Hudson County Administration Building
View looking northwest at rear of building
General information
TypeCourthouse
Hall of Records
Government offices
Location595 Newark Avenue
Jersey City, NJ 07306
Construction started1955
Completed1956
expanded 1964–66
Opening1957
Cost$6.5million
OwnerHudson County
Height
Roof142 ft (43 m)
Technical details
Floor count10
Lifts/elevators6
References
[1][2][3]

The Hudson County Administration Building is home to the seat of government of Hudson County, New Jersey, US. It is located at 595 Newark Avenue in the Journal Square section of Jersey City in the abutting Five Corners and Hilltop neighborhoods The building houses government administrative offices, the hall of records, and courts for the county and state. Opened in 1957 and expanded in 1966, the International Style structure is considered obsolete and will be replaced upon completion of the Frank J. Guarini Justice Complex.[4][5]

County seat

Hudson County was part of a much larger Bergen County until the latter was divided in 1840.[6] [7][8] By 1845, the site of a new county seat was made for the construction of a new courthouse and jail in Bergen Township, which at the time comprised much of the new county.[9][10] The original courthouse was replaced by the Hudson County Courthouse in 1910.[3] The jail was replaced in 1926 and eventually demolished in 1995.[11] Until 1945 a major depot of an elevated streetcar line, originally operated by the North Hudson County Railway and later Public Service named Courthouse was in the immediate vicinity.[9][10][12]

Construction

Construction of the administration building, which cost $6,500,000 and planned to house 1,000 employees, began in August 1955. An annex housing the Hall of Records was part of the original construction. It was dedicated on December 18, 1957.[2] In 1964 the international Style building was expanded to include 10 stories,[1][3] When the modern new glass-and-steel tower was opened[13] the adjacent Hudson County Courthouse was vacated and abandoned, but has subsequently been restored.[14]

Replacement and Central Avenue extension

Numerous studies since the 1980s have concluded that the administration building has long been inadequate and overburdened.[15][16] In 2012, the Hudson County Board of Chosen Freeholders estimated that its replacement could cost between $291 million to $366 million.[17] A vote to August 2012 to acquire land to do so did not pass, with members saying that a new structure could be built on unidentified county-land.[18] Various properties, including vacant lots across Newark Avenue from the administration building have been identified as a potential site for new construction, which would include new criminal courts and companion facilities. In November and December 2013 a proposal by the Board of Chosen Freeholders to begin acquisition was tabled.[19][20] Another vote to allot funds for their purchase is not expected until spring 2014, leading to complaints from judges who work at the out-of-date facility. Private developers and local neighbourhood association have expressed concern of the removal of the lots from city tax rolls.[21]

The extension of Central Avenue in the immediate vicinity of the administration building is seen as part of the larger redevelopment plan for the area. In July 2012, the Board of Chosen Freeholders passed a resolution to extend a portion of the avenue between Hoboken Avenue and Newark Avenue near the potential building site.[22] and are considering acquiring property to do so.[23]

In December 2014 the board freeholders approved the sale of $50 million in bonds for a new courthouse.[24] Land for the new building had been acquired by the end of 2017. In September 2018, allocations for design of the site were made and construction began in January 2021.[25]

Demolition and city park

After completion of the new courthouse, the administration building will be demolished and replaced with a 3-acre park.[5]

References

  1. 1 2 "Hudson County Administration Building". Emporis. Archived from the original on December 30, 2013. Retrieved 2013-12-27.
  2. 1 2 "Hudson Dedicates Office Structure". The New York Times. December 19, 1957. Retrieved 2013-12-28.
  3. 1 2 3 Karnoutsos, Carmela; Shalhoub, Patrick. "Brennan (William J.) Hudson County Courthouse". Jersey City A to Z. New Jersey City University. Retrieved 2013-12-27.
  4. ↑ "Hudson County Administration Building has a likely date with the wrecking ball". 16 April 2019.
  5. 1 2 "New park coming to Journal Square as part of justice complex plan". 6 November 2019.
  6. ↑ Jersey City History of Forms of Government From Early Dutch Days to the Present Time, accessed March 19, 2007."Until 1709, Bergen Village (around Bergen Square, Jersey City) was the county seat and the sessions of the court were held there, but after this date, the village of Hackensack was designated as being more centrally located and more easily reached by the majority of the inhabitants, and hence was chosen as the county seat of Bergen County (which it remains) and the courts were moved there."
  7. ↑ "The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606–1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 145.
  8. ↑ "Hudson Co. NJ — History — Formation of Bergen and Hudson Counties". Rootsweb.ancestry.com. Retrieved 2008-11-01.
  9. 1 2 Shalhoub, Patrick B (1995). Jersey City. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 978-0-7524-0255-0.
  10. 1 2 Karnoutsos, Carmela; Shalhoub, Patrick. "The First Hudson County Courthouse". Jersey City A to Z. New Jersey City University. Retrieved 2013-12-27.
  11. ↑ Karnoutsos, Carmela; Shalhoub, Patrick. "Hudson County Jail". Jersey City A to Z. New Jersey City University. Retrieved 2013-12-27.
  12. ↑ "PSNJ Hoboken-Jersey City Elevated". Subway. Retrieved 2013-12-29.
  13. ↑ Colford, Paul D. (April 27, 1975). "Hope for a Classic Building". The New York Times. Retrieved 2013-12-28.
  14. ↑ Gomez, John (February 21, 2011). "Saved from the wrecking ball, the exquisite Hudson County Courthouse in Jersey City serves as inspiration for preservationists". The Jersey Journal. Retrieved 2013-12-28.
  15. ↑ Sullivan, Al (December 29, 2013). "No way! Freeholders dispute $250M plan to replace county court house". Hudson Reporter. Retrieved 2013-12-31.
  16. ↑ Kaulessar, Ricardo (July 18, 2005). "Taking over private property? Some residents upset about $150M county building plan". Hudson Reporter. Retrieved 2013-12-27.
  17. ↑ Torres, Augustin C. (August 8, 2012). "Hudson County taking steps to build new courthouse; cost could exceed $350 million". The Jersey Journal. Retrieved 2013-12-28.
  18. ↑ Machcinski, Anthony J.. (August 10, 2012). "Hudson County freeholders say no plan to buy land for courthouse". The Jersey Journal. Retrieved 2013-12-28.
  19. ↑ Conte, Michaelangelo (November 14, 2013). "A new Hudson administration/court building? Initial plans are underway". The Jersey Journal. Retrieved 2013-12-28.
  20. ↑ Board of Chosen Freeholders of Hudson (November 14, 2013). "Regular Agenda" (PDF). Hudson County. Retrieved 2013-12-27.
  21. ↑ Conte, Michaelangelo (December 27, 2013). "Judge blasts delay in replacing Hudson County Administration Building; neighbors worry about site". The Jersey Journal. Retrieved 2013-12-28.
  22. ↑ Machcinski, Anthony J. (August 11, 2012). "Hudson Freeholders want to extend Jersey City's Central Avenue near courthouse ". NJ.com
  23. ↑ Machcinski, Anthony J (October 23, 2012). "Set on extending Central Avenue in Jersey City, freeholders plan to take action to acquire property". The Jersey Journal. NJ.com. Retrieved March 9, 2013.
  24. ↑ "Hudson County freeholders OK $50M for new courthouse". NJ.com. December 2014. Retrieved October 23, 2017.
  25. ↑ "Project to build new Hudson County justice complex finally making strides". 19 September 2018.

40°43′54″N 74°03′26″W / 40.731722°N 74.05725°W / 40.731722; -74.05725

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