Legal Update (If you would like an overview of redevelopment i the PAD, click here) April 13, 2010 - Date of Appeal Hearing in Superior Court of NJ, Appellate Division. January 5, 2010 - Judge DeCastro's opinion favoring the City Planning Board is filed. May 20, 2009 - PADNA filed an appeal on the matter of the Jersey City City Council radically amending the PAD Redevelopment Plan to accommodate the wildly inappropriate development goals of Pennsylvania-based national developer, Toll Brothers. Additionally, PADNA has opened a new case challenging the Jersey City Planning Board's approval of Toll Brothers preliminary site plan application for their PAD properties. Toll filed their application for site plan review January 20, 2009 and it was expeditiously heard by the Planning Board on February 17, 24 and March 10, 2009. The Board voted to approve the application March 10, 2009 while litigation over the underlying zoning was still pending. April 9, 2009 - Judge Curran's opinion favoring the City and Toll Brothers is filed. December 15, 2008 - The case is heard by Judge Barbara Curran. June 2, 2008 - PADNA filed a suit in Hudson County Superior Court on June 2, 2008. April 8, 2008 - the Municipal Council approves Toll Brothers' amendments to the PAD plan despite overwhelming public outcry. These amendments destroy the unique character of the arts/historic district as they will: Double the density previously permitted Quadruple the height previously permitted Demolish historic warehouses Eliminate affordable housing for artists Obliterate one of five remain cobblestone streets in Jersey City, the only one with an embedded rail Plunge four occupied and actively used historic warehouses into permanent shadow October, 2007 - Toll Brothers submits application to Planning Board for approval of amendments to PAD plan to allow for their development proposal. September, 2007 - After more than a year of discussions with City politicians and agencies, Toll Brothers presents their development proposal to PADNA for the first time. November, 2006 - First residents/home-owners move into Waldo Lofts, the first new construction developed in accordance with the PAD Plan. August, 2006 - Toll Brothers files amendment request to Jersey City Planning Department to radically alter zoning requirements for their lots. All new development not already under construction go on hold, most likely pending Toll Brothers situation. June, 2006 - City Council approves settlement with New Gold Equities Corp, owner of 111 First Street and 110 First Street. Amendments to PAD Plan to reflect this settlement approved in August, 2006. Demolition of 111 First Street, long the lynch-pin of the Jersey City artists' community, begins shortly thereafter. Since this time, both properties have remained devoid of development, weed-choked and garbage-strewn. Both the owner New Gold and the City have been unresponsive to ongoing community requests for lot cleanup and maintenance. March, 2006 - Toll Brothers purchases lots in the PAD. January, 2006 - First residents/renters move into 150 Bay Street, a National Historic Landmark (one of four in the state of New Jersey), redeveloped in accordance with the PAD Plan. November, 2005 - First residents/home-owners move into 140 Bay Street, a historic warehouse developed in accordance with the PAD Plan. October, 2004 - City Council approves Powerhouse Arts District (PAD) Redevelopment Plan unanimously. Mayor Healy, Council President Mariano Vega, and Council members Gaughan and Brennan were members of the City Council at the time and participated in this vote. A brief video about the creation of the PAD can be seen here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAsPOv6PQfY&feature=channel This Redevelopment Plan resulted from over a decade of planning with broad community involvement and support. The goal of the plan is explicitly stated to facilitate a DUMBO-like arts and historic warehouse cultural hub for Jersey City.