New structural cracks have emerged at a portion of the Powerhouse property in Jersey City, which has seen several attempts from multiple mayoral administrations to save the building. Photo by Jersey Digs.
An iconic but troubled landmark just two blocks from the Hudson River has fallen into such disrepair that several roads were closed around the former Hudson & Manhattan Railroad Powerhouse over the problems.
Recently, the hulking industrial property at the corner of Greene and Bay Street developed visible structural cracks that had previously not been prevalent. A spokesperson for Jersey City said that the damage was believed to be caused by vibrations from the nearby light rail, which has long operated beneath the structure.
In response to the issue, a contractor installed vertical stabilization straps along the exterior to secure the building. But some of these straps quickly appeared to be loosening, creating potentially unsafe conditions amid the coldest, snowiest winter Jersey City has seen in years.
The Powerhouse was still standing tall in this summer 2025 shot. Photo by Chris Fry/Jersey Digs.
As a precaution, Greene Street was shut down at Bay Street and was designated a potential collapse zone. All southbound traffic was rerouted onto Bay Street at the time, although the stretch has since been re-opened.
The Powerhouse itself is a big part of Jersey City’s history, first opening in 1908 and serving as a coal and steam-powered energy source for the newly opened Hudson Tunnels. That revolutionary subway line, which eventually became the PATH, connected New Jersey and New York City by train for the first time.
Jersey City is set to officially acquire the block-long Powerhouse property after the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey finishes building a substation on a nearby lot. The project broke ground in 2023 and remains under construction.
The work being undertaken by the Port Authority will update an existing substation located just west and directly behind the historic powerhouse. Under the settlement agreement signed in 2018, the Port Authority will convey the entire Powerhouse property to the Jersey City Redevelopment Agency (JCRA) upon completion of the new facility.
What exactly could come of the Powerhouse itself when Jersey City acquires it is unclear. No formal proposals for the structure have emerged, going back many years, and the continued decay of the building has led many to question whether it can be salvaged.
Nonetheless, the city and Port Authority entered into a Future Revenue Agreement as part of the settlement that would require a 50/50 split of any revenue generated from the future redevelopment of the Powerhouse.
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Editor’s note: This article was changed from an earlier version to update information about road closures near the Powerhouse building.