Welcome to the News blog of the NLTA website!

 

logo_pic200.gifThe NLTA has been hard at work ensuring that the redevelopment of the Neumann site will include continued work space for artists and entrepreneurs who have helped make Hoboken the vibrant arts community it is today.

We hope you will join us in making this vision a reality. Please stop by regularly to stay up to speed on our activities and updates on the latest developments.

We look forward to your support so that Neumann Leathers can continue to be a thriving incubator of arts and small industry in Hoboken.





Neumann Leathers Tenants to Present Objections to Developer's Plan
Friday, 13 March 2009

For immediate release

Tenants Group Also Releases its Own Hybrid Site Plan, Which Would:

  • Restore Historic Buildings
  • Preserve 200+ Jobs in Arts & Industry Zone
  • Create New Open Public Space, and
  • Generate New Development Opportunities

Hoboken, N.J. - February 9, 2009 - Once again, a national real estate developer threatens to demolish a sturdy, still-viable icon of Hoboken's industrial past and replace it with a pair of formulaic condo buildings resembling dozens of others in its portfolio. The developer, Trammell Crow, has a contract to purchase the Neumann Leathers factory - currently nearly fully leased to a variety of thriving small businesses employing more than 200 skilled workers, professionals and artisans, along with artists and musicians - but it needs approval for a major use variance from Hoboken's Zoning Board of Adjustment to exempt the site from its current industrial zoning for residential use, along with lot coverage and density variances. 
Read more...
 
SAVE THIS HISTORIC BUILDING!
Wednesday, 11 February 2009

SAVE THIS HISTORIC BUILDING!


On Thursday, March 5th, 2009  the Hoboken Zoning Board will
“review and take action on” an application by Trammel Crow Residential (TCR) who

buildingdrawing.jpg

 

PLANS TO COMPLETELY DEMOLISH

the Historic Neumann Leathers Building at 300 Observer Highway,
and scatter tenants of the last Viable Arts and Industry Building in Hoboken


Currently there are 30 businesses employing roughly 200 people which occupy three quarters of the space at Neumann Leathers. Fifty or so artists and musicians rent the remaining quarter. The complex is Hoboken’s oldest factory building, dating back to the 1870s, and stands as a reminder of the City’s Industrial Past. It is highlighted in the city’s revised Master Plan as a site for Historic Preservation, and with a major facelift could be a jewel at our southern portal. It is a link to our history and at the same time provides an element of diversity in an otherwise monotonous march of condo development.

The Neumann Leathers Tenants Association (NLTA) is crafting a Better Plan (to be presented soon) that would save most of the existing buildings and their current uses, and create a unique new public space with restaurants, cafes, shops, art gallery, a grocery store, and more in an inner courtyard or "piazza”.  New development, either residential or commercial would be built primarily in the existing parking lot.

 
Please Join the NLTA and the Friends of Neumann
to Oppose TCR’s Destructive Plan!
 

March 5th Zoning Board Meeting

 7pm at City Hall

   
Please check back regularly for updates. Visit the NEWS blog for the latest info.

 
 
 
Letter to the Editor
Monday, 22 December 2008

The following letter was sent the to the Hoboken Reporter: 

 

To the Editor:

It was disconcerting to read (Reporter, 11-9-08) that yetanother of Hoboken’s old factory buildings – Wonder Bread at Eighth  and Willow - is in danger of closingshop for its arts and industry tenants for residential conversion.  If approved by the Zoning Board, itwill be the latest victim of the development tsunami - the monotonous march ofcondos - which has virtually cleaned these uses out of town.  At least in this case the plan is tosave the building.  As thearchitect, Dean Marchetto, says, “a good architect should always try to save abuilding when it can be saved”.

Unfortunately, Marchetto does not apply the same logic tothe historic Neumann Leather complex for which he has been hired by itsdeveloper as its architect.  Thereason, he says, is that Neumann has “contamination issues.”  The developer, Trammel CroweResidential (TCR), contracted Langan Engineering & Environmental Servicesto carry out a study which it claims supports the position that the complex ofNeumann buildings cannot be saved. The truth is that the Langan Report falls far short of this and servesanother purpose.

Nineteen samples of concrete and wood were collected bydrilling holes in the floors and walls of various buildings, and the pulverizedmaterial was removed and sampled for various metals and other chemicals.  Like almost any building, never mind anold former industrial building, contaminants were found, including low-leveltraces of mercury. However, when pressed in cross examination, Langan’s expertwitness conceded that there was no imminent hazard either to workers in thebuilding or to the immediate neighbors. When asked to compare Neumann to the infamous Grand St. General Electric“mercury” building (which did need demolishing) he agreed there was “nocomparison.”

Without testing air samples it is impossible to truly assessthe meaning of any of  thistestimony.  In fact, Langan’sreport is more notable for what it doesn’t conclude than for what it does.  Enough data are collected to raise “concern”,but not enough to be conclusive. At this point the Langan report represents merely a scare tactic, not adefensible scientific argument. 

