It is disappointing, to say the least, to see much needed developments like the Arc proposal get the heated backlash it got. Especially on the shaky ground that many of the James Street Historical District residents were throwing at the wall in opposition to its development. But, I firmly believe that it’s only a matter of time before the tides of high density development will change for the better. If the city keeps at its current trajectory, and if the economy keeps its posture, I know everything will be alright. Don’t forget, this is a long game. It might seem like this little battle might be in the residents favor of James Street Historical District, but I know they will not win this war they’re waging in the long run. Just watch and be patient 😌

That townhouse looks very cookie cutter also!

I understand your perspective, and any big infrastructure project like this would be a tough idea to sell. But it wouldn’t be due to existing services, like PATH and NJT bus services already being in place. It would be simply: cost. Such a project would be a billion or two, maybe more? But. In my very humble opinion, the cost would be very much worth that multi billion dollar investment price tag, because the growth that Newark, Hoboken, and Jersey City has experienced over the past five years is crazy. Interconnecting Northern NJ’s biggest growing cities will not only strengthen and further solidifies the NJ economy, but offer new opportunity for economic development and investment.

The HBLR is very expansive, and is way more intimate with the Jersey City and Hoboken streetscape than the PATH. Yes there’s bus service, but solidifying successful and over capacitated bus lines with a light rail line is very different, and offers new transit and economic opportunities that the bus can’t bring to the table. It’s the “next logical step” if you will, for the economy and regions maturity. I believe the NLR being connected to the HBLR system would be beneficial in many ways. I believe it can awaken a lot of new economic opportunities for economic investment and job growth, offer much needed investment opportunities for real estate investment and development, and the two systems being interconnected is another option for people to move around Northern NJ. Remember, the more mobility options an individual has at their disposal in their city, the better.

I also believe this interconnected system should finally pressure NJT to wake up, and to add more much needed light rail stops for Newark and for the HBLR to be further expanded well into Fort Lee. Such a system I know for a fact would be much welcomed and appreciated between Hoboken and Fort Lee, as it is very car dependent and congested. This won’t be cheap of course. There will be long environmental and community reviews/studies, infrastructure hurdles to jump, cost overruns, inevitable deadline delays, and lots of property to be attained for construction that I’m sure will be a headache. But the economic implications in my opinion are just too good to ignore, and simply justify the cost and its construction given the regions growth. It’s way too good of an opportunity.

Side note: I would love as much of this idea to be separated from traffic, or buried underground to maximize transit performance to maintain this being a viable transit option over the car, as possible lol.

I mean, don’t forget that the Essex-Hudson Greenway is still on the table. That project is suppose to include biking lanes, which will connect major cities/towns. And while we’re at it, the Newark Light Rail needed to be connected to the Hudson Bergen Light rail long ago 🤧

Unrelated: love your handle 😂

Thank you for the share, and I actually remember this proposal now that my memory has been refreshed. Honestly, it’s only a matter of time before Newark is flooded with high density/high rise developments. The amount of property lots available, coupled with property costs and construction, it only makes sense to build up (especially given the demand from the rental market). So, I’m not too worried if a few stellar project proposals, like the Arc Tower or 900 Broad Street, get shot down. Newark really needs as many apartment units it can get online to the market as the demand is almost unreal really. Plus, more downtown residents to the city’s core is always a plus for retail and other economic activities.

Actually, if I were you, I would send this whole thread and it’s concerns to:

>TAPintoNewark: newark@tapinto.net

>Nj.com: tips@njadvancemedia.com

>JerseyDigs.com: hello@jerseydigs.com

This way, the press can be informed and maybe do some digging at their own discretion, and maybe investigate as to why this condition is being challenged by Onyx Equities Development.

Great update though, thanks for sharing 👏🏽

The zoning board needs to embrace smaller to no parking minimums! Especially with my generation, given that car ownership/use is trending towards a decline. American cities need to be more progressive and rethink what they’d rather prioritize moving forward, post pandemic… Privately owned cars? …Or people? C’mon!

I’m not impressed with this render and I think it’ll age badly, but hopefully it’ll evolve into something better down the road I can only hope. Glad they’re doing something at least.