May 26. Happy New Year to everybody. I think this is the last day he can say that. So, I'm just getting it in under the radar. Uh Larry David would argue at that point, but he's not here. So, it's uh time is 6:34. Thank you. Uh, please be advised that in accordance with the open public meetings
act, the notice of the time, date, and place of this regularly scheduled meeting of the Jersey City Historic Preservation Commission has been sent to the Bergen Record and Ellis Baselito on Thursday, January 8th, 2026. The same notice has been sent to the city clerk
for posting on the bulletin board outside the city clerk's office in city hall and on the Jersey City website. I have proof of this notice uh in evidence. If we can mark this as B1. >> Thank you. And we will move on to a roll call
attendance. >> Commissioner Gucciardo >> Commissioner Sanamp >> here. >> Commissioner Gunther >> here. >> Commissioner Song is absent. Uh, Commissioner Gordon,
>> present. >> Commissioner Edgecom, >> present. >> Commissioner Kay >> here. >> Commissioner Kbach >> here. >> Uh, Commissioner Sakong, Blazak, and Vice Chair Gera are all absent. And then Chair Cronin
>> here. So, we have one, two, three, four, five. We have eight commissioners present this evening. Uh, five affirmative votes are required for certificate of appropriateness. And then next up on the agenda is the approval of minutes uh from the November
20 uh November 17th, 2025 meeting. Are there any questions or corrections to these minutes? Staff hears no questions or corrections and recommends a motion to approve the minutes as submitted. Motion second.
>> Commissioner Gutiardo. I >> Commissioner Sankamp. >> I >> Commissioner Gunther. >> I comm uh Commissioner Gordon. >> I >> Commissioner Edgecom >> I. >> Commissioner Kay >> I. >> Commissioner Kobach
>> I. >> And Chair Cronin >> I. >> There are eight in favor. No nays, no abstensions. Uh the motion to approve the November 17th, 2025 HPC meetings is approved. And then we also have the December 15th, 2025 HPC meeting minutes.
Are there any questions or corrections to those minutes? >> Okay. Staff recommends a motion to approve the minutes as submitted. >> Motion. >> Second. >> Commissioner Samp.
>> Commissioner Kunther. I >> Commissioner Gordon >> I >> Commissioner Gutiardo >> I >> Commissioner Edcom >> I >> Commissioner K >> I >> Commissioner Kbach >> I >> and Chair Cronin >> I >> there are eight in favor no nays and no
abstensions. The minutes from the December 15th 2025 HPC meetings are approved for correspondence. Uh all copies of correspondents and all application materials are linked on the agenda through their application number. And then for announce announcements, uh
staff has three announcements at this time. Uh first, case H24-0251515 Jersey A sweet 1. um as well as uh B-25-0166 300 Central A and B-25-1851 uh 507 summit. All of those applications
have carried to the February 9th, 2026 regular HPC meeting. And then on to public comment. If there are any members of the public who would like to speak regarding matters of historic preservation that are not listed on tonight's agenda, please approach the public comment microphone.
Again, this is for matters that are not on tonight's agenda. Staff sees no members of the public and recommends a motion to open and close public comment. >> Motion. >> Second. >> All in favor? Hi. Hi. >> Hi.
>> Hi. >> Okay. Uh Dan, if you'd like to call the first case. >> Okay. Our first case is H-25 0147. Uh Steven Joseph Esquire, applicant on behalf of 82 Sussex LLC, owner 77 Grant
Street, aka 82 Sussex. and they are here for a certificate of appropriateness for the proposed for the proposed construction of a new fourstory twounit residential building and associated site work in the Paulus Hook Historic District. And this is carried from our
December uh 15th meeting 2025. >> Good evening everyone. Um happy new year even if it is the last day to say that. uh Michael Higgins of Castano Quigley Chrammy on behalf of the applicant uh rather than Stephen this evening. Just
to recap real quickly before the architect gets into it, this is a new construction project at 82 Sussex Street. Um it's entirely as of right and fully compliant with the height and setback requirements. This is a continuation uh hearing. At the last
meeting, we heard some comments from the commission regarding the mass of the building. Um while the original design was fully compliant, we did go back and revise the plans to step back the top story uh which we thought would minimize
uh visibility of some of the more contemporary building elements. Um I think honestly this is a show of of good faith uh by the applicant as they're willing to adjust and take in the the concerns of the commission. Uh so tonight we think we are bringing a a better project before you that
incorporates some of that feedback. Uh if that with that we could have our architect sworn in. Um Joe Terrell, >> we do have a blank screen though. >> Would you raise your right hand to be sworn >> swear or affirm the testimony?
