Powerhouse Arts District, Jersey City
Encyclopedia
The Powerhouse Arts District is a historic warehouse district in Downtown
Jersey City, New Jersey
, United States
, which takes its name from the unused generating station Hudson and Manhattan Railroad Powerhouse
currently undergoing an extensive stabilization effort. Since the millennium the section is called WALDO, an acronym for Work And Live District Overlay, an 11 block section of historic warehouses, some of which have been redeveloped, and is still used on maps and in local parlance. Once part of the no longer extant Horseshoe Section
, the neighborhood's informal borders are Newport
to the north, Exchange Place to the east, Paulus Hook to the south and Harsimus Cove to the west.
The landmarked Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company Warehouse
is at Provost St. between 1st and Bay Sts.40°43′16"N 74°2′25"W The Pavonia-Newport
, Harsimus Cove
, and Harborside
stations of the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail
, and the Grove Street (PATH station)
are nearby
WALDO was the name of a planning strategy adopted into Jersey City zoning in 2002 per a proposal written by the Urban Land Institute
, and was deleted from the zoning on January 24, 2007. As the name implies, the purpose was to most effectively re-use an eight block area of industrial buildings, and transition them to include more residences, without zoning them a purely residential use. Currently, most zoning codes do not allow industrial and residential uses to co-exist on the same lot. The district also aimed at retaining the high bulk, low rise industrial buildings which were threatened by development of high rise towers in the area.
The plan indicated that roughly half of the apartments built in the existing industrial buildings in the eight block neighborhood must go to artists. Under the district plan, two industrial buildings were renovated into loft apartments, and one new building, Waldo Lofts, was constructed. During the district's lifespan, there were several attempts to bring in more housing and studios for artists, to make the area more pedestrian friendly, and to bring in art schools or museums. There were also been proposals to turn the Powerhouse into residences, shops, galleries, and museum space.
Most of the proposals for retail and gallery space never materialized or found tenants, and as a result the eight blocks of industrial buildings remain much the same as in 2002 when the district began. As well, the city approved spot zoning development of a large development on First Street which deviated from the district plan. Spot zoning
is proposed for several other blocks. Most proposed developments are higher rise structures, and the majority of capital investment in the district favors high rise development. These factors led to WALDO being removed from the zoning ordinance.
to "The Island" a remnant outcropping of Bergen Hill
, which in turn overlooks the Waldo Yards, originally used by the Pennsylvania Railroad
Jersey City Branch, and now by Port Authority Trans Hudson mass transit trains.
Waldo Avenue is named for Samuel Waldo who built and owned three attached brownstone homes located on the NW corner of Magnolia and Waldo Avenues. Today, the three structures still stand.
Downtown Jersey City
Downtown is an area of Jersey City, New Jersey that includes the Historic Downtown and the Waterfront. Historic Downtown can be further broken down into the neighborhoods of Harsimus Cove, The Village, Van Vorst Park, Grove Street, Hamilton Park and Boyle Plaza...
Jersey City, New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, which takes its name from the unused generating station Hudson and Manhattan Railroad Powerhouse
Hudson and Manhattan Railroad Powerhouse
The Hudson and Manhattan Railroad Powerhouse, also known as the Jersey City Powerhouse in Jersey City, New Jersey was built in 1908. The powerhouse made possible the subway system between New Jersey and New York for the Hudson and Manhattan Railroad . The powerhouse was closed in 1929 and used as...
currently undergoing an extensive stabilization effort. Since the millennium the section is called WALDO, an acronym for Work And Live District Overlay, an 11 block section of historic warehouses, some of which have been redeveloped, and is still used on maps and in local parlance. Once part of the no longer extant Horseshoe Section
Horseshoe, Jersey City
The Horseshoe section of Jersey City, New Jersey was the second ward, and was the home of the immigrants, tenements, and taverns. The Republican-controlled Legislature gerrymandered the district in 1871 to concentrate and isolate Democratic, and mostly Catholic, votes, thus preserving Republican...
, the neighborhood's informal borders are Newport
Newport, Jersey City
Newport is a master-planned mixed use community in Jersey City, New Jersey, consisting of retail, residential, office, and entertainment facilities. Located on Jersey City's Hudson River waterfront, the new development is located opposite the World Financial Center in lower Manhattan. ...
to the north, Exchange Place to the east, Paulus Hook to the south and Harsimus Cove to the west.
The landmarked Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company Warehouse
Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company Warehouse
The Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company Warehouse was a warehouse of the A&P in Jersey City, New Jersey. The building was built by Turner Construction Company in 1900. The nine story reinforced concrete structure is now a mix of residential rental units and a storage facility. The building is...
is at Provost St. between 1st and Bay Sts.40°43′16"N 74°2′25"W The Pavonia-Newport
Pavonia-Newport (HBLR station)
Pavonia-Newport is a station on the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail located at Mall Drive East in Jersey City, New Jersey.The station opened on November 18, 2000. Northbound service from the station is available to Hoboken Terminal and Tonnelle Avenue, in North Bergen. Southbound service is available to...
