A hulking industrial structure in the heart of Downtown Jersey City could finally be redeveloped after years of dormancy as the city seeks plans to revitalize the H&M Powerhouse.
For those uninitiated, the Powerhouse itself is a big part of Jersey City’s history. The brick facility opened in 1908 and served as a coal- and steam-powered energy source for the newly opened Hudson Tunnels, which eventually became the PATH system, connecting New Jersey and New York City by train for the first time.
A lawsuit by former Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop led to a 2018 settlement agreement with the Port Authority, which required the authority to convey the entire Powerhouse property to the Jersey City Redevelopment Agency (JCRA) after constructing a new substation on a nearby lot.
After years of work, Jersey City is set to officially acquire the block-long Powerhouse property after the Port Authority finishes building its substation. The project broke ground in 2023 and is in its final construction phases.
The Powerhouse is admittedly in rough shape. The structure was declared “unstable” earlier this year after visible structural cracks developed where none had been prevalent before.
However, the JCRA hopes to change that reality through a Request for Proposals (RFP) that will determine the future of the Powerhouse site. The agency is seeking formal plans from developers for the property, hoping to preserve the existing building.
Other goals highlighted in the RFP include maximizing the site’s potential and benefiting the surrounding area. The JCRA will consider all plans where a potential developer would acquire the Powerhouse by either sale or ground lease under a redevelopment agreement, with an eye towards minimizing extensions.
“While the Agency prefers proposals that do not expand development beyond the historic footprint of the Powerhouse, it will consider proposals that include additional development of the Properties to the extent respondents can demonstrate such development is necessary to accomplish preservation of the building,” the RPF states.
The JCRA also states that it will consider any plans that require amendments to the Powerhouse Arts District Redevelopment Plan. The deadline to submit any questions potential developers have about the site is October 27, while full bids for the RFP are due December 3.
Proposals for the Powerhouse property can be submitted in person, by mail, or via e-mail. All proposals must include a non-refundable submission fee of $1,500 to be paid at the time of submission. A date when a redeveloper could be chosen for the powerhouse is still “to be determined,” according to the RFP.
