the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Hackensack NJ, Bergen County is advancing a transformative project at 133 River St. in Hackensack, aimed at providing affordable housing for public service workers and modernizing the Hackensack Bus Terminal. This development replaces the former Bergen County probation building, now a vacant lot, and will revitalize one of New Jersey’s busiest transit hubs.
Addressing Housing Challenges for Public Service Workers
Recognizing the financial challenges faced by those starting careers in public service, Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco emphasized the project’s importance:
“This development will deliver housing to newly hired local public safety workers such as firefighters and police officers. It will also provide much-needed housing for veterans and individuals who might never have been able to afford living in this exciting city.”
The planned 15-story residential tower will feature 168 units, including studios and one- and two-bedroom apartments. These “workforce” rental units are designed for early-career professionals such as police officers, firefighters, social workers, nurses, teachers, and others in public service and medicine.
Special Provisions for Veterans
- 10 units reserved for veterans
- 2 units designated for disabled veterans
A Mixed-Use Vision for Community and Growth
The project also includes a five-story mixed-use section featuring:
- Two floors of office space for county use
- Two retail spaces at street level
- A health and wellness center
- A parking garage for employees, residents, and visitors, with potential public parking options
Amenities for residents will include:
- A rooftop terrace with outdoor dining, a putting green, a sun deck, and activity spaces
- Indoor facilities such as a golf simulator, coworking spaces, a library, and wellness areas
Temporary and Accessible Housing
County Administrator Thomas Duch explained the housing model:
“The goal is to give early-career professionals a year or two in affordable housing to strengthen their financial position before transitioning to market-rate housing.”
Residents will be selected through a lottery system and must meet specific eligibility requirements.
Revamped Hackensack Bus Terminal
A modernized Hackensack Bus Terminal will replace the current outdated facility. Key features include:
- A covered terminal with a waiting room, bathrooms, and a small area for prepared food and coffee
- Electric bus accommodations and designs to minimize bus idling
- Improved pedestrian and vehicle safety with a redesigned traffic pattern
“The days of waiting outside in freezing cold or boiling temperatures will be gone,” said Tedesco.
A Decade in the Making
This project has been years in the planning. The former probation building was condemned and torn down after Superstorm Sandy, and the city is now selling the existing bus terminal to the county as part of the redevelopment.
The area has seen significant development, with nearby projects such as the 696-unit Print House and the 389-unit Ivy and Green adding to Hackensack’s resurgence as a desirable residential and transit hub.
Timeline and Funding
- Construction start: Late 2025
- Estimated completion: 18 months to 2 years
- Funding: Bergen County Improvement Authority bonds, apartment rentals, and a long-term agreement with NJ Transit
A Boost for Hackensack
Albert Dib, Hackensack’s director of redevelopment, praised the project:
“It’s providing housing people are looking for at a cost they can afford, and the transit component will ensure downtown Hackensack remains a vital commuter hub.”
This redevelopment is poised to improve accessibility, create affordable housing opportunities, and enhance Hackensack’s appeal as a thriving community for professionals and families.
What do you think of Hackensack’s redevelopment efforts? Let us know in the comments!
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We thought that they were going to tear down the bus station in Ridgewood and rebuild it and who’s paying for that
Funny you should ask. I took the liberty of transferring the money out of your account this morning. For obvious reasons, I couldn’t wait for your permission.
Is this condo space or rental
Hackensack isn’t thinking about the citizens that’s live here’s for yrs only the new yorker to line there pocket , they are not doing anything
168 Units and only 12 for veterans. Something is wrong with that.
i’d like updates…
Oh yeah, I’ve always wanted to live in a bus terminal and I think that’s what the people who fought for our country were hoping for! What a disgrace! The town is overbearing as it is, and it’s borderlining Patterson crime levels not to mention the degenerates that come in and out daily, especially through that venue! Boy those politicos are greedy. I wonder how much they’re making off of this! But the terminal will be booming because there there’s no room for any cars to drive anywhere from north to south of that overfilled, overcrowded town with nothing in it. Main Street is a dump!
The county needs more office space? We need a Bergen County DOGE. Start with the ineffective, useless County Executive office – unless he agrees to FIX THE ROADS!!