2010 Master Plan for West New York

Addendum D - 93 Conservation and Historic Preservation Hudson County has many environmentally sensitive areas which should be protected, such as endangered species habitats and wetlands. Technical assistance should be provided to local communities to protected these sensitive areas. Clean-up operations should be promoted through removal of regulatory and financial obstacles.

Energy conservation should be encouraged, and land use patterns that reduce reliance on automobile should be encouraged to reduce air pollution. Development that protects harbor view sheds and other visual resources (e.g. the “Palisades”) should be encouraged.

To preserve historic districts, places, and structures of historical significance, County’s historic districts should be used. Owners of buildings in such districts should be encouraged to preserve their façades through façade easements. Historic structures should also be considered for conversion to communitybased uses.

Demographic Profile According to the 2000 Census, which is used throughout the Demographic Profile section of the Hudson County Master Plan, the county had a population of 608,975. This represented a 10% increase over 1990, after decades of sustained population decline from 1930-1990. With a population density of 13,068 people per square mile, Hudson County was the most densely populated county in New Jersey, and the sixth most densely populated county in the United States (only counties in New York City and San Francisco are denser). The largest age cohort in Hudson County was 25-34, representing 19.6% of the total population. 11.4% were above the age of 65, a slight decline from 1990. The “baby boom group,” (ages 35-54 in 2000) demonstrated the largest rate of growth, increasing by 51.5% from 1990.

Hudson County has historically been a “magnet” for immigrants to the U.S., and that continues to be the case today. Nearly 72% of the county’s population “identif[ied] with a single ancestry or country of origin other than the United States.” Almost 10% of the population hailed from Puerto Rico, and 40% of the population identified as Hispanic (78.7% of West New York’s population identifies as Hispanic.) The county was 14.2% African-American, with the largest concentration of African-Americans in Jersey City (28.3%). The county had an even breakdown of men and women.

Land Use Plan Hudson County’s Land Use Plan was updated in 2001 for the first time since 1974. The purpose of the Land Use Plan was to “provide a comprehensive approach to address the variety of issues facing Hudson County from both a local and a regional perspective.”

Due to rising real estate values in Manhattan in the 1990’s and strong economic conditions, Hudson County experienced a resurgence of commercial and residential development after 1990. Much of this development was concentrated along the Hudson River. Waterfront commercial sites drew financial institutions from Manhattan and residential development drew new residents lured by views of Manhattan and proximity to New York City’s central business district.

Growth was expected to continue through 2010, with 90% of that growth expected to occur in West New York, Weehawken, Jersey City and Hoboken, each home to large development projects in 2001. There are several obstacles to continued development, however, including 545 contaminated “brownfield” sites and infrastructure that is now over-burdened. In addition, the Land Use Plan notes that “all plans for civic improvement rely on a flourishing economy”, a troubling remark given the current economic situation.