>> I do. >> Joseph Stevens. S T E P H E N Trella T A R >> E L L >> and staff notes that Mr. Terrella has previously been qualified as an expert
in the field of architecture in front of this board. >> Okay, >> here we go. >> Well, and one day we're going to show you pictures. >> We got it. >> There we go. Um, >> yeah.
>> Thank you. >> Joe, I don't know if you mentioned, but your your license in New Jersey is current this evening, correct? >> Yes. >> For at least the last 30 years. >> Okay. Um, so hi everybody. We're back. Um, we have uh taken into account uh
what was the issues and concerns that were raised the last time we were here and we took a hard look at the especially at the back of the building and have made some adjustments there based on uh both the visibility from from the adjacent park and from the
overall massing concern in general. and we made some small adjustments to the rear facade itself in terms of um couple of things. So, what we have done on the top floor is that we've cut it back uh
four plus feet uh four plus uh feet. I don't know exactly the exact dimension, but we're trying hard to still make the back room a usable room, but um so we made some adjustments internally as well, but we
now have a a 4 foot terrace on the rear. And so the top floor has a a cut in it this way. And then we had uh we bulked up the peers, the vertical peers on
either side and made them brick so that we they're more in sympathy with the rest. Um and >> it's a glass. Yeah. >> Yeah. So, this I mean this elevation
shows the there's a a glass railing at the uh the setback level and then the upper there's a there's still the the railing and whatnot at the at the roof. But we've um we've tried to take seriously
your concerns. And this is the view from the park um both with trees and without. Uh so this is this is what you would see if you if there were no trees and and that you were looking at it. And you can see
the setback on the upper floor which reduces the mass some from bas relative to the other buildings. similar. And that's pretty much what we've got. >> Okay.
>> And that does conclude our direct testimony this evening, but if the commission has questions, happy to answer them. Um, I just wondered if you had any comparative uh do you have the version you showed last time so that we can see the
difference in the current proposal? So that's what that's what was there last time. >> Do you want to do side by side? Let me just do a >> Yeah. Can we go we go side by side if possible? Oops.
Close. Okay. Yeah. There you go. >> Yeah. Okay. There it is. >> Sorry. Sorry. >> Okay. >> Thank you.
>> Yeah. And you can see that this is more in sympathy with the adjacent roof lines of the the backs of the other buildings. And uh you know it's a little bit sets back the massing some. >> Thanks. That's helpful.
>> Can you pull up the um the plan view of the the block uh sandborn or whatever that was? So that's 150 ft to the edge of your property from the edge of the sidewalk at Washington. Is that does that sound
right? Just >> thinking Yeah. >> 145. Any questions? Any further questions? No. Okay. If there are no further questions, um we can move on to public
comment. Okay. Uh if there are any members of the public uh that would like to speak regarding this application, please approach the public comment mic. >> Staff sees no members of the public and recommends a motion to open and close public comment.
>> Motion >> second. >> All in favor? >> I I >> Okay. And we can move into staff comments. Um so we have seen this application a few times now
and um I think that from staff's perspective I think pulling back the top floor uh did help to align it with those adjacent properties and uh further reduce the visibility of the rear facade um of the proposed new construction from within Paul Hookbark.
