Council advances Hoboken Housing Authority redevelopment plan; residents press for legally enforceable right to return

The Hoboken City Council on Wednesday voted to advance an amendment to the Hoboken Housing Authority redevelopment plan that adds property to the authority's plan and identifies sites for new senior housing, while residents and tenant advocates pressed the council for legally enforceable protections to prevent displacement.

Why it matters: The redevelopment plan reshapes how the housing authority will replace aging public housing and add new units. Residents of public housing, tenant advocates and council members raised questions about protections (including a legal, enforceable "right to return"), the timeline for rehousing, and how tax and sale proceeds from properties will be used.

What the council heard: Director-level staff and council members said the property at issue is being sold to the housing authority for redevelopment and is not being given away; council staff said the sale will generate city revenue and that once the authority builds new units those structures will pay property taxes going…