Sip Avenue to Get Park

JC Construction posted a rendering of anew park planned for a Sip Avenue lot adjacent to Hudson County College. The Culinary Arts Plaza Park is currently under construction.

Apparently People Do Drugs In Journal Square. Who Knew?

Blogger G-Lines Newsletter writes to explain why he is leaving Journal Square, and it has something to do with the drug abusing homeless people. Commissioner Gordon unavailable for comment.

G Bakery & Restaurant Reviewed

Blogger Laryssa reviews Newark Avenue eatery G Bakery & Restaurant.

City Offers Visions of Square

The city showcased potential visions of a transformed Journal Square at a workshop last night, reports the Journal. The presentation included photographs of other downtown districts.

Feast of Saint Carmen

The Journal reports Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church on Broadway celebrated the Feast of Saint Carmen yesterday with a procession and fireworks.

Burgers

JC Register points out that the new Journal Square McDonalds is very close to opening, while the McGinley Square Burger King was very close to closing. The Jersey City Burger King was heavily indebted to corporate and closure was threatened.

Recycling Buildings

The Star Ledger notes that historic condo buildings like Dixon Mills might have more character than generic high-rise towers. Canco, the Beacon, Saint Francis, Park Foundry, and Majestic all get name dropped.

County Considers New Courthouse

The aging Newark Avenue building has been awaiting replacement since at least 1988. Now the Freeholders are once again giving serious consideration to replacing the structure, reports the Journal. The proposed designs range in price from $300 to $350 million dollars, though after accounting for patronage, ineptitude, and unforeseen delays, the costs are likely to be much higher.

Walk Through India Square

JC Register posts a few photos of India Square at night.

Canco Expanding Plans for Rentals, Retail, Park Space

The NYTimes reports that the developers of the Canco Lofts are now planning 1,100 apartments and retail space on site at the Canco Lofts. The plans include a public park and more retail space. The project will cost $350 million and be completed by 2011.

Council Officially Grants CANCO Tax Deal

Jersey City is officially in the business of insuring profits of residential developments in the city granting the CANCO lofts an amended tax abatement. The council voted 7-0, reports the Journal.

Canco Lofts is a redevelopment project of the old American Can company. The old factory is a five building complex that in years passed has served as a canvas for a local artist-- neon lights installed in the building read "It is green thinks nature even in the dark."

The first phase of the building complex is well under way, but sales have been sluggish. Last year's credit collapse has not helped matters, though others point out that the complex is far from the PATH train at Journal Square. One solution proposed by the city, but not well regarded by the Port Authority, is adding another PATH station. That is unlikely to happen soon.

Critics have suggested that by granting the abatement deal to Canco, which has already sold more than a quarter of the units, that developers will expect to be able to renegotiate abatement deals whenever profits are threatened. This is not the first abatement to be renegotiated.

Previously, the council granted an amendment to a double tower development on Washington Blvd. Those, the Monaco Towers, first sought an amended abatement in January, which initially was rejected. That project, which is not currently under construction, later received a new abatement when the developer was ready to walk away from the project entirely. The difference of course is that Canco Lofts are nearly ready for their first residents to move in to units, while the Monaco Towers has only driven (and since removed) test pilings.

Salt and Pepper Grill Reviewed

Blogger Too Shy to Stop reviews Jersey City eatery Salt and Pepper Grill, a Journal Square, halal certified, restaurant. In short: a long wait and bland food.

City Shakes Down Developer for Abatement

The developer of Canco Lofts wanted a better abatement deal. City councilman Bill Gaughan wanted a donation for the city's construction apprenticeship program. The shake down worked, and the developer agreed to donate money to the program. The abatement is on tonight's agenda, reports the Journal.

Journal Square Farmers Market Opens Today

Journal Square becomes a little more gentrified today when a farmer's market is set to open. Hudson Now notes the market will be on Wednesdays through September, from 10:30 in the morning to 7:30 at night.

CANCO Gets Abatements

The Journal reports that the CANCO Lofts received the revised abatement they asked for. The redevelopment project had been selling slower than anticipated.