Um it's about a 4 foot that has been pulled back and I think that that did help a lot uh from the from the rendering shown. Um the one thing that I I will note and that uh staff did include in
the staff report is that just that now that they have that additional terrace on the rear deck um zoning requires six foot tall privacy screening on either side. Um so the one of the uh conditions that was added was just the
applicant shall work with HBC staff to revise the plans prior to the submission of construction documents to include 6' tall privacy screens at the third floor rear terrace. Um other than that staff supports the application. Um I think I had put some testimony on the record in
the previous meetings, but uh staff feels that the as of right fourstory 40ft tall twounit townhouse um that is conforming conforming with all the zoning uh meets the uh requirements for
the standards for new construction and uh staff believes that the pro project as proposed will not cause an adverse effect on the character and/or integrity of the surrounding historic resource or the Paul Hook Historic District and recommends an approval of the certificate of appropriateness with the
following conditions and uh those are our standard conditions uh as well as that one that I just read into the record. >> Any questions for staff? >> No. I'll make a motion to approve with the conditions as set forth by staff.
>> Second. >> Does the applicant accept the conditions as read into the record and those on the staff report? >> Yes. >> Thank you. I'll move on to a roll call vote. Um, Commissioner Gordon, >> I. >> Commissioner Edgecom, >> I.
>> Commissioner Kay, >> I. >> Commissioner Kbach, >> I. >> Uh, Commissioner Gucciardo, >> I. Commissioner Sankamp >> I. >> Commissioner Gunther. >> Hi. >> And Chair Cronin. >> I. >> There are eight in favor, no against,
and no abstensions. The certificate of appropriateness with conditions is approved. >> Thank you. >> You're very welcome. >> Thank you. >> Thank you very much. So now it's down to new business. >> Yes. Um Okay. >> 5 again. 5:15 Jersey AB Suite 1 carried
to the February 9th HPC meeting. Um, and then we can move into new business. Um, >> all right. >> Okay. Our next case is H-25-04 uh 34. That's Montgomery. >> Stephen. Stephen. Stephen. How's it going over there?
>> I'm so sorry. >> It's okay. It's at Montgomery Gateway Preservations LP. Uh, and the owner U and it's at uh 361 Montgomery Street. And they are going for a certificate of
appropriateness for the installation of a mural on a stuckle wall at 361 Montgomery Street and altered contributing tenement building built circa 1885 in the Vanverse Park Historic District. Welcome.
>> Hello. Good evening. Um I'm representing ownership. Um I'm here with our art consultant Sarah and this is the artist Emilio. Um this mural is is >> I need to >> Sorry. >> How do I plug the Do you swear for the testimony that's
given the truth? >> Yes. Could you state the spelling? >> Uh, Sequ S A I Q U O N E S E L B Y S
>> S S E E L B Y. >> Uh, while we're pulling up the presentation, just wanted to give a brief intro. Um, so our plan, our intent is to provide a mural to uh one of our buildings in the historic district. Um, and this is pretty much the cherry on
top to our uh renovation of the property which includes 10 buildings. Um, so this is one of the two buildings in the historic district. Um, the other one is across the street uh which is 358 Montgomery. >> Not popping up yet.
I have to like approve it. >> No, >> I I have to recuse myself from voting. >> I'm sorry to mean to interrupt. >> Okay. >> Thank you. >> Um, so when you've recused yourself, you can just join the audience and then we'll call you back up.
>> Thank you. It just popped There we go. >> If you could just Yeah. into the mic. Can you just make sure that the microphone is on? I'm sorry. If you touch the base, it should the light should turn green. >> Thank you. Just for the record. Thank you.
>> Sure. Thanks. Um, it's Sarah. S A R A H. And my last name is M O H R M. So, we are um helping to paint a mural on the side of this building, which is stucco. It's um approximately 39 ft by
48 ft. And we will be using bare marquee exterior paint and Montana Gold professional spray paint. Um both paints work on Stuckco and our UV and weather resistant. This is a mockup of of the design that will be on the building.
the mural design. This is the existing wall. It's beige stucco. And um I'm going to turn it over to our artist to briefly discuss um his technique and the materials.
>> You swear or affirm the testimony about this proceeding. The truth is the truth. Yes. >> Corey Fleming. C O R. Corey. C O R E Y. F L E M I N G.
