Comment EI-16864
Received or sent (printed as 4/5/2009)
The 6th Street Embankment in Jersey City was built and used by railroads at a time in this country when there was little awareness or concern about environmental impact of chemicals and materials. The rail line hauled quite a lot of freight from all over the country into New York City and to Jersey City factories. It is not plausible, to me, that the railbed would be contaminant free, so the removal of the Embankment mass would entail a substantial environmental challenge which I would not want to leave in the hands of a developer. The removal of the landmarked structure would also change the water level of this part of the city which is part of a flood zone, according to maps. Open space on top attracts migratory birds and butterflies. The stone walls add to the historical nature of the district. As a homeowner here, I have been required to conform to the standards of a historic district. If a developer can knock down a historic structure, I should be able to change my 1860 rowhouse into a Home Depot for reasons of hardship. If I can't afford my mortgage on the house I may need to make the structure a commercial venture to avoid hardship". There is no logic in this argument but enough about this topic. Please begin the discussion of what to do with the embankment by first doing a full environmental study of the structure. Then let's talk about the history and the impractical idea of removing it and using the space for buildings. Thank you, Werner Bargsten 236 5th Street Jersey City, N.J. 07302"
Submitted by: Werner Bargsten
The Board publishes this comment in its environmental-comment table for this proceeding. It is quoted here as printed; nothing is inferred from it, and it states the commenter's own position in their own words, not this record's.
Permanent address docketyard.org/d/AB-167/sub/1189X/comment/EI-16864 · back to the docket sheet