The Whitlock Cordage industrial complex once supplied rope to the nation, but is scheduled for demolition since its former owner, developer Harvey Shapiro, filed for bankruptcy.
The building, constructed in 1860, is the oldest industrial complex in the city.
Bankruptcy trustee Robert Pimenta said the demolition ruling was made by a bankruptcy judge in Newark last week.
“The judge heard from officials from the Jersey City Fire Department about the safety hazards of the property,” said Pimenta. “They were the only ones there to make any testimony at the hearing.”
The property, located in the Lafayette section of Jersey City, has been suffering from poor maintenance since it was purchased by Shapiro for redevelopment into a senior housing project, according to Jersey City Fire Department Director Gerald Cala. A blaze in early February at 160 Lafayette Ave. caused damage to one of the buildings in the complex. At the time, Cala described the fire site as “carrying a heavy fire load,” adding that the building was filled with rags and a large amount of bundled paper.
“The place was a horror,” Cala said at the time.
Former Whitlock property owner Shapiro had been cited for neglecting the buildings in the Lafayette section, according to Jersey City municipal prosecutor Joe Talafous, who stated Shapiro was arrested last June for failure to appear in court in answer to a citation for the violations. According to Talafous, fines on the neglected property came to approximately $1 million, which has been a spur to the bankruptcy trustee to move ahead with the demolition of the buildings on the property.
“Those fines are compounded daily,” said Pimenta.
Pimenta added that he has a contract with Housing Trust Group, headquartered in Maryland, to build an undisclosed project on the property. This would mean, according to Pimenta, the structures presently on Whitlock would have to come down.
“This was ordered by the judge last week,” said Pimenta.
Pimenta said there was still a considerable amount of time before demolition work at Whitlock would begin.
“Utility connections have to be turned off and procedures like that,” Pimenta stated. “So I am still open to other offers from people who would like to preserve the area.”
The Jersey City Landmarks Conservancy and the Lafayette Community Block Association are working with Councilmember Viola Richardson to preserve and rehabilitate the Whitlock Cordage property.
“We would like to see the property become housing,” said Rosalyn Brown, president of the Lafayette Community Block Association. “The Lafayette community is the oldest black community in Jersey City, populated by the families of Pullman porters on the trains that used to run in and out of the city.”
Brown would like to see the property developed in conjunction with the nearby Rev. Ercel F. Webb Park opposite Public School 22.
“We have put together a renovation plan for the park and it was approved by the city,” said Brown. “Right now, the project has been put out to bid.”
“Reviving the park and the Whitlock Cordage would be the first step to bringing back the neighborhood,” said Richardson. “The two properties could be made into a very useful site.”
Richardson agreed with Brown that the Whitlock Cordage property could be best be utilized as a housing project. Richardson said the city was making efforts to change the judge’s ruling on the demolition.
John Gomez, president of the Jersey City Landmarks Conservancy, said the historical and cultural loss to Jersey City from the demolition of Whitlock would be tremendous.
“Jersey City would lose an architecturally and historically significant location if the Whitlock Cordage were lost,” said Gomez. “A dangerous precedent would be established. If Lafayette’s most important landmark is allowed by residents and elected officials to be erased, then the door is suddenly open.”
Gomez believes the city has an opportunity to convert the site into a housing or business complex, which would also be a possible tourist location.
“The area could be enjoyed by all Lafayette and Jersey City residents,” added Gomez.