The Hoboken Tax Reform Coalition
Hoboken Amphitheatre Idea - Boost Revenue for City Hall
We all know that the soccer field on Sinatra has several problems that need to be addressed and this is going to cost the taxpayers of Hoboken over $10MM to cure the problem.
The NYC waterfront has many parks, Chelsea Piers, restaurants and even a golf range that sits over the Hudson River. It is beautiful and with all the attractions it becomes a draw to tourism and the locals have extra activities to do with their families. Not to mention increased revenue for the city.
Hoboken has basically a few piers (all are very nice), a soccer field, a few broken down piers in front of 14th and a barge company. Not exactly the best waterfront imaginable.
With the construction that needs to take place for the soccer field, what if we look into creating an Amphitheatre by extending the platform of the existing area, cover it and add seats. Basically creating a mini "Hollywood Bowl" on our waterfront.
This would create tourism, increase revenue and make Hoboken more of an attraction. The amphitheatre could be used for local Hoboken Arts & Music performances, charitable fundraisers and what the city needs most-highly publicized concerts/performances that the city could sell tickets for to raise revenue. This could make Hoboken more of a draw to tourism, while creating more fun and excitement to the city for the 40,000+ locals.
How do we pay for it? Fundraising, through public and private donations, private sponsorships (that adhere to Hoboken's standards) and through grants.
Let's create a better waterfront, increase long-term revenue and develop an attraction to Hoboken. Increasing revenue is also another way to reduce property taxes.
Best,
David A. Liebler
Views: 3
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by scott m siegel on
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We do have amphitheater already. My guess is that the cost of your plan would be to high. But, it's worth looking into. Get an estimate David and we''ll talk.
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Permalink Reply by Lincolnlogger on -
I like the idea in general, making the amphitheater area larger and more accommodating to usage. I'm not convinced it would need to be covered though, that would subtract a lot of any potential cost.
Now if only we could get a dolphin show in the Hudson or something...
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Permalink Reply by Jack Dawkins on -
You're all kidding right? Hoboken is a barrel - 2 routes in and out - NJ transit is cutting service in from points in NJ. This suggestion will only add to traffic and conjestion. We don't need to try and compete with NYC - mostly, because we can't. Anyone who wants to live in a tourist destination can move to Vegas.
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Permalink Reply by David A. Liebler on -
To me a complete amphitheatre would include seating, a stage and a roof. You would need the half-roof semi dome style to help with the sound and weather elements.
My guess is this would be a $5-$10MM project. There are several that are taking shape throughout the U.S. of different sizes and shapes. To me it would serve a great benefit to Hoboken.
scott m siegel said:We do have amphitheater already. My guess is that the cost of your plan would be to high. But, it's worth looking into. Get an estimate David and we''ll talk.
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Permalink Reply by David A. Liebler on
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I think you would need to half dome like structure for sound and weather concerns, but do agree that the cost would dictate this decision.
Lincolnlogger said:I like the idea in general, making the amphitheater area larger and more accommodating to usage. I'm not convinced it would need to be covered though, that would subtract a lot of any potential cost.
Now if only we could get a dolphin show in the Hudson or something...
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Permalink Reply by David A. Liebler on
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The conflict of congestion should not dictate this topic. If that was the case then we should discontinue all development in Hoboken. Which is a stupid idea as this town desperately needs to increase the revenue base.
Ask yourself this question. What is Hoboken known for; bars & restaurants, Frank Sinatra and a little exposure about Baseball. Developing an attraction that would draw outside people to come here and spend money on ticket sales, parking and food and restaurants only increases our revenue base.
I hear you on the congestion, believe me. I have lived here for 10 years and have suffered the grunt of commuting in and out of Hoboken and it is a major problem in the AM and PM. But this could be a weekend attraction when traffic is a little less of a concern for locals.
No one is looking to create Vegas out of Hoboken. Hoboken could be known for a Music and Arts festivals and performances which would make it a more unique place to live.
This town can not survive on the $100MM budget. Taxes will not go down next year, according to the city council's comments, so the town should start getting creative and start thinking about ways to increase revenue.
David
Jack Dawkins said:You're all kidding right? Hoboken is a barrel - 2 routes in and out - NJ transit is cutting service in from points in NJ. This suggestion will only add to traffic and conjestion. We don't need to try and compete with NYC - mostly, because we can't. Anyone who wants to live in a tourist destination can move to Vegas.
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Permalink Reply by Jack Dawkins on
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David: I do believe that you are sincere, and I intend no insult when I respond by saying: Yes, we should discontinue ALL development in Hoboken. That's not a stupid idea. Development in Hoboken has raised our taxes more than anything else (coupled with corruption.) New development does NOT increase the revenue base - it increases developer's profits. This town is a mile square (give or take) there is simply no land left to build out, and our infrastructure and historic charactor cannot weather any more building up. Congestion ABSOLUTELY belongs in this discussion - you can't fit Ralph Cramden into Ed Mertz's clothes.
David A. Liebler said:The conflict of congestion should not dictate this topic. If that was the case then we should discontinue all development in Hoboken. Which is a stupid idea as this town desperately needs to increase the revenue base.
Ask yourself this question. What is Hoboken known for; bars & restaurants, Frank Sinatra and a little exposure about Baseball. Developing an attraction that would draw outside people to come here and spend money on ticket sales, parking and food and restaurants only increases our revenue base.
I hear you on the congestion, believe me. I have lived here for 10 years and have suffered the grunt of commuting in and out of Hoboken and it is a major problem in the AM and PM. But this could be a weekend attraction when traffic is a little less of a concern for locals.
No one is looking to create Vegas out of Hoboken. Hoboken could be known for a Music and Arts festivals and performances which would make it a more unique place to live.
This town can not survive on the $100MM budget. Taxes will not go down next year, according to the city council's comments, so the town should start getting creative and start thinking about ways to increase revenue.
David
Jack Dawkins said:You're all kidding right? Hoboken is a barrel - 2 routes in and out - NJ transit is cutting service in from points in NJ. This suggestion will only add to traffic and conjestion. We don't need to try and compete with NYC - mostly, because we can't. Anyone who wants to live in a tourist destination can move to Vegas.
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Permalink Reply by SmartyJones on -
David,
It's not correct to conclude the soccer field will cost $10 million. There's a number of grants being pursued so it's not near any final determination. The city has only reserved the right to bond somewhere in the neighborhood of that amount.
You want to build an amphitheater on the water? You'll really need to build it outside the city lines, perhaps in Weehawken.
Ask people who drive in and out of Hoboken for work if they like your idea. You may not escape their clutches alive.
Hoboken is overdeveloped, the sewers are smelling worse than ever and it's expanding all over town, but the worst of it now appears uptown where all the lovely new overdeveloped construction is now creating lovely blowback. Should be interesting the impact on some outdoor dining up there.
Central Park has a excellent model but it's not positioned in a parking trap and that's what we have in Hoboken unfortunately.
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Permalink Reply by Tony Soares on -
Not a bad idea in theory but...
We need to acquire land for parks in the southwest and northwest before we build a theater that will block skyline and hudson river views.
The citizens of Hoboken along with the FBW agreed in 1993 that we will never build any structures east of Sinatra drive in which our waterfront would be obscured.
We need a real Olympic sized outdoor pool and water park (Like Union City), 6 Acres of open space in the Southwest, Acquisition of Cognis uptown and completion of 1600 Park before we build a potential Rock and Rap Concert venue near our Soccer and Little League fields.
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