Hudson & Manhattan Railroad Powerhouse

The powerhouse for the Hudson & Manhattan Railroad (the "Hudson Tunnels" subway line that is now the Port Authority Trans-Husdon [PATH] train) supplied power to the systems tunnel lines, trolleys, stations and terminals on both sides of the Hudson River. The ten-story massive building held 46,000 square feet, with a footprint of about 200 by 200 feet. Five-story tall windows in the dark red brick walls were framed with steel. Designed by John Oakman, the Romanesque Revival style structure's brick walls are 28 inches thick. The concrete foundation pillars were set on bedrock 35 to 45 feet below tidewater level and took 7,800 cubic yards of concrete. The engineering firm of L.B. Stilwell designed the electrical generators and other machinery plus the structural steel work. One innovation was the placement of the coal bins near the roof, supplied by conveyor belts leading from the entrance where train cars would offload the coal. Human hands didn't need to shovel the coal, which was fed into the furnaces automatically via gravity. Turbo-generator turbines used water from the Hudson River. The building used 4,000 tons of steel to build; together with its machinery, the powerhouse cost a total of $4 million. On opening day, February 25th 1908, President Theodore Roosevelt sent a signal from the White House to energize the powerhouse.

The powerhouse was closed in 1929 for unknown reasons; the subway line was electrified by power purchased from outside sources and sent to the system's sub-stations. Hudson & Manhattan Railroad used the building for storage of railroad equipment; the company went bankrupt in 1962. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey assumed responsibility for the train system, but the former powerhouse fell into disrepair and was heading toward being demolished. The Hudson & Manhattan Powerhouse was named in 2000 to the list of the ten most endangered historic properties in New Jersey by Preservation New Jersey.

The building's preservation is part of the Master Plan for Jersey City. The Jersey City Redevelopment Agency (JCRA) and the Port Authority stabilized the building, which had been left open to the elements and was deteriorating. The debris-filled interior needed to be cleared so that a condition assessment could be done, and to remove hazardous and structurally unstable architectural parts. The tall windows have been boarded up to protect the building; the bright yellow covering is easy to see on a clear day, even from the Manhattan side of the river. A new temporary roof was installed and plans for repair of brick and terra cotta tile trim were made.

It is hoped that the former powerhouse can be rehabilitated to become a local arts center/ destination entertainment center for the "Powerhouse Arts District" which surrounds it. Plans were announced in 2014 for a $179 million retail and commercial complex within the powerhouse, and a 40-story residential tower. Cordish Companies of Baltimore has yet to begin the renovation, but have completed a similar project for a former power plant on the Baltimore waterfront. Disputes over unpaid taxes stalled the project for a number of years; Jersey City Redevelopment Agency announced plans to acquire the building from the Port Authority in 2018 and use the $1.3 million in funds already paid to the city for its renovation by the Port Authority. An electrical substation behind the powerhouse needs to be relocated first, to a vacant lot nearby, on the opposite side of the light rail tracks; most of the new substation will be underground, with the Port Authority controlling the development rights above.

The rapidly developing neighborhood is slated to contain green space, performance areas, and pedestrian-friendly attractions. One other historic building in the district has been renovated already - the former Great Atlantic & Pacific Warehouse (also a Clio entry); new residential high-rise buildings have sprung up in recent years, including a Trump property next door.

Fry, Chris. What's the Deal with the Powerhouse? Revitalization Plans Putter Along, Jersey Digs. April 18th 2016. Accessed March 6th 2021. https://jerseydigs.com/whats-deal-powerhouse-revitalization-plans-putter-along/.

Fry, Chris. Jersey City Set to Officially Acquire Powerhouse from Port Authority, Jersey Digs. November 9th 2018. Accessed March 6th 2021. https://jerseydigs.com/jersey-city-to-buy-powerhouse-from-port-authority/.

Gomez, John K. NRHP nomination of the Hudson & Manhattan Railroad Powerhouse. National Register. Washington, DC. National Park Service, 1999.

Jersey City Landmarks Conservancy. Hudson & Manhattan Railroad Powerhouse, Causes. Accessed February 28th 2021. https://jclandmarks.org/project/powerhouse/.

McDonald, Terrence T. Historic Jersey City Smokestacks to be Removed, NJ.com. March 26th 2013, updated January 27th 2019. Accessed March 6th 2021. https://www.nj.com/hudson/2013/03/historic_jersey_city_smokestac.html.

Preservation New Jersey. Hudson and Manhattan Railroad Powerhouse, Listings. January 1st 2021. Accessed February 28th 2021. https://www.preservationnj.org/listings/hudson-and-manhattan-railroad-powerhouse/.

Strunsky, Steve. Jersey City's Washington Street Powerhouse may become New Retail, Entertainment Space, NJ.com. September 30th 2011, updated March 31st 2019. Accessed March 6th 2021. https://www.nj.com/news/2011/09/jersey_citys_washington_street.html.