>> You're welcome. Uh the mural here is you can skip that. Uh >> just look at it. >> Yeah. Should I give the whole proposal you think? >> Yeah, go for it. >> Okay. I mean they can't
>> this is the proposal that was given to uh the property owners um the art consultants as well as um the residents of the building. It's a a senior building. It's a family mix family mixed building. Uh it's very a lot of Hispanic
uh Puerto Ricans and African-Americans. So, this mural represents um a voyage from immigration from Puerto Rico as well as AfroCaribbean Islands to specifically Jersey City. Um I'll just
go ahead and just read this verbatim. Um the proposed mural um by the artist known professionally as Amelio Florentine, which is my artist's name, transforms the streetscapes with a vibrant celebration of nature's residence and beauty. The large-scale
composition features bold tropical floor florals, birds of paradise, plumera blossoms, and lush foliage intertwined with rhythmic surrealistic forms that bring movement and energy to the wall. Painted in my signature vivid palette,
the work offers a striking contrast to the urban environment, inviting passerbys to pause and reconnect with the restorative power of nature. To ensure longevity and durability, I will execute the mural using bare marquee exterior paint and Montana gold spray
paint. Both are professional-grade materials specifically formulated to withstand the elements, maintain color integrity, and preserve the artwork for decades on the Stuckco surface. Uh my practice is rooted in the belief of natural beauty is hiding during
moments of chaos. My off my mural offers uh captures flowers at their most intense and dynamic state using impressionist and seralistic techniques to portray nature. Um skip a few here for you. >> Sorry that was me.
>> Yeah, no worries. >> Uh anyway, so here's the proposal. Um, I'll just as I explained um to the residents uh the blue stone is a lar stone which is native um from volcanoes erupting up which kind of gave birth to
the Caribbean islands and Puerto Rico. >> Sorry, could you keep your voice up? >> Yeah. >> You got it. >> Repeat that again. Sure. >> The blue stone rep is a lar stone. L A R M I A R. uh which is naturally formed in
the Caribbean uh predominantly in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. The bird of paradise is native to those areas as well as long as the plume obtusa. Uh these plants can also be
found here which is why I chose some of them. They don't grow naturally here but you can still find them so they are fairly common. Uh the dancing petals represent movement, vitality, and energy. Um and all all positiveness is
in this mural. Um I've worked with the mural program in Jersey City since its inception. Um and I've maintained um working with them as a consultant. I would go sight check walls and let the
city know, yay or nay, if I think this wall is acceptable, what challenges the city will um have with these walls. And I have done that for multiple years with the program. Uh I don't think the program's operating at the moment, but um I do have experience working in
Jersey City with murals as well as operating the lift that's going to get me up there. I'm a certified lift operator and I carry my own insurance. Any questions? >> The commissioner has any questions for the applicants?
I will remind the commission um just before they have any questions if they do um that the powers of the commission regarding murals um are limited to recommendation shall be based shall be limited to the size of the installation andor the appropriateness of the
structure for the placement of the art and shall not be content based. However, we do appreciate the long description of the art. >> I can't help myself. >> No worries. >> You made the guy read the whole thing. I mean I mean >> I saw her. >> You owe him one. Now I'm just going to
say that you really owe him one. The opinion of the chair. That's >> I guess my only question and I apologize if I missed it um is that you've you know investigated the wall and you find the substrate to be fine. You don't need to >> Yes, this is actually a very good wall. The stucco makes for a great surface. Uh
if it is brick, you t typically will if it is brick, you'll typically see the pattern behind it. So the stucco is an excellent canvas. >> Okay. And it's in good good condition. No. Okay. Great. >> Correct. Yes. I've sight checked and there's no cracks. There's no signs of water damage. There's no sign of any
water getting behind the paint that would make the paint come off. >> Okay. Great. >> Um. Yeah. >> Thank you. You're welcome. >> Any other questions from commissioners? Okay. Hearing none. Do you guys have anything else to add? >> It's okay if you don't.
>> No, we're just looking forward to beautifying the building. >> Great. Are there any members of the public who would like to speak regarding this application? Right. Staff sees none and recommends a motion to open and close public comment. >> Motion. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Right. We'll move into staff comments.
