The hot topic of last night’s City Council meeting was affordable housing, as the Council unanimously adopted two ordinances that have the potential to add dozens of rent controlled units in Paulus Hook and Liberty Harbor North.
The Paulus Hook ordinance amends the redevelopment plan to allow 90 rent-controlled units, some with a rent under $1,000, without a tax abatement on property owners to reduce the potential burden on them, according to Ward E Councilman James Solomon.
“Nothing is ever perfect, but there are a couple things here that lead me to vote for yes,” said Solomon. “We just have a desperate, desperate need for affordable housing in Downtown, and it’s been a priority of ours to get that.”
The Liberty Harbor North ordinance amends the zoning of the block in question to allow residential use, in addition to the pre-existing hotel use. The ordinance sets aside 15% of the planned residential units for affordable housing, which an attorney for the property estimated to be 45 units, to develop underused land and keep up with the regional demand for housing.
An attorney for the adjacent property expressed concerns about the proposed height of the new buildings being larger than intended.
However, the architect for the applicant explained that a proposed residential building in the lot would be the same height as a hotel because, while an apartment building has more stories, hotels have higher floor-to-floor heights. The additional floors allow for more affordable housing.
Separately, dozens of residents of Portside Towers, led by Kevin Weller, spoke out about their multi-year legal battle with their corporate landlord, Equity Residential, about continued violations of rent control laws, even after the Jersey City Rent Leveling Board made determinations in the tenants’ favor in 2022 and 2023.
They called for the Council and Mayor Fulop to take immediate action, even amidst pending litigation, especially when it comes to recalculating rents and refunds.
“We would actually like to be on the same side for ordinance enforcement against the bad actor landlord. It doesn’t have to be a bad actor city as well,” said Weller. “And we are more than open to that, even if it results in less litigation.”
The tenants then presented the Council with concrete evidence of their landlord’s ongoing alleged violations of rent control ordinance 260.
They cited specific units in Portside Towers in which rent increased above the allowable rate for both new and renewing residents after the 2022 and 2023 determinations. In some cases, new tenants were allegedly not informed of accurate rent history or Equity failed to present Portside as a rent-controlled building.
Former Portside resident Alissa Ladas said, “For all those new tenants, there was an old one that was forced out due to the nonenforcement. I am one of them,” calling it a “slap in my face” when Fulop touts his record on affordable housing during his campaign for governor.
In a speech that highlighted the personal impact of Portside’s actions, eleven-year-old Portside resident Aayan Ghosh told the Council about seven friends whose families had to leave Portside because of improper rent hikes.
“It’s been really hard because every time someone leaves, it’s like a piece of my world goes away,” he said.
The Council also passed an ordinance that bars right-on-red turns at various intersections in the Heights. Many concerned residents praised the ordinance, many of whom wanted to spread the ordinance across the city.
“I fail to see the downside of making Jersey City a safe place to walk,” said Mandy Spangler.
The need for additional enforcement of traffic laws was underscored by both the community and the council members.
Ward D Councilman Yousef Saleh praised the community’s support for the ordinance because it “makes everyone’s jobs a lot easier,” agreeing that it should be implemented citywide to save lives. He also suggested lowering the speed limit in school zones, increasing mass transit options, and enforcing the laws on a local level.
“This is just the beginning of the beginning,” he said.