Can an area near a former railroad power station be transformed into a vibrant retail and residential community similar to Baltimore’s Inner Harbor?
The City Council approved a resolution 9-0 at its Wednesday meeting that is the first step toward the long-awaited development of the old Hudson and Manhattan Powerhouse building on Washington Blvd. in downtown Jersey City.
The resolution calls for local agencies and the city to split the initial $600,000 cost of relocating a smaller power substation located directly in front of the Powerhouse, and stabilizing the old Powerhouse that has been abandoned for nearly 80 years.
The relocation of the smaller substation, which provides power to the PATH subway system, would then allow the city to acquire full ownership of the main Powerhouse building, which the city and the Port Authority currently co-own.
The Powerhouse building would be restored and converted to a shopping and entertainment complex, similar to what was done with the old Baltimore Power Station on Baltimore’s inner harbor.
But the arrangement, which has been referred to as a “land swap” in the press, is complicated.Where to move substation?
During the Wednesday council meeting, city Corporation Counsel Bill Matsikoudis said if the Port Authority and the city cannot agree on a relocation site, then the substation will have to stay in its current location.
Then, there is the issue of stabilizing the main Powerhouse building, which could take 36 to 48 months, according to Robert Antonicello, executive director of the JCRA.
However, city officials are willing to take on the complicated project for the possible payoff: they believe it could take five years to transform the Powerhouse into its new purpose. History of the Powerhouse
The old Hudson and Manhattan Powerhouse building on Washington Blvd. once provided electricity for the massive Hudson Manhattan railroad (the precursor to the PATH system).
Construction of the original Powerhouse building started in 1906 and was completed in 1908. It’s a steel-framed, 200,000-square-foot edifice with 28-inch-thick brick walls.
But it only operated until 1929 and was abandoned for many years, although the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey still used it as a power station.
There have been efforts since 1999 by the Jersey City Landmarks Conservancy to preserve the building.
In July 2006, the JCRA designated Baltimore-based developer David Kordish as the developer of the Powerhouse building. Kordish developed the old Baltimore Power Plant on the waterfront into the ESPN Zone Restaurant and a Barnes & Noble bookstore.
Kordish will develop the Powerhouse after relocation of the substation and stabilization of the main Powerhouse take place. The residential component
The Powerhouse is also considered the anchor for the Powerhouse Arts District (PAD), an 11-block area that stretches east to west from Marin to Washington boulevards and from north to south from Second to Bay streets. The PAD would have low-rise residential buildings including 10 percent affordable housing for artists, but would also be a restaurant, cultural and entertainment center for Downtown Jersey City.
John Gomez, founder of the Jersey City Landmarks Conservancy, attended Wednesday’s council meeting and said after the meeting that the council’s resolution about the relocation was a “great step in the right direction.” Creating a new Powerhouse
Antonicello made a PowerPoint presentation at the council caucus on Monday.
There, he showed plans for the relocation and renderings of what the Powerhouse will look like when developed. He explained that the Powerhouse would be one part of a larger redevelopment effort that would connect the waterfront to the rest of downtown Jersey City.
Some on the council posed questions on the cost of remediation work that would need to done, the feasibility of stabilizing the Powerhouse building, and the issues of relocation. Pro and con
After the meeting, Antonicello said, “This is an iconic landmark that if restored to its former glory can be a marquee destination for Jersey City.”
But not so enthusiastic was Bob Lehrer, owner of the old Butler Brothers warehouse at 350 Warren St., one of the locations where the city may want to move the power station.
“[The city] has had one meeting with me,” Lehrer said, “and they have not made me an offer for the building.” Comments on the story can be sent to rkaulessar@hudsonreporter.com.