On January 27, The Economist ran a little story titled, “Things are going eerily well for Steven Fulop.” In discussing development, Steve tells the magazine, “Grittiness makes the city special. We don’t want to become a Main Street with chain stores.” Most would agree. Not to be outdone, On Valentine’s Day, the New York Times led its Real Estate section with this big headline: THE JERSEY CITY BANDWAGON. “Jersey City,” it proclaimed, “is the fastest growing metropolitan area in New Jersey. Why? It’s a short hop from New York, and at the moment, less expensive. And developers are pouring millions into new housing.”
The story called out our pedestrian mall as a sign that “hipsters have arrived.” The story, which occupied almost two full pages of newspaper real estate, featured pictures of the mall, art galleries, small businesses, charming neighborhoods, and young residents, thrilled with their new digs and vibrant communities.
The writer spotted a “bank of strollers,” noting that Jersey City is “family friendly,” and that we are reclaiming our schools after nearly three decades of state control.
Almost everything mentioned has been covered in this magazine, including Mana Contemporary, Canco Lofts, and the Powerhouse.
Developments at Newport, Grove Street, the Powerhouse, and Journal Square were all discussed against the backdrop of historic neighborhoods like Van Vorst Park, worried about maintaining its 19th century charm.
I was pleasantly surprised to find the Lafayette neighborhood covered in some detail. In this issue of J.C. Mag our “Hoods” section takes an in-depth look at this often overlooked community.
There’s lots more in this issue. Hip-hop makes an appearance twice. Steven Rodas writes about the homegrown group SreadyMinded, which is steadily making a name for itself. And our cover girls, 10-year-old twin DJs Amira and Kayla Wells, tell writer Lauren Barbagallo that hip-hop is among their favorite musical styles.
Twice we hear young chefs say that they would like to cook like their grandmothers. Jay Gitlin of Delenio’s and Michael Casalinho of Broa are making us and their grandmothers happy.
Spring is here, so check out our stories on the 6th Borough Market, swimming in the Hudson, and weddings on yachts.
Seeing yourself through the eyes of the Times can be an out-of-body experience. For those of us who have lived in and loved Jersey City for a long time, there was nothing new in the story. This kind of coverage can be a double-edged sword. On one hand, the attention is great. On the other, some folks might agree with Oona Jackson Moore, president of the Van Vorst Park Association, who told the Times, “I’m all for development, but I want to see a balance where you don’t see people being displaced.”
Had the Times asked my opinion, I would have said that it is all good. Jersey City has been around for 300 years, weathering storms and welcoming change.
Here’s to 300 more.
Our Digital Archive from 2000 – 2016
