Canal Crossing, Jersey City
Encyclopedia
Canal Crossing is a New Urbanism
project on the eastern side of Jersey City, New Jersey
between the Greenville Section
, 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. The brownfield site must first undergo remediation of toxic waste, much of it left by PPG Industries
The redevelopment plans call for 7,000 housing units, mainly "mid-rise" buildings (with heights limited to five stories), and a greenway
along the former canal, directly south of the 17-acre Berry Lane Park.
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 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.
In October 2010, the city received notification of a $2.3 million TIGER grant for continued work on the project.
The funding was jeopardized by potential cuts being made in the House of Representatives
, but was later allocated. A synopsis of the grant stated:
New urbanism
New Urbanism is an urban design movement, which promotes walkable neighborhoods that contain a range of housing and job types. It arose in the United States in the early 1980s, and has gradually continued to reform many aspects of real estate development, urban planning, and municipal land-use...
project on the eastern side of Jersey City, New Jersey
Jersey City, New Jersey
Jersey City is the seat of Hudson County, New Jersey, United States.Part of the New York metropolitan area, Jersey City lies between the Hudson River and Upper New York Bay across from Lower Manhattan and the Hackensack River and Newark Bay...
between the Greenville Section
Greenville, Jersey City
Greenville is the southernmost section of Jersey City, New Jersey.In its broadest definition Greenville encompasses the area south of the West Side Branch of Hudson-Bergen Light Rail and north of the city line with Bayonne, between the Upper New York Bay and the Newark Bay, and corresponds to the...
, Bergen-Lafayette
Bergen-Lafayette, Jersey City
Bergen-Lafayette is a section of Jersey City, New Jersey.As its name implies, Bergen-Lafayette is made of different neighborhoods. It lies west-southwest of Downtown and Liberty State Park...
and Liberty State Park
Liberty State Park
Liberty State Park is located on Upper New York Bay in Jersey City, New Jersey, opposite the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. The park opened in 1976 to coincide with bicentennial celebrations and is operated and maintained by the New Jersey Division of Parks and Forestry.-Geography and...
. The approximately 111 acre area, previously designated for industrial and distribution uses has been re-zoned for transit-oriented residential and commercial use
Transit-oriented development
A transit-oriented development is a mixed-use residential or commercial area designed to maximize access to public transport, and often incorporates features to encourage transit ridership...
and the construction of a neighborhood characterized as a sustainable community
Sustainable community
Sustainable communities are communities planned, built, or modified to promote sustainable living. This may include sustainability aspects relating to reproduction...
. The name is inspired by the Morris Canal
Morris Canal
The Morris Canal was an anthracite-carrying canal that incorporated a series of water-driven inclined planes in its course across northern New Jersey in the United States. It was in use for about a century — from the late 1820s to the 1920s....
, which once traversed the district in a general north & south alignment. The brownfield site must first undergo remediation of toxic waste, much of it left by PPG Industries
PPG Industries
PPG Industries is a global supplier of paints, coatings, optical products, specialty materials, chemicals, glass and fiber glass. With headquarters in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, PPG operates in more than 60 countries around the globe. Sales in 2010 were $13.4 billion...
The redevelopment plans call for 7,000 housing units, mainly "mid-rise" buildings (with heights limited to five stories), and a greenway
Greenway (landscape)
A greenway is a long, narrow piece of land, often used for recreation and pedestrian and bicycle user traffic, and sometimes for streetcar, light rail or retail uses.- Terminology :...
along the former canal, directly south of the 17-acre Berry Lane Park.
Two branches of the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail
Hudson-Bergen Light Rail
The Hudson–Bergen Light Rail is a light rail system in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. Owned by New Jersey Transit and operated by the 21st Century Rail Corporation, it connects the communities of Bayonne, Jersey City, Hoboken, Weehawken, Union City , and North Bergen.The system began...
(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
Bayonne
Bayonne is a city and commune in south-western France at the confluence of the Nive and Adour rivers, in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department, of which it is a sub-prefecture...
and Hoboken Terminal
Hoboken Terminal
Hoboken Terminal is one of the New York Metropolitan area's major transportation hubs. The commuter-oriented intermodal facility, is located on the Hudson River in Hoboken, New Jersey...
along its eastern perimeter between current stations at Richard Street
Richard Street (HBLR station)
Richard Street is a station on the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail located east of Garfield Avenue adjacent to Bayside Park in the Greenville Section of Jersey City, New Jersey.-Service:...
and Liberty State Park
Liberty State Park (HBLR station)
Liberty State Park is a station on the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail located between Communipaw and Johnston Avenues in Jersey City, New Jersey. The station opened on April 15, 2000....
. The triangular shape area is bounded by Garfield Avenue
Bergen Point Plank Road
The Jersey City and Bergen Point Plank Road was a road in the 19th century in Hudson County, New Jersey which ran between Paulus Hook and Bergen Point. The company which built the road received its charter on March 6, 1850. It has subsequently become Grand Street and Garfield Avenue in Jersey City...
on the west, and is accessible from the Newark Bay Extension of the New Jersey Turnpike
New Jersey Turnpike
The New Jersey Turnpike is a toll road in New Jersey, maintained by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority. According to the International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association, the Turnpike is the nation's sixth-busiest toll road and is among one of the most heavily traveled highways in the United...
at its southern tip.
In October 2010, the city received notification of a $2.3 million TIGER grant for continued work on the project.
The funding was jeopardized by potential cuts being made in the House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
, but was later allocated. A synopsis of the grant stated: