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Council approves $6,500 appraisal for Midtown municipal garage amid hospital redevelopment talks
Summary
Hoboken City Council approved a $6,500 contract to appraise the Midtown municipal garage property at 328 Clinton St., a step supporters said is needed to inform potential negotiations involving hospital redevelopment; opponents argued the appraisal is premature.
The Hoboken City Council voted to award a $6,500 contract to Attio Group Inc. to prepare an appraisal for the municipal garage property located at 328 Clinton Street (Block 52, Lot 1801), a parcel discussed as part of potential hospital redevelopment talks.
Supporters said an appraisal is a modest, necessary step to arm the city with information before entering negotiations. “Getting information from an appraisal is not a bad thing,” Councilman Russo said during debate, arguing the appraisal would let the city “go in eyes wide open” to discussions about the site and the region’s hospital capacity.
Opponents said the city is proceeding too quickly without sufficient details or binding commitments from hospital representatives and urged more coordination with county and state officials. At least one council member said the city should not seek valuations until a formal study or clearer written terms exist and voted against the measure.
Council members said the appraisal is one small, low-cost item in a far larger discussion that touches on the municipal garage’s structural condition, previously authorized bonding for garage repairs and multiple ongoing conversations with potential hospital partners. The council’s debate referenced past efforts to preserve and stabilize local hospital services and the desire to avoid closing an essential facility.
The contract amount and property identifiers were included in the meeting item. Council members asked that the appraisal be used only to inform negotiations and emphasized that no sale or transfer decision had been made.
Votes: Recorded votes on the appraisal show a split. The resolution passed with recorded “aye” votes from Cohen, Jabbour (recorded as yes), Quintero, Ramos, Russo and Doyle; Fisher and Zano recorded “no.” The administration will proceed to obtain the appraisal under the professional services contract.
