WOW! Ka-ching-a-ling!
Funding to build flood infrastructure, state-of-the-art Northwest Resiliency Park
HOBOKEN, N.J. – U.S. Senator Bob Menendez and Hoboken Mayor Ravi S. Bhalla today announced the awarding of an historic, combined $14 million in funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to improve Hoboken’s infrastructure and complete construction of Northwest Resiliency Park to protect the city from future flooding. Superstorm Sandy devastated Hoboken in 2012, and areas of the city continue to endure repetitive flooding from heavy rains
Once completed, the new, five-acre park will become the country’s largest known resiliency park with above ground green infrastructure and an underground water detention system that together can withhold nearly two million gallons of rainwater and runoff. It will reduce the number of combined sewer overflow events in Northwest Hoboken by more than 90%, from four a month to four a year.
A $10 million FEMA grant will fund construction of state-of-the-art resiliency features in Northwest Resiliency Park that will substantially mitigate flooding in Northwest Hoboken. A separate, $4 million grant provided to the North Hudson Sewerage Authority (NHSA) will fund completion of stormwater infrastructure upgrades in areas adjacent to the park. The New Jersey State Police Office of Emergency Management will administer the FEMA grants to the City of Hoboken.
“This ambitious, innovative project will improve the lives of Hoboken families, children, and seniors by better protecting this community from flooding that is occurring more and more frequently,” said Sen. Menendez. “Sandy taught us that it’s a heck of a lot more expensive to rebuild in the aftermath of destructive storms than it is prevent costly floods in the first place. That’s why I’ve been fighting to make new federal investments in forward-looking mitigation projects like Northwest Resiliency Park. When we talk about spending taxpayer dollars wisely, investing in resilience really pays off. In fact every dollar spent on flood prevention and mitigation generates another six dollars in savings.”
Interesting. I really hope some of that funding goes into continuing the adjacent flood resilient park aquistion on Block 10.
ReplyDeleteNo. The Fed's grant was given to be used specifically for the NW Resiliency Park.
Delete$14 million? Great might solve our budget crisis.
ReplyDeleteWhy no damning article about the budget issues? If Mike was mayor I’d expect headlines of “Mayor DeFiasco” running Hoboken into the ground. But if it your buddy Ravi there hasn’t been one post. Why?
Trolls like you don't read this site. I've written about the coming budget shortfall a number of times, first on January 3:
Delete"Ready or not, Hoboken is about to confront a perfect storm of rising costs and diminishing revenues. They were noted last night as follows: pension plan increases (+$600k), rising health insurance costs (+$1.5M) and union contract settlement costs (6 unions, +$3.5M) with diminishing revenues from parking (-$600K), municipal court (-$400K) and building permits (-"thousands of dollars"). The anticipated shortfall is $7M. Potentially very bad news for homeowners, renters, landlords, and city employees. Resolving this anticipated $7M shortfall can either mean massive City layoffs (80 employees) or municipal tax increases or both."
Unlike you and your pal, I don't talk out of my ass. The dollar amount is not yet known and the City has not decided on an action plan, although they likely have a series of options. If you want agenda-driven "damning" that's your/your buddy's department. People's livelihoods are on the line, so I don't take any of this as GIANT fodder for political fun and games.
Great job. It takes a lot of time, effort and expertise to secure $14M in federal grant money. I am happy Hoboken has the right people in place to make it happen.
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