Powerhouse Arts District Neighborhood Association Responses from Mayoral Candidate Lou Manzo GENERAL How do you see the PAD best contributing to Jersey City? Establishing an identity and imprinting a much needed cultural identity to Jersey City for Art. Contributing as a unique redevelopment zone unto itself. I supported the original concept of PAD, and would utilize the power of the Mayor's Office to maintain as much of that initial plan as possible. Would also support consensus building from residents in the community on filling out the PAD or new PAD redevelopment plan. 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. Are you aware the extent of these amendments as listed below? (see original questionnaire for list) Yes. This is unfair to taxpayers. The initial tax abatement never anticipated additional units. This is a bonus for the developer at the expense of City taxpayers. If you were elected to office what would you do about these amendments? Utilize power of Mayor's Office to restore original PAD concept. Sue to cancel tax abatements which were contingent on moderate and affordable housing units. 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? My position is to maintain as much as possible to the concept of the original PAD plan. Utilize the powers of Mayor's Office to that end. Sue to cancel abatement agreement which was contingent on affordable housing. 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? Actively have HED and Redevelopment agency bring the PAD redevelopment plan to fruition-including the solicitation of investors and developers that will remain true to the plan's original concept. Mayor's Office should actively lobby for and attract new investors for the redevelopment plan. 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? The City is responsible for ensuring that City services such as street cleaning are delivered to the district. I'm still at a loss to understand how the City isn't meeting such a simple obligation. Would not tolerate this injustice as Mayor. Departments and agencies should function or the leadership removed. Will have hands on management with department directors and autonomous agencies, and efficiency audits constantly ongoing 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? Would immediately press City's MUA to install pumping stations for downtown sanitary sewers-remove water in over filled sewers during heavy rains to prevent back ups. This was successfully done in Hoboken to remedy the same condition. Ensure new development contributes to upgrades of sewer lines. 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? Yes. I sponsored law in legislature that allows use of Green Arces funds for new park creation. Assess developers. County open space fund. Commit City resources. Would cover all redevelopment zones with open space initiative to ensure neighborhoods provide residents with local open space and pleasing aesthetics. Do you support the use of the triangle adjacent to the Powerhouse as a public park? If the community is supportive of the initiative. Yes. Personally, I like the concept. 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? I do and did. I'm the only elected official who proactively came to the defense of the embankment. I filed a complaint on the original lawsuit. Support the embankment for use as a public park. 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? Supporting a direct route and turnpike ramp into Newport (off Holland Tunnel Ramp) will divert traffic that shortcuts down the Grand Street ramp and congests downtown. Make City more commuter friendly. (Would establish Jersey City Transit Authority). Immediately more for improved pedestrian walkways and implement safe bike paths. Utilize police traffic patrols to initiate zero tolerance enforcement on drivers who threaten pedestrians with unsafe driving. 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? Do not support vehicular bridge. If Friends of Liberty State Park consent to a pedestrian and bike path, I would support its construction. 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? Mayor must utilize clout of office with Port Authority to insist some commuter trains initiate as express route from downtown Path stations. There is too much volume on the trains from prior downtown destinations. Need some trains to initiate directly from downtown. 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?" Without a Jersey City Transit Authority to control the City's own destiny regarding its transportation and mobility, then any attempts to achieve the Mobility 2050 Project will be very difficult. To many outside Jersey City agencies (Path, N.J. Transit, County, and State Governments) make to many bad decisions relative to our City's transportation and mobility needs. The City must take its fate into its own hands.