When artists at 111 First St. see a memo posted up around the building, they already know to start shaking.
For many artists, it seems like a memo from management is a sign that they are going to be inconvenienced. This was the case on Nov. 21, when a set of “rules and regulations” was distributed throughout the building that list the hours the building will be open. Up until now, artists have paid their rent for unlimited access to the building.
Citing security reasons, the memo declared that the building would be closed each weekday evening at 10 p.m. and re-open the following day at 6 a.m. On Saturdays, the building will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and on Sundays it will be closed. The policy will go into effect on Dec. 10, according to the memo. “Any individual found in the building after Dec. 10, after the building is closed to the public, will be trespassing and therefore subject to arrest,” it states.
The regulations also apply to the commercial tenants who are not artists.
“It’s a harassment method,” said Eric Goldring, a six-year tenant. “It seems to be a precursor to wage a war of attrition on the tenants.” He added that the policy prevents artists from conducting business as usual. “Artists are also small businessmen,” he said. Because many artists have daytime jobs, the night is the only chance they have to work on projects and exhibit their work for potential buyers. “Whether you’re practicing fine arts or are running an arts-related business, this is restricting business.”
The WALDO (Work-and-Live District Overlay) ordinance was passed in April, guaranteeing that buildings within the designating zone would be split evenly between residential tenants and studio space for artists. Although a few buildings fall into this zone, many artists point out that 111 First St. is the only one to house a substantial number of artists. The exact number of artists is not known, but people believe that more than 100 artists work or live there.
Because the building was once a factory, it does not meet the necessary code requirements to allow people to reside there. However, it has been a well-known fact for years that many artists actually use the address as their residence as well their work space.
Since the original WALDO ordinance was passed, the owners of 111 First St. have sued the city to have it repealed so that they can rent the space to more non-artists. The lawsuit is still pending. Being in the downtown area so close to the waterfront, 111 First St. is prime Jersey City real estate. However, the WALDO ordinance prohibits the owner of the building from developing the property.
According to William Rodwell, a tenant who has curated many shows in the building, space is presently leased there for $6.50 per square foot.
After a woman was assaulted in the building a few months ago, tenants claim that the management company has been trying to root out certain people there that they have deemed a nuisance. The tenant initially charged with the assault was not indicted.
“If there are objectionable people in the building,” Rodwell said, “we think it would be more beneficial to focus on these particular alleged people then to make it an inconvenience for everyone in the building.”
But while most artists seem to agree that a small percentage of tenants are disruptive, they are afraid that the management company, Devon Management, is using this as a way to push an anti-WALDO agenda.
For one thing, management has not renewed leases when they expire, keeping the tenants on a month-to-month lease. Representatives from Devon Management did not return phone calls from the Jersey City Reporter.
“Many of the artists work 9 a.m.-to-5 p.m. jobs to support their artistic careers,” Simon Fulford, a four-year resident at the building, told the City Council at a meeting on Wednesday. He spoke on behalf of the artists in the building, and many attended the meeting for support. Fulford said the limited access would impede the creative process and stunt the spirit of WALDO.
Alex Booth, the city’s corporate counsel, said that he received the memo and it is being reviewed by the City’s Law Department. “It’s caused concern in the administration,” Booth said.