Canal Crossing, Jersey City

Remediation of soils with high chromium toxicity at PPG site as seen from Garfield Avenue HBLR station
Site of proposed Caven Point Avenue station on HBLR
Site of Berry Lane Park north of West Side Branch

Canal Crossing is a New Urbanism project on the eastern side of Jersey City, New Jersey between Jackson Hill in Greenville/Bergen-Lafayette and Liberty State Park. The approximately 111 acre area, previously designated for industrial and distribution uses has been re-zoned for transit-oriented residential and commercial use and the construction of a neighborhood characterized as a sustainable community. The name is inspired by the Morris Canal, which once traversed the district in a general north & south alignment.[1][2][3] The brownfield site must first undergo remediation of toxic waste, much of it left by PPG Industries[4][5][6][7][8] The redevelopment plans call for 7,000 housing units,[8] mainly "mid-rise" buildings (with heights limited to five stories),[9] and a greenway along the former canal, directly south of the 17-acre Berry Lane Park. [10][11][12]

Two branches of the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail (HBLR) system create the northern and eastern borders of Canal Crossing. A new station at Caven Point Avenue is proposed on the line between Bayonne and Hoboken Terminal along its eastern perimeter between current stations [1] at Richard Street and Liberty State Park. The triangular shape area is bounded by Garfield Avenue on the west, and is accessible from the Newark Bay Extension of the New Jersey Turnpike at its southern tip.[13]

In October 2010, the city received notification of a $2.3 million TIGER grant for continued work on the project.[8][14][15] The funding was jeopardized by potential cuts being made in the House of Representatives,[16] but was later allocated.[17] A synopsis of the grant stated:

Planning and design efforts will address modifications to infrastructure, subdivision of properties, zoning changes, and connections to the light rail stop and bike paths at Canal Crossing, a 111-acre redevelopment site in Jersey City surrounded by predominately minority households with high unemployment and poverty rates. Revitalization of this area has been hampered by outdated infrastructure, large tracts of contaminated former industrial lands, and a road system that fails to sufficiently link up with the local regional rail network. The project focus will be to create a residential, mixed-use, transit-oriented development with access to open space amenities in a community with a significant low-income population. The process will also develop a formal legal framework to ensure that redevelopment is equitable.[18]

See also

References

40°42′24″N 74°04′07″W / 40.7068°N 74.0685°WCoordinates: 40°42′24″N 74°04′07″W / 40.7068°N 74.0685°W

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Proposed Draft Canal Crossing Redevelopment Plan". Jersey City Redevelopment Agency. August 25, 2008. Retrieved 2011-04-03.
  2. ↑ "Canal Crossing". www.jerseycitynj.gov. Retrieved 2011-04-03.
  3. ↑ Proposed Canal Crossing Redevelopment Plan
  4. ↑ McDonald, Terrence T. (March 6, 2011), "More than 50,000 tons of soil removed from chromium site in Jersey City", The Jersey Journal
  5. ↑ Navarro, Miyera (April 5, 2011), "Better Cleanup Planned at Former Chrome Plant", The New York Times, retrieved 2011-04-06
  6. ↑ Frohling, John B. (April 15, 2009). "Morris Canal Associates/Proposed Settlement Agreement Between PPG and the City of Jersey City". www.state.nj.us/Frohling Assoc, LLC.
  7. ↑ Murray, Brian T. (June 12, 2009), "N.J. delays decision on setting stricter limits on carcinogen chromium", The Star-Ledger
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Arrue, Karina L. (October 21, 2010), "Jersey City is only New Jersey recipient of $2.3 million in federal grant money to fund planning for 7,000-unit development on 111-acre wasteland currently being cleaned of toxins", Jersey Journal, retrieved 2011-04-03
  9. ↑ Morgan, Earl (January 20, 2009). "5-story limit kept for Canal Crossing". The Jersey Journal. Retrieved 2011-12-07.
  10. ↑ Clark, Amy Sara (January 28, 2009), "Jersey City Council passes Morris Canal Redevelopment Plan amendment", Jersey Journal
  11. ↑ http://www.dresdnerrobin.com/berrylanepark/proj_over.html
  12. ↑ http://www.jerseycityindependent.com/2012/08/21/contaminated-land-in-ward-f-transforming-into-a-green-oasis-berry-lane-park/
  13. ↑ Canal Crossing maps
  14. ↑ "HUD and DOT award $2.3 million to create sustainable livable community in Jersey City". Department of Housing and Urban Development. Retrieved 2011-04-04.
  15. ↑ Kaulessar, Ricardo (October 20, 2010), "HUD official comes to Jersey city to announce major funding", Hudson Reporter
  16. ↑ "Lautenberg: Republican cuts may hurt Secaucus rail bridge, Jersey City 111-acre redevelopment, Hudson Co. traffic improvements", Hudson Reporter, Feb 25, 2011, retrieved 2011-04-03
  17. ↑ Whiton, Jon (Mar 10, 2011). "Federal money for Jersey City projects is allocated despite GOP attempts to keep the money". www.jerseycityindependent.com. Retrieved 2011-04-03.
  18. ↑ "TIGER II Planning Grant Recipients with a Bicycle or Pedestrian Component". League of American Bicylists. Retrieved 2011-04-05.

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