The Jersey City Independent "

The New Jersey District Council of the Urban Land Institute (ULI-NNJ) has named the Jersey City waterfront development Crystal Point its 2010 “Project of the Year.” The high-rise condominium project, along with other winners of ULI-NNJ’s sixth annual Land Use Awards, will be honored at a December reception. The awards recognize “leadership in the responsible [...]

Developer K. Hovnanian’s attempt to force Jersey City to revise its tax abatement deal for the 77 Hudson condo building has been dismissed by a Superior Court judge, who found that “Hovnanian has no legal right” to the amended deal. The developer had gone to the city seeking a sweetened abatement deal after one was [...]

- 77 Hudson Denied Abatement Change (Again): The city’s Tax Enhancement Committee unanimously voted against developer K. Hovnanian’s request to sweeten its tax abatement deal with the city this week. It is the second time the request has been denied. The developer argues that it’s unfair the luxury condo building Crystal Point was given a [...]

- Couple Slain in Possible Botched Carjacking: A 27-year-old Jersey City man and his 25-year-old fiancee were shot to death outside their Randolph Avenue home early Sunday morning. Investigators say the couple, who had just returned from their engagement party, were shot during an unsuccessful carjacking attempt. – County Schools Budget: Under the proposed $45.7 [...]

- Ward B councilman Phil Kenny officially tendered his resignation yesterday, one day after pleading guilty in federal court to accepting bribes. Meanwhile, Kenny’s campaign treasurer says the dirty money in question has been donated to charity. – A probe into a drug ring operating out of a Varick Street restaurant has led to 17 [...]

- Mayor Healy has sent a letter to the developer of 77 Hudson saying he does not support granting the sweetened tax abatement it is seeking from the city. The mega-developer K. Hovnanian is asking for the same deal that the city granted to Fisher Development Associates for its luxury Crystal Point building. In his [...]

- The Jersey Journal uncovers an interesting connection: Officials connected to Crystal Point donated $7,500 to Mayor Jerramiah Healy’s council slate the same day the condo developer appealed to the council for a better tax abatement deal (which was ultimately granted). The developers say the donations weren’t made “with the intent of influencing the vote,” [...]

The city’s Tax Abatement committee has approved a revision to an already-generous tax abatement for the large-scale residential development known as 77 Hudson. If the changes are approved by the City Council, it would be the third time in the last two years that a developer has come back to the city, played the poor [...]

From the New York Times‘ Real Estate Section: Two new high-end waterfront buildings in Hudson County — one a rental, the other a 42-story condominium tower — are set to open with very poor timing, especially in the case of the condos. Nevertheless, their developers say, the developments are getting a healthy early response, without [...]

Editor’s note: When JCI’s usual City Council correspondent was forced to miss this week’s meeting at the last minute, photographer Steve Gold stepped it up and stayed for nearly all of the marathon meeting (he left City Hall around 12:20 am after a 6:30 pm meeting start) to file this special photographic edition of the [...]