Rent prices in the Hoboken area have skyrocketed within the past few years, with some neighborhoods charging tenants similar prices to those who live across the Hudson. Such affordability issues have led to a lawsuit surrounding rent control. The parties in this particular suit are The Jordan, a luxury apartment building located at 1200 Clinton Street in Hoboken; the City of Hoboken; and the City's Rent Leveling + Stabilization Board. Read on for details about the outcome of the lawsuit and what this means for tenants of The Jordan in Hoboken, New Jersey.

Updates as of 1/27

According to Hudson County View, The Jordan has refiled its lawsuit in Hudson County Superior Court. Unwilling to accept its status as a rent-controlled property, the re-filing took place just eight days after the federal judge's ruling and 24 hours after the release of Mayor Bhalla and 5th Ward Councilman Phil Cohen's statement celebrating the court's decision. 

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The lawsuit, which can be found in its entirety at this link, shared by Hudson County View, states that “The Board’s actions and the Resolution stripping The Jordan of its exemption under the Rent Control Exemption law is contrary to law because the decision was arbitrary, capricious and unreasonable as:

a. The Jordan met the only condition precedent to obtaining the exemption under the New Jersey Rent Control Exemption Law;
b. The Board may not limit or impair the Exemption that was properly claimed under the New Jersey rent Control Exemption Law; and
c. The Resolution stripping The Jordan’s exemption is preempted by the Rent Control Exemption Law.”

The Hoboken Girl has team has reached out to The Jordan and this piece will be updated with any further comments.

The Details as of 1/23

Living expenses in New Jersey are 13.9% higher than the national average, according to a report released by GoBankingRates. As many already know, this is no different in Hoboken, where affordability concerns have sparked a legal dispute over rent control between the local government and The Jordan, an apartment building located at 1200 Clinton Street.

On September 13th, 2023, the Rent Leveling + Stabilization Board in Hoboken decided that The Jordan was subject to rent control. This was because the building did not comply with the City of Hoboken’s Municipal Rent Control Ordinance, which among other things, states that tenants must receive sufficient notice that the property they're living in is exempt from rent control or rent leveling. Specifics regarding this ordinance can be found here.

In January 2024, LPF 1200 Clinton Equity, LLC, the owner of The Jordan, filed a lawsuit against the City and the Board contesting the Board’s decision. An Amended Complaint from the owner then followed in April 2024. The City of Hoboken and the board filed a motion to dismiss that complaint.

The issue was essentially left unresolved until January 14th, 2025, when United States District Judge for the District of New Jersey William J. Martini issued an order to dismiss the case, establishing that the property was, in fact, subject to rent control, as the Judge determined that the landlord failed to provide proper notice of the exemption to its tenants.

According to a statement released by the City of Hoboken, the outcome of the case "represents a milestone victory for Hoboken tenants and reinforces the City’s commitment to preserving housing affordability."

Hoboken residents can be assured that the City "will continue to enforce its rent control ordinance to protect the residents of The Jordan," Mayor Ravi S. Bhalla said in the statement. Mayor Bhalla also shared that the City will "continue to aggressively defend against corporate landlord attempts to gauge rents and displace families in our community."

With this rent control ordinance in place and an outcome such as this, Hoboken residents can be hopeful that the Mile Square City is moving toward greater affordability across the board.

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