Um, so like I just said before, the commission's review on applications like this are limited to the size of the installation and appropriateness of the structure for the placement and is not contentbased. Um staff finds after their review that um the installation of this
mural will not cause an adverse effect on the historic district. The size and placement is typical of murals both inside and outside of historic districts within the city and stucco is a perfectly appropriate surface to apply paint to. Um so staff recommends that the commission approve a certificate of appropriateness for this mural. Bridget,
I'm going to slow down. um with the conditions that were listed in the staff report. Does any commissioners have questions for staff? >> I'll make a motion to issue the certificate of appropriateness with the conditions as set forth by staff in the
report. >> Second. >> Okay. Um do the applicants have any questions about the conditions in the staff report? >> No. >> Great. All right. We'll do a roll call vote. Um Commissioner Samp >> I. Commissioner Gordon.
>> I. >> Commissioner Gunther. >> I. >> Commissioner Gucciardo. >> Hi. >> Commissioner K. >> I. >> Commissioner Colbeach. >> Yay. >> Uh, Commissioner Sakong is absent. Commissioner Blazak is absent. Commission uh Vice Chair Gera is absent and Commissioner Edgecom is recused.
That just leaves Chair Cronin. >> I looking forward to seeing it. >> Okay. There are seven votes in favor, none against, and one absention. The I'm sorry, not one abstension, one recusal. Um, the COA with conditions is approved. Thanks, guys. >> Thank you. Thank you. You're welcome.
>> Thanks for your technical help. >> Okay, so now we're under demolitions. >> Yes. So, we'll just quickly um before we go to demos, just tabled cases. We do not have an update on 10 A. We do not have an update on 10B. Um 10 C we are
anticipating seeing back at the February meeting. They requested to be carried to that date. Um for demolition review 11A 300 central like we said carried to the next HPC meeting and 11 C507 Summit also carried to the next HPC meeting. Um so
we can uh D if you'd like to call 11B. >> All righty. We are calling uh 2502 Central Avenue and this is a B-25-1294. It was carried from our December 15th meeting. >> Yeah. I'm just going to go get set up. It'll
just take me a minute. I know we always go through this, but thank you. >> I think we need to find like hold music to play. Well, being >> part of the issue is that none of the HDMI cords up there work.
It would be easier if I could just stay up there. While Michael is setting up, staff will note that Commissioner Edgecom has rejoined um the commission. Thanks, Ber. Good, Bridget.
>> Okay, no problem. Okay, so the first application for the demolition review is 252 Central A. Um, so just to get us kind of our bearings, um, we're up in the Heights up just pasting Field
right near the corner of Central A and Franklin Street. And this beautiful tax card photo is what we have for the 1938 tax card photo. Um, there I believe I was going to say
is a later tax card photo for uh the 70s which is slightly better but not not by much. And then just to pull up what is currently standing today?
Any comments or questions from the commission regarding it? >> Can we walk through the memo? >> Sure. If we would like to go right into staff, I can I can kind of walk you guys through. Um, so for this property, it is
uh mentioned in the Jersey City uh historic preservation element of the master plan. Um there is like a central a historic district that was proposed in there and that is within this. Uh it's also in the ward D phase 1 survey uh
that was completed um where it stated that it was in an intact uh historic streetscape. The building was built circa 1909 and uh staff believes that it meets the architectural qualities um criteria C if
we're talking about the National Register criteria um that embodies the distinctive characteristics of a time period and method of construction most especially if no other or very few buildings or structures with the same association have survived. D.
The property is a one-story 3 bay flat roofed brick commercial building. Um, you can say it has the intact cornice. Um, it is a commercial structure. So, uh, that first floor appears to have been altered slightly, but if you can
see in the 1970s tax card, uh, it does look like it's been there since around the 1970s with with minimal alterations. And staff believes that the property has location of uh, integrity of location,
design, setting, feeling, and association. Um the changes to the commercial portion have slightly diminished uh the materials and workmanship in staff's opinion. Um, any further questions for staff?
I could also >> curious about >> curious about the depth of this building. Does it run the full lot? >> Uh, I don't believe it's quite to the full lot. Um, actually maybe it is. Sorry. I think that's a separate law behind it.
