Various local groups are fighting over what should become of a triangular piece of property at the intersection of Second and Washington streets in downtown Jersey City.
The property is known as the “Powerhouse Triangle,” and nearby residents would like to see the 18,000 square-foot city-owned property transformed into park.
But the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey may want to use it as a site to relocate the substation that powers the PATH train system.
The Jersey City Redevelopment Agency has commissioned a study, which will be ready in six months, to determine the best location of the substation.
The substation is presently located both inside and outside the old Hudson and Manhattan Powerhouse, a historic building slated to be renovated and developed by developer David Cordish, who transformed part of Baltimore’s Inner Harbor.
But one of the conditions of the project going forward is that the substation has to be relocated.
Recently, residents of the Portofino, a condo complex on Second Street, sent more than a dozen letters to the Hudson Reporter in support of using the property for open space.
The letters all resembled each other and contained the following note: “The property at Second and Washington was designated to be a park for the community of Jersey City and we still believe that this is the best use. The Port Authority should not get involved in taking valuable open space from the community, and the city should be more responsible when suggesting a new location of the PATH transformers…”
In addition to the redevelopment of the old Powerhouse, the “Powerhouse Arts District” area of the city is also slated to include high rises by national builders Toll Brothers and New York investor Lloyd Goldman.
Robert Antonicello, the director of the Redevelopment Agency, said last week that there were no guarantees from the city that the land would be set aside for open space.
He said his agency is working with the Port Authority to find a site for the new substation.
“The property was never committed for park space, or open space,” Antonicello said. “We are studying all our options. That is not our first option or second option.”Wanting open space
David Weltz, president of the Portofino Homeowners Association (HOA) said the letter campaign began because of what happened at the Nov. 28 City Council meeting.
At that meeting, Councilman Steve Fulop, who represents the area, submitted resolution to place the property on the city’s Open Space Inventory, which would insure that it would be considered for development as a city park.
But before it could be voted upon, it was withdrawn from the agenda.
After hearing that it was withdrawn from the agenda, Weltz began to worry that the city would never consider the open space option.
“There was disappointment, as I expected the council to vote on something that was promised to us,” Weltz said. “But that meant I had work to do to rally people.” E-mails were sent to the City Council, Mayor Healy, Antonicello, the Port Authority, and Cordish, among others.
Weltz received a response from the Port Authority.
A letter from Michael B. Francois, director of development for the Port Authority, stated: “No decision has been made as to where the substation will be relocated, but we can assure you that we would not select a location that has been set aside, designated, or planned for open space.” Support from others
Councilman Fulop said last week the triangle once contained landfill that was cleaned up and designated to be developed as open space, which Fulop advocates.
“The reason for this is that it’s the only piece of open space located between Liberty State Park and Hoboken where there is no building on top of it,” Fulop said.
He said the e-mail campaign by Weltz and his fellow Portofino residents has prompted him to reintroduce the resolution to put the land onto the Open Space Inventory at the next council meeting on Jan. 9.
There’s also support for the park from outside the Powerhouse area in the form of John Gomez, the founder of the Jersey City Landmarks Conservancy, a historic preservation group. Gomez and his group first achieved prominence for leading the fight to save and preserve the Powerhouse from demolition back in 1999.
“I absolutely support those folks getting a park there, and as far as the Port Authority and the city are concerned, I have very little sympathy,” Gomez said. “They can put the transformers on top of the Port Authority’s headquarters on Park Avenue [in Manhattan] for all I care.” Keeping all options open
Antonicello believes that the reason the triangle is still being considered is that the city agreed to pay the Port Authority to relocate the substation.
Antonicello estimated that it would take the Port Authority 36 to 48 months to relocate the substation.
“[The Port Authority] wants to make sure they have an excellent location for the substation that works for them, and we want to make sure they have an excellent location,” Antonicello said. “We also want to make sure, at the end of the day, that the new location is something that the city can afford.”
Antonicello said the Redevelopment Agency and Port Authority have developed a relationship over the past 18 months that has made progress in the relocation process. He said the Port Authority going as far as to commit $2 million to the stabilization of the Powerhouse building. This calls for temporary roofing, boarding up exposed window spaces, and some selected demolition. Also, the agency will retain the services of a firm that specializes in historic preservation.
Antonicello expects the renovation to start in the spring.
On the issue of the property as a park, he said that Fulop and the residents of the Portofino have presented a narrow picture of the situation.
“What they fail to realize is that there will be a 31,000 square-foot plaza as part of the Toll Brothers project, a sculpture garden as part of [the Lloyd Goldman] project, you have the [Hudson River] Waterfront Walkway, and the [Redevelopment Agency] plans to build a 30-acre marina on Second Street,” Antonicello said.
He also cites support for his position from Mayor Healy in a letter posted on the Redevelopment Agency’s website (thejcra.org) that asserts the development of the Powerhouse Arts District depends on the “city’s ability” to relocate the substation to move forward the renovation of the Powerhouse. Negotiation for substation
He said the city also wants to keep the Powerhouse Triangle as an option because negotiations with the owner of a different possible site, the Butler Building, have been “very frustrating.”
According to Antonicello, in order for the Port Authority to relocate the substation into the Butler Building (also known as the Morgan Industrial Center), 40,000 square feet needs to be set aside within the building. But Butler Building owner Bob Lehrer in return wanted more density for his proposed project of a 40- to 50-story high rise to be built on top of the Butler Building that would include condos and rental apartments as well as a hotel.
Antonicello said he would prefer that Lehrer not go ahead with that high rise, as it would disrupt any future plans to relocate the substation, and would damage a historic building. Therefore, that is likely to be ruled out as an option, unless the two can negotiate.
Antonicello said the Redevelopment Agency would work with Lehrer to build his project on a vacant lot that he owns across the street from the Butler Building instead. The city’s zoning in the area gives Lehrer more space on the lot to build any future project that adds value to the land.
“[The city], providing him with 100 vertical feet on his vacant land in exchange for the substation site, was extremely generous, and it amounts to almost $20 million for a piece of property that is worth significantly under $2 million,” Antonicello said. “The city has said we’re willing to talk with him, but if sacrificing the Butler Building is part of that discussion, then there’s really not much to talk about.” Comments on the story can be sent to rkaulessar@hudsonreporter.com.