Potential Collapse Of Historic Powerhouse Tower Closes Jersey City Street

JERSEY CITY, NJ — Cracks in a 120-year-old building in downtown Jersey City have forced a nearby street to close, officials said.

A section of Greene Street near Bay Street has been designated a "collapse zone," said a city spokesman just before 4 p.m. Thursday. The street has been shut down, the spokesperson said.

The designation was made after "visible structural cracks" were observed in the tower portion of the Hudson and Manhattan Railroad Powerhouse. The iconic 1906 building once powered trains from Hudson County under the river to Manhattan.

The cracks are believed to be caused by vibrations from the light rail operating near the structure, said city spokesperson Nathaniel Styer.

In response, a contractor had installed vertical stabilization straps along the exterior to secure the building, he said.

But "some of these straps now appear to be loosening, creating potentially unsafe conditions, particularly amid cold temperatures and high winds," the city noted.

The closure will remain in effect until the contractor fully secures the building, Styer said.

All southbound traffic is being rerouted onto Bay Street, Styer said.

The Office of Emergency Management is on the scene and will conduct an aerial drone assessment to further evaluate the structural integrity of the building, he said.

This story will be updated when new information is received.