Dear Editor:

I would like to take this time to applaud the recent announcement by Mayor Healy to legalize all “qualified” apartments in Jersey City that are now deemed illegal. Since it is a common fact that our city has more illegal apartments that we need to know about, to legalize these apartments would be boom to the city in a number of ways. Those apartments that are up to code according to the Jersey City Building Code would qualify to now become legal two, three, and four family homes will now be eligible under a city amnesty program to have the tax assessor inspect their properties along with the building department register and reassess these units to become legitimate apartments. This would trigger higher taxes which the city so desperately needs, makes the homeowner who otherwise would just go on and rent the illegal unit now become a legal two or three family house. If the illegal building that was a two family with an illegal unit now becomes a three family dwelling, this now becomes a multiple dwelling property which now must be inspected every five years by the State of New Jersey Department of Community Affairs the (NJ-DCA) which in fact makes that property a safer building and takes the burden off the city building department for such inspections again a savings to the city.

As far as the “density” issue that comes into question, or to many people living in a specific part of the city, it is already existing so the density issue is a moot point and would not increase the amount of people living in the city, they are already living here.

As far as the concern from a zoning point of view, most of Jersey City is zoned as a R-1 which means one and two family homes are permitted uses in these areas, these areas would then be changed to accommodate one through four family homes which consequently already exists in most of the city and all its wards, with the exception of Historical and special redevelopment areas. This long overdue balance of zoning would be a win, win situation for the city, raise revenue, and bring into compliance a long overdue change. I’ve been a real estate broker in Jersey City for 29 years and have touted this idea many years ago, I know that this idea will become law.

Very truly yours,

Albert J. Cupo

Broker for a better Jersey City