, Harsimus Cove
Harsimus Cove (HBLR station)
Harsimus Cove is a station on the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail located at Metro Plaza Drive in the Harsimus Section of Downtown Jersey City, New Jersey....
, and Harborside
Harborside Financial Center (HBLR station)
Harborside Financial Center is a station on the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail located East of Greene Street, between Morgan and Steuben Streets, in Exchange Place section of Jersey City, New Jersey and named for the adjacent Harborside Financial Center....
stations of the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail
Hudson-Bergen Light Rail
The Hudson–Bergen Light Rail is a light rail system in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. Owned by New Jersey Transit and operated by the 21st Century Rail Corporation, it connects the communities of Bayonne, Jersey City, Hoboken, Weehawken, Union City , and North Bergen.The system began...
, and the Grove Street (PATH station)
Grove Street (PATH station)
Grove Street is a PATH station at the junction of Grove Street, Newark Avenue and Railroad Avenue in Jersey City, New Jersey. Opened on September 6, 1910 as Grove-Henderson Streets station, it is situated in the heart of Jersey City's historic downtown district...
are nearby
WALDO and PAD
Urban Land Institute
The Urban Land Institute, or ULI, is a non-profit research and education organization with offices in Washington, D.C., Hong Kong, and London...
, and was deleted from the zoning on January 24, 2007. As the name implies, the purpose was to most effectively re-use an eight block area of industrial buildings, and transition them to include more residences, without zoning them a purely residential use. Currently, most zoning codes do not allow industrial and residential uses to co-exist on the same lot. The district also aimed at retaining the high bulk, low rise industrial buildings which were threatened by development of high rise towers in the area.
The plan indicated that roughly half of the apartments built in the existing industrial buildings in the eight block neighborhood must go to artists. Under the district plan, two industrial buildings were renovated into loft apartments, and one new building, Waldo Lofts, was constructed. During the district's lifespan, there were several attempts to bring in more housing and studios for artists, to make the area more pedestrian friendly, and to bring in art schools or museums. There were also been proposals to turn the Powerhouse into residences, shops, galleries, and museum space.
Most of the proposals for retail and gallery space never materialized or found tenants, and as a result the eight blocks of industrial buildings remain much the same as in 2002 when the district began. As well, the city approved spot zoning development of a large development on First Street which deviated from the district plan. Spot zoning
Spot zoning
Spot zoning is the application of zoning to a specific parcel of land within a larger zoned area when the rezoning is usually at odds with a city's master plan and current zoning restrictions. The rezoning may be for the benefit of a particular owner, and at odds with pre-existing adjacent...
is proposed for several other blocks. Most proposed developments are higher rise structures, and the majority of capital investment in the district favors high rise development. These factors led to WALDO being removed from the zoning ordinance.
Waldo Yards
An older "Waldo" not this section of Jersey City has existed since long before the zoning strategy. This is Waldo Avenue, which runs south from Newark AvenueNewark Plank Road
The Newark Plank Road was a major 19th century artery between New Jersey's Hudson Waterfront and the burgeoning city of Newark, further inland across the New Jersey Meadows. As its name suggests, a plank road was constructed of wooden planks laid side-to-side on a roadbed. A charter to construct...
to "The Island" a remnant outcropping of Bergen Hill
Bergen Hill
Bergen Hill refers to the lower Hudson Palisades in New Jersey, USA, where they emerge on Bergen Neck, which in turn is the peninsula between the Hackensack and Hudson River, and their bays. In Hudson County, it reaches a height of 260 feet.-Rail:...
, which in turn overlooks the Waldo Yards, originally used by the Pennsylvania Railroad
Pennsylvania Railroad
The Pennsylvania Railroad was an American Class I railroad, founded in 1846. Commonly referred to as the "Pennsy", the PRR was headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
Jersey City Branch, and now by Port Authority Trans Hudson mass transit trains.
See also
- Hudson and Manhattan Railroad PowerhouseHudson and Manhattan Railroad PowerhouseThe Hudson and Manhattan Railroad Powerhouse, also known as the Jersey City Powerhouse in Jersey City, New Jersey was built in 1908. The powerhouse made possible the subway system between New Jersey and New York for the Hudson and Manhattan Railroad . The powerhouse was closed in 1929 and used as...
- List of neighborhoods in Jersey City, New Jersey
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Hudson County, New Jersey
Waldo Avenue is named for Samuel Waldo who built and owned three attached brownstone homes located on the NW corner of Magnolia and Waldo Avenues. Today, the three structures still stand.