Hudson County Administration Building

Hudson County was part of a much larger Bergen County until the latter was divided in 1840.[http://www.jerseycityonline.com/history_of_jersey_city.htm Jersey City History of Forms of Government From Early Dutch Days to the Present Time] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180309091220/http://www.jerseycityonline.com/history_of_jersey_city.htm |date=2018-03-09 }}, 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."

"The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606–1968", John P. Snyder, Bureau of Geology and Topography; Trenton, New Jersey; 1969. p. 145.{{cite web|url=http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~njhudson/genhistory_hudson_bergen_2.html |title=Hudson Co. NJ — History — Formation of Bergen and Hudson Counties |publisher=Rootsweb.ancestry.com |access-date=2008-11-01}} 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.{{cite book |title=Jersey City |first=Patrick B |last=Shalhoub |publisher=Arcadia Publishing |year=1995 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=RRd8L50OdjoC&pg=PT98 |isbn=978-0-7524-0255-0}}{{cite web | last = Karnoutsos | first = Carmela | author2 = Shalhoub, Patrick | title = The First Hudson County Courthouse | work = Jersey City A to Z | publisher = New Jersey City University | url = http://www.njcu.edu/programs/jchistory/Pages/H_Pages/HC_Courthouse_1845.htm | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131231064857/http://www.njcu.edu/programs/jchistory/Pages/H_Pages/HC_Courthouse_1845.htm | url-status = dead | archive-date = December 31, 2013 | access-date = 2013-12-27 }} The original courthouse was replaced by the Hudson County Courthouse in 1910.{{cite web | last = Karnoutsos | first = Carmela |author2=Shalhoub, Patrick | title = Brennan (William J.) Hudson County Courthouse | work = Jersey City A to Z | publisher = New Jersey City University | url = http://www.njcu.edu/programs/jchistory/Pages/B_Pages/Brennan_HC_Courthouse.htm | access-date = 2013-12-27}} The jail was replaced in 1926 and eventually demolished in 1995.{{cite web | last = Karnoutsos | first = Carmela |author2=Shalhoub, Patrick | title = Hudson County Jail | work = Jersey City A to Z | publisher = New Jersey City University | url = http://www.njcu.edu/programs/jchistory/Pages/H_Pages/HC_Jail_Penitentiary.html | access-date = 2013-12-27}} 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.{{cite web | title = PSNJ Hoboken-Jersey City Elevated | publisher = Subway | url = http://www.nycsubway.org/wiki/PSNJ_Hoboken-Jersey_City_Elevated | access-date = 2013-12-29}}

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.{{cite news | title = Hudson Dedicates Office Structure | newspaper = The New York Times | date = December 19, 1957 | url = http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F20C11FC3C5D167B93CBA81789D95F438585F9 | access-date = 2013-12-28}} In 1964 the international Style building was expanded to include 10 stories,{{cite web | title = Hudson County Administration Building | publisher = Emporis | url = http://www.emporis.com/building/hudsoncountyadministrationbuilding-jerseycity-nj-usa | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131230233126/http://www.emporis.com/building/hudsoncountyadministrationbuilding-jerseycity-nj-usa | url-status = usurped | archive-date = December 30, 2013 | access-date = 2013-12-27}} When the modern new glass-and-steel tower was opened{{cite news | last = Colford | first = Paul D. | title = Hope for a Classic Building | work = The New York Times | date = April 27, 1975 | url = http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F10F17FB395B14768FDDAE0A94DC405B858BF1D3 | access-date = 2013-12-28}} the adjacent Hudson County Courthouse was vacated and abandoned, but has subsequently been restored.{{cite news | last = Gomez | first = John | title = Saved from the wrecking ball, the exquisite Hudson County Courthouse in Jersey City serves as inspiration for preservationists | publisher = The Jersey Journal | date = February 21, 2011 | url = http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/2011/02/saved_from_the_wrecking_ball_t.html | access-date = 2013-12-28}}

File:New&Old.Hudson.County.Administration.bldgs.jpg and older Administration Building]]

