Despite pleas from Conrail for a postponement on the vote, the Jersey City Council voted Wednesday night 7-1 for approval of landmark status for the Sixth Street railway embankments. Conrail, the present owner of the 153-year-old train track supports, appealed to the council at the Tuesday evening caucus meeting to postpone for two weeks any vote on the historic status of the structures.
“We want to realize full market value on the possible sale of the property,” said Robert Ryan, director of real estate for Conrail on Wednesday. “Other Conrail properties in Jersey City have been sold and have become tax-producing properties for the city.”
John Fiorilla, legal representative for Conrail, had argued to the council in the past that the possibility of historical landmark status for the embankments had discouraged many developers from considering the land for purchase. Fiorilla admitted to the council that there were still developers interested in the property, but restated that the designation of landmark status may adversely affect the price of the embankments if sold to developers.
In addition, Fiorilla said Conrail needed two weeks to review the bids from developers it had received.
In attendance at the Wednesday night meeting was Maureen Crowley, president of the Embankments Preservation Coalition, along with members of that organization and other neighborhood organizations.
“It is in the public interest to give historical landmark status to the Embankment,” said Crowley, adding that Conrail was showing up at the “eleventh hour to muddy the water.” “Developers may loose sight of what is in the interest of the community. We want to see trees and green space on the embankments and a streetscape below it.”
The embankments, in the Newport section of town, were used by the Pennsylvania Railroad line. Trains used to bring freight over that line to the now vanished Harsimus Rail Yards for shipment to New York City and other locations.
The majority of the council shared in the criticism of Conrail. Council President L. Harvey Smith said Conrail had done little to maintain their property along Sixth Street and was uncommunicative with area neighborhood groups.
“I don’t think Conrail has had a dialogue with Jersey City that could be described as positive,” said Smith.
In voting in favor of landmark status, Councilman Mariano Vega stressed that the Sixth Street Embankments served as a thread that linked the Downtown Historical District and the Harsimus Cove Historical District.
“We have no idea what kind of housing would go there,” said Vega. “The thread could be broken.”
Speaking to Conrail through Fiorilla, Vega added, “My advice is to cut your losses.”
Council members E. Junior Maldonado and Jerramiah Healy stated they had first been in favor of the granting the two-week extension Conrail had asked for, but changed their minds after the strong show of support for the landmark status.
“At the caucus meeting, I was still flexible about giving Conrail the extension,” said Maldonado, adding that he had since changed his mind.
Councilman Steve Lipski was the only vote against granting historical landmarks status to the Sixth Street Enbankments. Lipski said that Conrail should be given a chance to review developers’ bids and come to a compromise with the community. Councilperson Mary Donnelly was unable to attend the Wednesday night council meeting.
“Of course, we are very pleased with the ruling of the council,” said Steve Gucciardo, vice president of the Hamilton Park Neighborhood Association and an active member of the Embankments Preservation Coalition. “This is a step in the right direction.”
The Sixth Street Embankments were originally part of the Pennsylvania Railroad. According to Fiorilla, Conrail acquired the Embankment property in 1976. The rail lines in the area of Sixth Street were used sporadically until the 1980s, when the use of the line was discontinued and the train trellises taken down.
Against war
In other matters, the council also voted 7-1 in favor of a resolution opposing any possible war with Iraq. Jersey City resident David Cline, a member of the Hudson County Coalition for Peace and Justice, urged the council to pass the resolution.
“There will be a large price to be paid in lives in money if there is a war with Iraq,” said Cline. “Jersey City should be the first city in New Jersey to pass a resolution in opposition to a war with Iraq.”
The mayor’s office announced Thursday that Jersey City was slated by the state to receive only $2 million in Distressed Cities aid. According to Stan Eason, director of communications for the mayor’s office, the city had budgeted for $10 million in aid from the state of New Jersey.
“This was the same amount we had gotten last year,” Eason said.
This year’s proposed Jersey City budget is $324 million.
Eason added the council had received notice of the reduction in aid from the state in form of a letter sent to Council President L. Harvey Smith earlier in the week. The state is currently suffering from its own budget shortfall, which has caused a reduction in a number of state programs.
“We’re hoping to work with our legislators in Trenton to revisit the amount Jersey City is getting,” Eason added.
“We don’t want to do layoffs,’ said Eason. “The city does not want to raise taxes, so layoffs may happen.”
Eason stated the city would look for alternate routes to making up the shortfall in state aid, among them refinancing debt.