>> Yeah, >> let me see on the >> Mhm. >> Um, so in the 1938 tax card photo, there is slightly more depth to the lot. Um, >> it's hard to tell. I could pull up the without looking at the tax map. It's
hard to tell if this is part of this lot or if this is the lot behind it. >> Okay. Thank you. Of course. >> If we'd like, we can move into public comment. See if there's anybody here. >> Sure. >> Okay. Um, if there is any members of the
public wishing to speak regarding this application, please approach the public comment mic. >> Staff sees none. and recommends a motion to open and close public comment. >> Motion >> second. >> All in favor? >> I >> I
>> So staff's recommendation again uh for this property is uh to make a motion to prepare a resolution recommending denial of the demolition application to the zoning officer. I'll make that motion.
>> Second. >> And before we go into a vote here, I would love to have a discussion about what elements in the ordinance you're seeing represented here to support that decision. >> Um, I would like to agree with staff on
some of the items that it uh maintains. Integrity of location, design, and setting um and feeling. Um I'm I'm not clear on why it doesn't have materials or workmanship because I believe that very intact
cornice is does that not fall under one of those two categories? >> Can staff comment? >> Yeah. Yes. It >> Oh, yeah. >> Unless I'm misinterpreting the ordinance, I think that it could fall in under one of those categories as well.
>> I I would staff would agree. I I think that um it while it has the intact cornness I think I was just seeing that a lot of the lower materials had been altered um and so I don't know staff's perspective was that uh the whole
building didn't maintain integrity of uh materials and workmanship but I think certain elements of the building definitely do. >> Yeah. I think in the in the context of such a small building with a commercial, it's like a one-story commercial building, um that storefront infill is very commonly replaced. So, um you know,
because that had been al for me for because that has been altered isn't necessarily enough to say that it doesn't have materials and workmanship. >> Could you pull the photo back up, please? Sure. Of course. Yeah, I don't think the tax card photo
is health. I was going up to the >> Yeah, I mean, I'll just say on the topic of feeling just looking even at this highly degraded photo, it clearly evokes um a feeling of a the building is still
largely intact and as noted in the memo uh retains its original commercial use. Jonathan, would you like that added to my motion? Because I can add it to the motion. >> I don't think it's going to add to the motion. Right. The motion is still to to
prepare a resolution recommending denial. Um I just wanted to make sure that >> when we vote >> commission had discussed the reasons for that motion. >> Okay. >> Okay. Do any other commissioners have any other comments or would you like me
to move to a role to Oh, >> yeah. When I look at the um the ordinance, um certainly it's still the same use. That's B. Its use is the same. >> Um it's uh architectural significance. A
um >> district I think E as well, the probable impact of of its removal upon the ambience to the historic district. Well, it's not a historic district, but to the district. I will say because we're outside of historic district, we need to be looking at 345-30e1,
not 345-30E. Right. So, I don't think use is uh >> I don't have that in my >> Are you looking at the ordinance online? >> Um, yes. >> It's not updated is why >> 30 E1. Okay. Hand it
>> over. Okay. Got it. Yeah. Thank you. Well, um 34530e1 um it's been identified as per staff in the master plan. So that's number two >> under seven. Yeah,
it's got integrity of location 71 72 design 73 setting and 76 feeling >> great. >> Okay.
I guess just to clarify when I was like asking for a discussion here, it was like instead of everyone going down the line and having like a roll call vote and casting your vote and saying this is why I'm doing it. I thought it could be helpful to have everyone have a collaborative discussion after the motion was made but before the roll call vote. And now when we do the roll call
vote, everyone can can vote in accordance with how they feel. So that being said, >> is there any more discussion on this or would you like me to move to a roll call vote? >> And hearing no discussion, I'm
>> We can move on. >> Okay. Commissioner Gucciardo, >> I >> Commissioner Sankamp. >> Hi. >> Commissioner Gunther. >> Hi. >> Commissioner Gordon. >> Hi. >> Commissioner Edgecom. >> I. >> Commissioner Kay. >> I. >> Commissioner Callback. >> I. Commissioner Sakong is absent.
Commissioner Blazak is absent. Vice Chair Griga is absent. Chairman Cronin >> I. >> Okay. There are eight votes in favor, none against. With no abstensions, the recommendation to prepare a resolution recommending denial of the building of the demolition permit to the zoning officer is approved.
