A City at the Crossroads

It's the turn of the millenium, Jersey City is in the midst of a massive growth spurt, being called the hottest real-estate market in the Northeast. People are talking about Jersey City taking it's place as the world class city it deserves to be. It's a period of cultural and economic growth, struggle, and transformation.

Certainly part of that process is a unique and exciting cultural environment rapidly approaching critical mass. For almost two decades it's been driven in large part by the dense, vibrant community of artists, musicians, craftspeople, and art-related small businesses that has centered in and around the old Lorillard Building at 111 First Street. Often called the "Heart of the Arts" in Jersey City, the building occupies an entire city block in the historic warehouse district, recently redesignated the Powerhouse Arts District, after the magnificent old Edison Powerhouse which marks its eastern boundary.

Now the the Powerhouse Arts District and the artists of 111 are under attack, and the community of Jersey City is being put to the test.

But then, he's a billionaire...

Suffice it to say that the legislation establishing the Powerhouse Arts District has the support of virtually the entire arts community of Jersey City, the Landmarks Conservancy, numerous civic and neighborhood organizations, and was passed unanimously by the Mayor and City Council to the applause of a chamberful of cheering sign-waving citizenry.

The artists of 111 have consistently been in the forefront of the effort to establish the P.A.D. As it's most vocal advocates they have often borne the brunt of Goldman's three-pronged offensive against

The artists quickly became targets of a campaign of harassment and intimidation conducted by New Gold Equities and BLDG Management Co., Goldman's management companies.

Rents were suddenly doubled and trippled, the unconcionably inflated rents were paid only to be returned, eviction notices were issued en masse. Threats alternated with enticements. Litigation is ongoing.

Full page ads appeared in the local press touting Goldman's vision of "The Future of the Powerhouse Arts District" --which somehow included a luxury hi-rise in place of the arts center-- while his lawyers were in court using every means at their disposal to litigate it out of existence.

Jersey City Police officers now patrol the arts center in full uniform, with badges and side-arms, as a private security force on Goldman's payroll. They have entered private studios and ejected members of the press from the building, enforcing the policies of BLDG Management Co. rather than the law.

Goldman's attorneys have sought to bully the City Council with threats of endless expensive litigation designed to forestall implementation of the Powerhouse Arts District Redevelopment Plan.

As Goldman’s building at 110 First Street was being designated a historical landmark, (thus precluding its redevelopment as a luxury hi-rise) his demolition contractor acquired a permit to allow removal of an allegedly unsafe section of parapet along the roof. In less then a month of around the clock demolition they reduced the entire building to a vacant lot.

Using a similar pretext they erected scaffolding in order to “repair” the historic chimney that had towered over the 111 building for over a century. An imposing structure and prominent symbol of Jersey City’s industrial past, it had acquired a new significance in recent decades as an icon of the arts center. It only took a few days to completely destroy it and cart away the bricks.

Both these acts of cultural vandalism were perpetrated in open defiance of the Mayor and members of the City Council who intervened personally to try to save both structures.

Goldman's demolition crews are currently doing as much damage as they can to the art center's infrastructure while presumeably making repairs for the "safety" of the artists Goldman is trying so desperately to evict.

Two employees of BLDG Management Co. ( their names have not yet been released by police) were arrested for obstuction of justice in connection with the ongoing investigation of a recent aggravated arson on Nov. 7 on the 5th floor of the arts center.

Two car -bashings on the night of Nov.13 and a car theft on the night of Dec.9 all targetted cars belonging to artist/residents parked at the building. All occured while the building was under 24-hour surveillance by the off-duty Jersey City Police officers on Goldman's payroll .

New Gold Equities is known to have compiled extensive files of personal information on each of the 111 tenants which include licence-plate numbers.

The 111 ArtsFirst Foundation

The artists are taking the recent arson and car-bashings also under investigation in their stride. The fundraising and publicity campaign for The 111ArtsFirst Foundation, a 501c3 not for profit organization, is under way and there is much to be done.

The redevelopment of the arts center at 111 First is an urgent priority and obviously something Jersey City dare not leave in the hands of an out-of-town high roller like Mr. Goldman, who has no committment to the community of Jersey City, and has demonstrated time and again his disregard and willingness to trash this city's valuable historic and cultural resources to line his own very deep pockets.

The redevelopment proposal submitted to the City Planning Board by the Executive Board of the Tenants Council at 111 First Street has many things to recommend it: human scale, community services, educational programs, a unique and home-grown community of world class artists, craftspeople, musicians, performers, small businesses, restaurants, a historic ambience respectful of this city's past and the creative, entrepreneurial human resources to fuel and build its future.

Also it's legal.