The Jersey City Redevelopment Agency celebrated its 60th anniversary at a dinner on Thursday at Puccini’s Restaurant in Jersey City.
The Jersey City Redevelopment Agency was created in 1949 as an autonomous Agency to eliminate blight, to create opportunities and to attract residential, commercial and industrial real estate projects. The agency’s current executive director is Robert Antonicello.
Among the projects the agency is involved in is the stabilization of the Jersey City Powerhouse and construction of a parking garage near the Jersey City Medical Center.
Being honored by the agency at the dinner for their involvement in its history is Journal Square developer Joseph Panepinto; former Jersey City Mayor Dr. Paul Jordan; the Colgate Palmolive Company; the late Thomas Stanton, founder of the First Jersey Bank, the late Paul Hanlon, a longtime local attorney; K. Hovnanian Companies and the Salem Lafayette Project.
One of the highlights of the dinner was an anniversary cake created by Hoboken’s “Cake Boss,” Buddy Valastro.
Among the noted guests were former Congressman Frank Guarini, Mayor Jerramiah Healy and City Clerk Robert Byrne.
Proceeds from the dinner are going to the “One City” fund, a private nonprofit charity created by the JCRA that helps provide food to struggling Jersey City families.
As for the next 60 years, Antonicello says the agency is looking at creating a redevelopment master plan looks ahead at the next 30 years. – RK