members of our neighborhood organization calling owners to request they clean up; as a group, we organize neighborhood cleanups at least twice a year. Neither of these methods has proved satisfactory in keeping our neighborhood clean. What will you do to rectify these issues? I served on the city council representing Ward F [1985-1989]; it was during that time that laws were placed on the books against "Warehousing." It was illegal for property to be purchased and not be utilized within a given time frame. Additionally, Property Conservation and or the Incinerator Authority of Jersey City [direct or autonomous units of government] are responsible for the investigation of property that has not been maintained. They can require the owner to clean the property and if they do not, they can give them fines. The agencies will clean the property and attach the cost of the cleanup to their taxes. If the current administration has removed this process I will commit myself to assist in the return of these functions and the return of the program "America Clean and Beautiful". After any heavy rain, the neighborhood is filled with the odors that emanate from the combined storm/sanitary sewer. Although the city constantly claims that there is adequate capacity in the system, it is not clear that this so. An additional problem with the sewers is the existence of hexavalent chromium which was used as fill under the sewer lines along Warren and Bay Streets. What would you do as mayor to address the concerns that the sewer system might not be adequate to support all of the new development, and the further concern that new development in the area will potentially expose, disturb, and spread a dangerous contaminant? I am not running for mayor, but as a council candidate we must work with the mayor to ensure that sewer System is upgraded like it has in Ward A. I established the Environmental Commission during my tenure as Councilwoman. The Commission was responsible for overseeing conditions like the above mentioned. The person who was diligent in staying on top of issue like yours was Ms. Betty Kerns. The Environment Commission is no longer functioning, therefore the proper policing of our environment has discontinued. I do not believe that happened by accident. I will bring the Commission back to ensure that the city's environmental conditions are safe and open space is maintained. OPEN SPACE The Powerhouse Arts District has virtually no public parkland/open space. Do you support open space initiatives? How would you propose to bring more open space in to this district? I was a member of the Environmental Commission Open Space Chairperson. It was required that within every plan that came before the Planning Board and the Board of Adjustment that green space/or small park be in the plans before approval. How and why all these things have been abolished or ignored by this administration is shocking. You must have the Environmental Commission re-established to ensure that these thing never happen again Do you support the use of the triangle adjacent to the Powerhouse as a public park? Yes The 6th Street Embankment provides an opportunity to retain elements of Jersey City's industrial past, protect existing historic structures, as well as provide much needed green space and additional transportation alternatives in downtown Jersey City. Do you support the retention of the 6th Street Embankment from demolition? Do you support the Embankment's use as a public park? It keeps amazing to me how property is sold to the highest bidder with know thought of its past and historic value to the Jersey City. Before property is place on the sale list for bid it is brought before the council. The council has the authority to remove parcels from the sale listing. Is it because some people do not love the City the way many of do they do not measure the cause and effect of the sale of some properties. The problem is that the Embankment has been sold to a private developer we again must attempt to acquire it back, than we can discuss its use. I will always agree to "open space" where there is none. I will respond to the transportation issue below. TRAFFIC AND PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION The traffic problem on Marin Boulevard is getting worse and worse. It is very difficult to make a turn onto Marin from the PAD, and crossing the street on foot is almost impossible. New construction slated in our neighborhood will add hundreds if not thousands of new residents with cars, yet the city is saying the traffic level on these streets is not even close to capacity. What will you do to make these streets less crowded and safer? I think that an overhead bridge [like the overhead bridge at St. Peters College] should be considered to resolve the foot traffic problem. As you are aware there are many new streets in Jersey City over the past decade. We need to consider making some of streets one-way and redirecting the flow of traffic. Two-way traffic many times increases the congestion. If you look at the flow of traffic in Newport you will notice that it's an even flow because it's a one-way flow. The Traffic Engineer must re-evaluate the Downtown traffic flow and traffic lights, consultants have been hired by the City Planning Division. I understand your problem because I personally had a problem attempting to drive onto Marin Boulevard from Bay Street [it was not rush hour 11am]. Various plans have been proposed to better link downtown to Liberty State Park. Many residents have grave concerns about additional vehicular traffic attempting to bypass the Turnpike by using our residential streets as through streets to the Holland Tunnel. Do you support a pedestrian bridge between downtown to Liberty State Park? Do you support a vehicular bridge between downtown and Liberty State Park? The problem that exists with building a bridge: whose backyard will be disturbed when we build the bridge? I understand that you need some relief but I would have to call in experts and my think tank along with people like you to come up with a good solution. The commute via Path train has reached an alarming capacity. During business hour commuting, it is routine to wait while train after train passes, unable to absorb even one more body. Various stations are in need of upgrades. Do you agree that the PATH will be unable to support the additional proposed high rise building that will be added downtown? How do you propose to absorb the additional residents that will be moving in to downtown and commuting via PATH train? PATH must run more trains in the interim. PATH also has plans to renovate he old Hudson tubes line and to build another tunnel to New York called the "Tunnel Project". However the construction of the new tunnel will take two decades to complete. It project will be starting within the next two years at the minimum. What is your position on the JERSEY CITY MOBILITY 2050 project? Do you think it will address its stated goal: "to create an action-oriented plan for a citywide transportation network that will be pedestrian friendly and reduce future traffic congestion?" The City Planning Division has hired three consultants to prepare a report to reduce traffic congestion and improve conditions for pedestrian traffic on our roads. We will work hard to make sure the purpose of the plan is achieved which will be reworking of zoning codes and finding ways to make our resident use mass transportation(i.e. light rail & buses) than operate their cars. One example is we need the expansion of more bus services covering more areas of our city. Large sections of our city have lost the services of many bus routes that numerous residents had previously counted on. Here's the weblink for the plan: http://www.jerseycitymobility2050.com/project-team/