There will undoubtedly be remediation measures needed incertain areas.  Much has been madeof the fact that leather was once tanned here.  In fact, these activities were confined to a small area, andwhat’s more, nothing in the expert testimony had any tannery-specificreference. Many Old tanneries have been rehabbed. The contamination underportions of the buildings can readily be addressed without tearing them down. A“hotspot” in one location doesn’t mean you have to tear down the wholecomplex.  Unless, of course, thatis your intent going into the process. 

Dean Marchetto should stick to being a good architect andleave propaganda to the non-professionals.

 

Tom Newman, Neumann Leather Tenants Association 201-963-9108

 
Hoboken Artists Studio Tour
Wednesday, 22 October 2008

Success! The 27th annual Hoboken Studio tour drew between 250 and 300 people to Neumann Leathers including Hoboken resident Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ). Thanks go to the artists who opened and to everyone who helped, especially Mary Ann Farley, Jen Fanning, Sheilah Scully and musician Karen Duffy, a new friend of Neumann who spent the day guiding visitors and handing out our info about the Oct. 28 Zoning Board meeting. Neumann and NLTA made a lot of new friends.
 

     Robert MenendezRobert MenendezRobert Menendez

 
 
Photography by Jaron Rabman
 
Maxwells Musical Benefit Show
Wednesday, 15 October 2008

Well, anyone who was there knows...

the Maxwells Musical Benefit Show was a great SUCCESS!!! 

mafandtim.jpg

There was great art, a rousing speech by Tom, excellent performances, and a LOT of money raised. Estimated total is a little over $2000, which which go the the NLTA legal defense fund. Thanks to all to came out to show support and rock the house!

Check out some pics from the event: 

Photos by Mary Ann Farley

Photos by Mo Losantos

 
"Made in Hoboken" at City Hall
Tuesday, 23 September 2008

"Made in Hoboken" a showcase of our industrial members at Hoboken City Hall.


The NLTA will have an ongoing display in the cases on the second floor of Hoboken City Hall. The series is entitled "Made in Hoboken" and will spotlight a different company or artisan working in the Neumann Leathers Building and will rotate on an aproximately monthly basis. The first installation is currently up and features Radii Inc.  - one of the nations foremost scaled architecture studios.

Hoboken's City Hall is located at 94 Washington St., and open to the public via the Main Entrance Mon.-Fri. 9-5 (security sign-in at the front door is required). After hours you can enter through the lower level entrance on Newark St., Mon.-Fri. until 9:30 pm.

 
Exhibit B Art Opening and Musical Benefit Show
Monday, 22 September 2008


NLTA_maxwells2_back-300.jpgHoboken's legendary music venue, Maxwell's (1039 Washington St., Hoboken, NJ, 201-653-1703), will play host in September to the largest fundraiser yet for the Neumann Leathers Tenants Association (NLTA), in an effort to save the city's last large arts complex from being demolished.

Click to download e-card (376kb PDF) 

 

The NLTA is comprised of over 100 artists, artisans and light industry, all located in the Neumann Leathers complex, which is currently under threat of complete demolition. As part of its efforts to save the site, the NLTA will soon present an alternative plan which saves most of the buildings and includes new construction in a feasible redevelopment.

 

 

  • "Exhibit B" is an art opening of Neumann Leathers Artists at Maxwell's, Sept. 29 at 7 pm, which will feature abstract works. The show will run through October 17.
  • A Musical Benefit performance at Maxwell's, also oSept. 29th. Performers will include Matt Madly, Zilker, Five Dollar Priest, Outpost, and  Yo La Tengo Doors open at 7 p.m. and tickets are $25. 

 

NLTA_maxwells2_front-300.jpg

Neumann artists who will be showing include:  

Mauro Altimura, Serena Bocchino, Jose Cifuentes, Santiago Cohen, Hiedi Curko, Bill Doherty, Jennifer Fanning, Mary Ann Farley, Danielle Frankenthal, Greg Letson, Roberta Melzl, John Patterson, Deborah Pohl, Mary Elizabeth Pratt, Jason Young.

 

Free draft beer and wine will be provided at the opening reception

from 7 pm to 8 pm.

 

Funds raised will support the NLTA's legal effort to beat back the current redevelopment plan.

 

Advance tickets for the Musical Benefit Show 

are available at: 

  • Tunes, 225 Washington St., Hoboken, NJ 07030, (201) 653-3355
  • Other Music , 15 East 4th St, , NYC, (212) 477-8150 
  • Ticketweb.com, 866-468-7619 

 

Download Neumann Artists at Maxwells e-card (pdf 376 kb)

 
Hoboken's Neumann Leathers Teams with Maxwell's in Fundraiser Drive
Friday, 05 September 2008

NLTA_maxwells1-back.jpgHoboken's legendary music venue, Maxwell's (1039 Washington St., Hoboken, NJ, 201-653-1703), will play host in September to the largest fundraiser yet for the Neumann Leathers Tenants Association (NLTA), in an effort to save the city's last large arts complex from being demolished.

Click to download e-card (376kb PDF) 

with full event details 

and distribute!

The NLTA is comprised of over 100 artists, artisans and light industry, all located in the Neumann Leathers complex, which is currently under threat of complete demolition. As part of its efforts to save the site, the NLTA will soon present an alternative plan which saves most of the buildings and includes new construction in a feasible redevelopment.

 

Read more...
 
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Neumann Leathers Tenants Association
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