>> Okay. Run D, I believe. Okay. >> Uh, yeah. If you want to call this 126. >> Yeah, that's what I'm doing here. Calling 126 Rutgers Avenue. That is B-25-1705. Okay, just to continue on, uh,
we are now going down into Greenville as we zoom in along Rucker's Aav between Van Norstrand and Stevens. Uh, this property is 126 Rucker Aav. Again,
we have the 1938 tax card photo. This one is a little bit better. And then we have a photo of what it currently looks like today. So this property was built circa 1921. Staff believes that it is associated
with events of bar patterns of history. um Jersey City immigration and Jersey City's uh Jewish history um as well as architecture. C it embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type period and method of construction most especially if no other or very few
buildings or structures within the same association have uh survived. So this property is uh part of the Torah Talmud. Um and uh the associated uh congregation um
their synagogue was in a fire in 1979 um and was burned down. Uh so this is the only remaining portion of uh that congregation's history. Any commissioners have any questions for staff or regarding the memo?
>> Can you elaborate on how it was in the Talmud? >> Can you elaborate on how it was in the Talmud? You said >> this uh is the it says the congregation built the Torah Talmud uh >> on Rucker's Aav. Um so I think that's the the name of this property
historically. um is the Torah Talmud Ohab Shalom. I hope I am saying all of that correctly. >> You got it. >> Oh, okay. >> It's clear there's a different congregation there now, though. >> Yes. Uh so I believe I was going to say
it it's over its history uh it has become a um church. Uh so it kind of transitioned. Uh but the property does retain uh elements of its history both as a church and as a um
uh place of worship for the Jewish community. So staff believes that this property has integrity of all seven factors uh location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling and association. Um
you can see um some of the windows have been covered with kind of a rose red tinted glass. Uh but the windows are still there. They have not been filled in uh except for those center central
windows. Um but it's very clear where the historic windows were. um kind of maintains that fenestration as well as this very interesting stepped parapet and cornice underneath. And you can see
the star of David remains as well as the um cross. >> Yeah, there's no way we're demolishing this. Oh, what a there clearly the the architecture of this building is highly distinctive and as you mentioned it
reflects the change in demographic and key parts of local history and lore. Um as as mentioned in the um report, you have the uh the stepped uh roofing elements and then these unique um oval
windows and uh other features. the the columns at the front entrance. It's remarkably intact and unmistakable. Um, and I would tend to agree that it maintains all seven factors of integrity.
On the um significance of the building, I would like to add that um it actually had two um prominent people writing books during the time they were there. uh one was him uh Grant or also called
Herman Grant. Um he was a teacher at the school and um wrote several textbooks uh teaching children how to do Hebrew spelling uh and other textbooks as well as a
principal in 1926. I believe he was a couple there years there. Um but during his time he was the principal. He was actually a well-known Hebrew scholer and journalist, Jakob Reman or Richmond, I don't know how you would say it. Um he
wrote a book which was the very first collection of Jewish anecdotes and um uh focus focused on um humorous fork tales in English about um Jewish uh anecdotes. So um there were some significant uh
things done there and these books are in the UD Yiddish um book center in Amhurst uh Massachusetts as well as the New York public library. So they actually uh were important for the Jewish community outside of Jersey
City. Even um also um during the cornerstone when the cornerstone was laid in May on May 2nd, 1921, um Hake Frank Hake, Mayor Frank Hake was present which indicates how important this uh
institute was for the um for the community that he even made his way to Greenville. So, um I think in terms of significance, there's even more that is there. Um it definitely is one of those few buildings where we can definitely
say significance is there. >> Would we like to open it up for public comment? >> If there are any members of the public in attendance who would like to speak regarding this application, you can approach the public comment mic. Staff sees one member of the public. Um,
so if someone wants to make a motion to open public comment. >> Motion. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I >> I >> Chris before Bridget swears you in. Just five minute max. I will keep time. >> Sounds good.
>> Chris Perez. P E R EZ. What else do you need to know? >> Okay, >> that's okay. Do you testimony? >> I do. >> Uh, Christopher Pettis, Perez.
