Hudson and Manhattan Railroad Powerhouse

Hudson and Manhattan Railroad Powerhouse
Powerhouse
Powerhouse
Powerhouse
Location60-84 Bay Street, Jersey City, New Jersey
Coordinates40°43′14″N 74°2′10″W / 40.72056°N 74.03611°W / 40.72056; -74.03611
Area1.8 acres (0.73 ha)
Built1908
ArchitectJohn Oakman
Architectural styleLate 19th And 20th Century Revivals
NRHP reference No.01001256[1]
NJRHP No.1570[2]
Added to NRHPNovember 23, 2001

The Hudson and Manhattan Railroad Powerhouse (also known as the Jersey City Powerhouse) is located in Jersey City, New Jersey, United States. Built in 1908, the powerhouse made possible the subway system between New Jersey and New York for the Hudson and Manhattan Railroad (which became PATH in 1962). It was built under the leadership of William Gibbs McAdoo, president of the railroad. The powerhouse was closed in 1929 and used as a storage place for railroad equipment. In the 1990s, the building was cited by Preservation New Jersey as one of the state's ten most endangered historic sites. The powerhouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places on November 23, 2001, for its significance in architecture, engineering, and transportation.[3][4]

It is located near the Harborside Financial Center and Harsimus Cove on the Hudson River waterfront in an area undergoing much redevelopment. By the 21st century, the powerhouse was outdated, and the site was prone to flooding.[5] Efforts to stabilize the powerhouse from further deterioration began in July 2009 and continued through 2010. In 2011, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey agreed to transfer its 55% ownership of the building to its co-owner, Jersey City, in exchange for a nearby lot where they would build an underground electric sub-station.[6] It was determined that the iconic smokestacks could not be saved, leading to their removal.[7]

The Jersey City government finalized its agreement to acquire the building in 2018 after settling a four-year legal dispute.[8][9] Work on a new substation, replacing the old H&M Powerhouse's functions, began in 2023.[5] In 2026, a neighboring section of Greene Street was closed after cracks were detected in the walls.[10][11] Although the street was later reopened, temporary straps holding the building together were found to have cracked.[12]

See also

References

  1. ^ "National Register Information System – (#01001256)". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. November 2, 2013.
  2. ^ "New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places – Hudson County" (PDF). New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection - Historic Preservation Office. July 15, 2022. p. 10.
  3. ^ Gomez, John K. (December 1999). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Hudson and Manhattan Railroad Powerhouse". National Park Service. With accompanying 21 photos
  4. ^ Karnoutsos, Carmela (2002). "Hudson & Manhattan Railroad Powerhouse". New Jersey City University. Retrieved November 28, 2008.
  5. ^ a b Fry, Chris (March 24, 2023). "Port Authority Begins Construction on Jersey City Powerhouse Project". Jersey Digs. Retrieved February 13, 2026.
  6. ^ Strunsky, Steve (September 30, 2011). "Jersey City's Washington Street Powerhouse may become new retail, entertainment space". The Star-Ledger. Retrieved December 29, 2011.
  7. ^ McDonald, Terrence T. (March 26, 2013). "Historic Jersey City smokestacks to be removed". NJ.com. Retrieved November 21, 2017.
  8. ^ Fry, Chris (November 9, 2018). "Jersey City Set to Officially Acquire Powerhouse from Port Authority". Jersey Digs. Retrieved February 13, 2026.
  9. ^ McDonald, Terrence T. (March 14, 2018). "Jersey City, Port Authority settle dispute over taxes". nj. Retrieved February 13, 2026.
  10. ^ "Greene Street Partially Closed Due to Unstable Historic Powerhouse". Jersey City Times. February 5, 2026. Retrieved February 13, 2026.
  11. ^ Fernandes, Nicolas (February 5, 2026). "Historic railroad powerhouse is at risk of collapse, leading to road closure in this N.J. city". nj. Retrieved February 13, 2026.
  12. ^ Fry, Chris (February 12, 2026). "Historic Jersey City Powerhouse Declared "Unstable Structure"". Jersey Digs. Retrieved February 13, 2026.
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