HOBOKEN — “Anything will help.”
The statement was Mayor Joey Crews’ response to city council member questions during the City of Hoboken’s monthly meeting concerning rental fees for the Community Center.
The council increased the rental fee to $250 in June 2024. A $100 deposit for cleaning also was approved.
The City of Hoboken is barely breaking even with that $350 fee to use the spacious facility on Chicago Avenue.
“We’ve added Wi-Fi and that cost is $100 a month,” said Mayor Crews. “The light bill was approximately $500. What we’re charging is very cheap.”
The building stays booked throughout the year, but the operational cost is the concern of the mayor.
“It’s a community center for our community to use and benefit our residents of Hoboken,” Crews said. “We’ve got to look at how to keep the cost down or we’ll have to go up on taxes for our residents to cover the cost.”
Discussion centered around raising rates while protecting the citizens of Hoboken.
“A lot of poeple from out of town are renting the building,” said Mayor Crews.
Councilman Kenny Jordan asked if raising the rental price to $300 would help.
“Anything will help,” replied the mayor.
Councilman Jimmy Ray suggested the rental fee of $250 remain for city residents while raising the price for those living outside the City of Hoboken.
“That would be a whole lot better,” said Ray. “Maybe keep it $250 for people living in the city, since it’s a city thing. People outside the city limits would pay the higher amount.”
Mayor Crews said those seeking to rent the facility from other towns likely would use city residents to rent the building.
“That would be their (out of towners) discount card,” said Crews.
Councilman Ray followed with a motion to keep the price at $250 for city residents and $325 for those outside the City of Hoboken.
“You would have to bring proof of your residency to get the $250 price,” said Councilman Jordan.
Mayor Crews then followed with raising the cleanup deposit from $100 to $150 for all rentals.
“The current $100 fee doesn’t cover the supplies and labor for cleaning,” Crews said, adding most renters don’t even bother with cleaning up forfeiting the $100 deposit.
Councilman Ray ammended his motion by adding raising the deposit for cleanup from $100 to $150 for every renter. His final motion was for the new prices to go in effect February 1, 2025.
Both motions were unanimously passed by council members.