>> Good evening everybody. I'm speaking on behalf of the Jersey City Landmarks Conservancy. Um, I had to do a lot of quick research and I'm really happy to hear all the conversation that's gone on in this short period of time about this site. Um, the Landmarks Conservancy does not support demolishing um, this site
for many of the reasons that have already been described. Um, as it was explained, this was, and I don't want to butcher up names, um, but the Torah Talmud of the Hab Shalom Synagogue. It was built in 1921, and as Michael had expressed, uh, their
signag burned down in 1979. It was on Warner Avenue. Uh it was described in the Jersey Journal as having the most modern features. Bright airy classrooms, single seats for each student, a large auditorium on the top floor, spacious playroom, and a machine for showing
stereo opticon views of Jewish history. So it essentially functioned as a Hebrew school um and an annex of the main synagogue. Uh in 1976 it was purchased by the Rahobath Apollos uh church uh which relocated from MLK
and Myrtle to the site. Um something that's interesting to note is that it was built uh in part by the support of Harry Gowski. Uh he was born in Russia and arrived uh in the United States at one years old with his parents. At age
16, he was in charge of the New Union news stand at the Greenville station of the Central Railroad, uh, which we kind of would now know as the Danforth light rail station. Um, he quickly was transferred to the Commun Station in 1888 at 16 years old, was put in charge
of the restaurant there. Shortly after, he was promoted to supervisor of the new stands for all of the departments of the Lehigh Valley and Pennsylvania Railroad. From there he entered into the construction B business partnering with Aaron Garland um to form Garland and
Galdowski who developed a portion of Greenville west of the boulevard. Since 1895 he had been engaged in various community activities. He helped build this school and he held countless uh titles in organizations and
institutions including the director of the Greenville branch of the Trust Company of New Jersey. Uh that would be where you see Albra Dunil now on um Garfield Avenue. He was president of the Seventh Ward Democratic Club of the Jersey City. Uh he was VP of the JC Real
Estate Board, treasurer of the committee for the opening of the Journal Square Plaza Bridge and interesting enough he ran uh for city commissioner on the anti-HEG fusion ticket in 1933. So we encourage you to not permit this site to be demolished. Thank you.
>> Thank you. >> Thanks. Okay. Any other members of the public who wish to comment on this application? Okay. Staff sees none and recommends a motion to close public comment. >> Motion. >> Second. >> All in favor? >> I I
>> I wanted to also comment about um the setting. I mean the the the land that the church sits on um is almost as important as the church itself. It creates what often happens
around churches is a respit, a natural area. I think u uh the community depends on spaces like this uh for their mental health. Um I I just see the setting being very important here. Um and I
agree with what other commissioners and with Michael and the public have said. Okay. Did anyone have Does anyone have any other questions for staff or would like to make a motion? >> I also would like to add that um we have lost a lot of um Jewish um houses of
worshipship and um similar buildings. Um so I think it's really important that we make sure that we don't erase all of that history here in Jersey City. I'll make a motion to prepare a resolution to recommend denial of the
demolition permit. Okay. >> Second. >> All right. Is there any discussion on that motion? >> Okay. I will move to a roll call vote. Commissioner Gordon >> I. >> Commissioner Edgecom. >> I. >> Commissioner Kai
>> I. >> Commissioner Callback. >> I. Commissioner Gucciardo. >> I. >> Commissioner Sancamp. >> I. >> Commissioner Gunther. >> I. >> Commissioner Sakong is absent. Commissioner Blazak is absent. Vice Chair Gerria is absent. Chairman Cronin >> I. >> Right. There are eight votes in favor,
none against with no abstensions. The motion to prepare a resolution recommending denial of the demolition permit uh to the zoning officer is approved. >> Okay. >> All right. Um, moving on on the agenda
for table demolition review cases. Um, we do not have an update on the table demolition review cases. At this time, we have no resolutions to introduce or discuss, no resolutions to memorialize,
no executive session is needed, which just leaves us with adjournment. >> Motion to adjurnn. >> Second. >> All right. It is 7:30 p.m. All in favor?