T-Mobile Opens in Journal Square

JC Register notes a new t-Mobile store has opened in Journal Square.

China Spice Review

Blogger Too Shy to Stop reviews India Square area eatery China Spice. India Square is a few blocks north of Journal Square, along Newark Avenue.

Bus Line Short Buses

A bus line that runs from Journal Square to Bayonne doesn't have enough vehicles since a state inspection reduced the fleet to two units, reports the Journal. Also the buses lacked air conditioning. Riders were left waiting up to 40 minutes.

CANCO Lofts Not Selling

CANCO Lofts, a redevelopment project near Journal Square, just isn't selling well enough and now the developer wants a better tax abatement program, reports the Journal. In other words, if you're looking for a good condo deal, CANCO is probably willing to negotiate.

Journal Square Tower Tax Deal Hurts City

The Journal reports that a tax abatement deal for the towers planned for the redevelopment of Journal Square could cost Jersey City more than $500,000 a year. The Payment in Lieu of Taxes made by the developer is far less than the cost to the city in providing new services. The tax deal is for 30 years.

CANCO Lofts Hopes for More New Yorkers

The Real Deal reports that residential redevelopment project CANCO lofts has retained Prudential Douglas Elliman's Bracha Group to market the loft style apartments hoping to reign in more New Yorkers. The first residents are expected to move in by labor day. So far 62 units are under contract.

Sip Ave Ripped Up

JC Register points out that Sip Avenue has been ripped up for repaving. Last week St. Paul's Avenue endured the same treatment.

Haz-Mat Team Called to St. Pauls Ave

Hudson Now reports haz-mat teams were called to investigate smoking 55 gallon drums on St. Pauls Ave, just off JFK Blvd.

Displaced McDonald's Crosses Street

A McDonald's in Journal Square, displaced by the Harwood Towers project, is to reopen across the street, reports JC Register.

$500 Not Enough to Buy Fire Inspector

JC Register notes that the owners of the St. Paul Avenue apartment where last weeks fire began hoped to bribe the fire inspector with $500. Apparently the paltry sum was not enough, because the inspector called the police.

197 Academy Unwrapped

JC Construction has posted updates on 197 Academy, a 20 unit residential building near Journal Square. The apartment tower, covered in brick, is being marketed to young professionals and may signal that Journal Square will soon be following in the downtown's footsteps of gentrification.

Journal Square Towers Wins Popularity Contest

JC Construction ran a poll asking readers to vote for the most exciting project happening in the city. The winner: City Center, the double tower project planned for Journal Square.

Bally Fitness Center Coming to Journal Square

JC Register noted a Bally Total Fitness center was coming to the Journal Square area back in February. JC Construction has posted some new photo updates of the new gym.

Parking Authority Misspells Jersey

JC Register points out the city's parking authority has installed a sign spelling Jersey City as Jersry. Well done.

Square Banners Advertise City, Bank

New banner signs in and around Journal Square have been installed to promote "the new Journal Square" and Provident Bank, a sponsor, notes JC Register.

City to Create Special Tax Zones

The city is considering the creation of special tax allocation zones where property taxes and PILOT payments would be invested in higher risk, higher return markets, generating more revenue to be reinvested within the zones. Journal Square could be the first recipient under the plan, notes Hudson Now.

Pro-Arts Cash Bash

Pro-Arts Jersey City is hosting a benefit Art Sale at the CANCO Lofts in Jersey City on Saturday, May 3, beginning at 5pm.

Demo Might Begin on Square Towers

The JC Construction blog points out that a new chain link fence has gone up around the site of the future Hardwood Towers in Journal Square, indicating that demolition may soon begin. Or it could just be a new fence.

Chickpea Coming to Journal Square

Chickpea, a middle eastern eatery chain will be expanding to Journal Square, reports Grub Street. Chickpea was recently purchased; the new owners also operate Nan King, a downtown Asian restaurant located at 101 Hudson Street.

Chickpea
From Wired JC

Classic Films in Journal Square

Cinema Treasures has a list of upcoming classic films to be showed at the Loew's theater in Journal Square. The landmarked building is run as a not for profit arts center.