Powerhouse in the News
There has been a lot of attention on the condition of Jersey City’s Hudson & Manhattan Railroad Powerhouse tower over the past day. To put things in perspective check out our 1st photo from today via our Instagram. Then compare it to the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Google Street View from 2025, 2018 and 2012 when the stabilization straps were applied.
What you see today is not much different from 2012. Two of the straps detached about 8 years ago in 2017/2018, not recently. You’ll see cracks that have been there since 2012 that have not changed much. The straps were not meant to be a long term solution, yet they continue to deliver. Maintenance of the tower stabilization straps is overdue and should be done in preparation for a positive chapter starting in 2027 when the PATH infrastructure is vacated from the site!
JCLC sees the Powerhouse as a model preservation project and financial asset to Jersey City. Instead of following a pattern of selling off what remains of Jersey City’s real estate assets to bridge gaps, we have an opportunity to leverage this historic asset into a long term revenue stream.
The Powerhouse will become a destination, standing out from the towers around that try to differentiate in a sea of similarity. It’s large enough to host a diverse platform of offerings and experiences while affording open space and public access. You cannot duplicate the value and brand equity of this site!
In 2025 we learned that the critical piece to moving this project along was in sight: the removal of the PATH infrastructure that is scheduled to be complete by the end of 2026. In preparation we advanced our Save the Powerhouse campaign that includes:
Forming the Save the Powerhouse Committee;
Meeting with resources that have experience with similar projects including the Powerhouse Arts site in Gowanus, Brooklyn;
Creating a platform for community engagement;
Connecting with hundreds of attendees through our Save the Powerhouse Walking Tours;
Requests to meet with the JCRA and speaking before the JCRA board to share our support, resources and concerns;
Building a relationship with Jersey City’s new administration.
The JCLC intends to continue supporting Jersey City to see this vision through!
— The Jersey City Landmarks Conservancy
