JCRegister

Did you wonder what happened at the corner of Stuyvesant Street and John F. Kennedy Boulevard couple of days ago? Here’s the answer: a building took an obvious “tilt” and was demolished before it could adversely affect its immediate neighbors.

A Jersey City resident and freelance writer – Joe Harkins – described vividly what happened, and he was kind enough to share with us his excellent article which was originally posted on JCList Forum:

March 2, 2008

The three story frame building at 2916 JF Kennedy Blvd took an obvious tilt to the south early today and appeared in imminent danger of collapse onto its shorter neighbors on each side, as well as out onto the boulevard itself. A one story law office is to the south side at 2914 and a one story liquor store is to the north.

As a result of the tilt, the building was immediately condemned. JC Police shut down the northbound lanes of traffic while the combined crews of the JC Incinerator Authority and a heavy equipment contractor, Nacerama Demolition, proceeded to take the building down one piece at a time.

But, before they could work, an emergency crew from Public Service removed electric lines to the affected property and shut off electricity to the immediately adjoining buildings.

The process of dismantling the building used a huge, insect-like “chomping” crane with a set of jaws that were extremely powerful, but delicately controlled by its operator. Complete sections of the building, starting at the top front, and working down and back into the deep property, were “bitten” off.

The power of the jaws was demonstrated when the entire cupola at the top of the building was removed virtually intact, lowered precisely into the bed of a waiting dump truck and then tenderly crushed flat by the closed jaws, with scarcely a few pieces of siding and wood falling onto the adjoining roofs. A similarly impressive series of controlled swipes removed a brick chimney a few courses at a time.

The building has been vacant for about two years or more. The Chinese restaurant and a Middle eastern convenience store that had flanked the central front door to the two upper floor apartments have been close for at least two years. Both had been shut down, and building vacated, by the Board of Health for a massive infestation of vermin and rodents.

In recent months someone has been attempting renovation on the building. When a front door was open, passersby could see men working with beams and concrete blocks. But if there had been permits for the work, they were never evident on the front of the building.

As the building came down a man and his wife, pointed out by neighbors as the owner of the building, calmly watched the building come apart. As the walls on the third floor were removed, exposing the rooms, hallways and closets, it was obvious the rooms and stairs had been freshly painted and new unpainted wood trim stood around a few doorways.

It’s likely that a more detailed report will appear in the Jersey Journal after they inquire into the ownership and permits from official sources. I don’t do that anymore.

Do you live near Stuyvesant Street? Is there any progress in the area? Is the north-bound lane of Kennedy boulevard still partially closed?

Thank you very much Joe for sharing your writeup! We hope to read more from you!

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