By Nyah Marshall
nj.com
HACKENSACK, N.J. — A large lot in downtown Hackensack is slated to become a city hub with office space and affordable housing units solely for police officers, firefighters and other public service workers.
The project on River Street has been years in the making and is part of Bergen County’s efforts to revitalize the area, county officials said.
Under the plan, the county’s former probation building will be replaced with apartment units and office spaces. The city’s dated NJ Transit bus terminal will also be upgraded.
The Hackensack Planning Board approved the project’s initial site plans earlier this month, clearing the way for construction to begin by the end of the year.
According to site plans, the new 15-story apartment tower will feature 168 affordable housing units, including studios, one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments.
A majority of the rental units will be reserved for first responders, social workers, nurses, teachers and others beginning careers in public safety, healthcare and education, county officials said. Ten of the homes will be for veterans as part of the county’s commitment to eliminating veteran homelessness.
The hope is that the affordable housing project will attract more people to public safety careers and encourage them to stay in Bergen County and Hackensack , Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco said.
“We all know how difficult it is to afford housing when someone is just starting out in a career,” Tedesco said in a statement. “This development will deliver housing to newly hired local public safety workers such as firefighters and police officers.”
Residents are expected to live in the units for two to three years, or until they reach an income limit, county officials said. Once they earn enough to afford market-rate rents or purchase a home, they will be required to move out.
County officials did not say how much the units would rent for or specify the income limits for residents.
The complex will include a rooftop terrace with a garden, outdoor activity areas, and indoor amenities, including a golf simulator, co-working spaces and wellness rooms.
The other side of the lot will include a five-story, mixed-use section that will house county offices, commercial spaces for rent, a wellness center and a parking garage.
According to Tedesco, the buildings will serve as a landmark and entry point to the city’s downtown.
The plan also includes an update the city’s outdated bus terminal.
Once complete, NJ Transit passengers at the terminal will no longer have to wait outside for buses. The new bus stops will be in a covered facility, with a waiting room, restrooms and a small food area, according to the site plans. It will also be equipped to support NJ Transit electric buses.
County officials say traffic in the area will improve with the new design, which will redirect bus traffic away from Moore Street and westbound Mercer Street .
New traffic signals and pedestrian walkways will be added at key intersections, including the intersections of Atlantic Street with River Road and Moore Street , according to planning documents.
Bergen County officials did not reveal the project’s cost, but said the construction will be financed through the Bergen County Improvement Authority and bonds.
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