Numerous studies since the 1980s have concluded that the administration building has long been inadequate and overburdened.{{cite news | last = Sullivan | first = Al | title = No way! Freeholders dispute $250M plan to replace county court house | publisher = Hudson Reporter | date = December 29, 2013 | url = http://hudsonreporter.com/view/full_story/24301771/article-No-way----Freeholders-dispute-$250M-plan-to-replace-county-court-house--?instance=latest_story | access-date = 2013-12-31}}{{cite news | last = Kaulessar | first = Ricardo | title = Taking over private property? Some residents upset about $150M county building plan | publisher = Hudson Reporter | date = July 18, 2005 | url = http://hudsonreporter.com/pages/full_story/push?article-Taking+over+private+property-+Some+residents+upset+about+-150M+county+building+plan%20&id=2405645 | access-date = 2013-12-27}} In 2012, the Hudson County Board of Chosen Freeholders estimated that its replacement could cost between $291 million to $366 million.{{cite news | last = Torres | first = Augustin C. | title = Hudson County taking steps to build new courthouse; cost could exceed $350 million | publisher = The Jersey Journal | date = August 8, 2012 | url = http://www.nj.com/jjournal-news/index.ssf/2012/08/light_looks_green_for_freehold_1.html | access-date = 2013-12-28}} 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.{{cite news | last = Machcinski | first = Anthony J.. | title = Hudson County freeholders say no plan to buy land for courthouse | publisher = The Jersey Journal | date = August 10, 2012 | url = http://www.nj.com/jjournal-news/index.ssf/2012/08/post_162.html | access-date = 2013-12-28}} 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.{{cite news | last = Conte | first = Michaelangelo | title = A new Hudson administration/court building? Initial plans are underway | publisher = The Jersey Journal | date = November 14, 2013 | url = http://www.nj.com/jjournal-news/index.ssf/2013/11/hudson_county_freeholders_cons.html | access-date = 2013-12-28}}{{cite web | author = Board of Chosen Freeholders of Hudson | title = Regular Agenda | publisher = Hudson County | date = November 14, 2013 | url = http://live.hudsoncountynj.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/11-14-2013-Regular-Mtg.pdf | access-date = 2013-12-27}} 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.{{cite news | last = Conte | first = Michaelangelo | title = Judge blasts delay in replacing Hudson County Administration Building; neighbors worry about site | publisher = The Jersey Journal | date = December 27, 2013 | url = http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/2013/12/overdue_project_to_replace_the_hudson_county_administration_building_still_in_limbo_after_decades.html#incart_river_default | access-date = 2013-12-28}}

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.Machcinski, Anthony J. (August 11, 2012). [http://www.nj.com/jjournal-news/index.ssf/2012/08/hudson_freeholders_want_to_ext.html "Hudson Freeholders want to extend Jersey City's Central Avenue near courthouse "]. NJ.com and are considering acquiring property to do so.{{cite news|last = Machcinski|first = Anthony J|title = Set on extending Central Avenue in Jersey City, freeholders plan to take action to acquire property|publisher=NJ.com|newspaper = The Jersey Journal|date = October 23, 2012|url = http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/2012/10/resolution_to_acquire_property.html|access-date = March 9, 2013}}

In December 2014 the board freeholders approved the sale of $50 million in bonds for a new courthouse.{{cite web|url=http://www.nj.com/jjournal-news/index.ssf/2014/12/hudson_oks_50m_for_new_courtho.html|title=Hudson County freeholders OK $50M for new courthouse|date=December 2014|website=NJ.com|access-date=October 23, 2017}} 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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/2018/09/project_to_build_new_hudson_county_justice_complex.html|title=Project to build new Hudson County justice complex finally making strides|date=19 September 2018}}

After completion of the new courthouse, the administration building will be demolished and replaced with a 3-acre park.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nj.com/hudson/2019/11/new-park-coming-to-journal-square-as-part-of-justice-complex-plan.html|title = New park coming to Journal Square as part of justice complex plan|date = 6 November 2019}}

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• [http://www.hudsoncountynj.org Hudson County website]
• [http://www.judiciary.state.nj.us/hudson/index.htm?wvsessionid=wv2f664bf066854abc84f8d6d76388a50c Hudson Vicinage]

{{Hudson County, New Jersey Government}}

Category:International style architecture in New Jersey

Category:Buildings and structures in Jersey City, New Jersey

Category:Government buildings completed in 1956

Category:County courthouses in New Jersey

Category:Tourist attractions in Jersey City, New Jersey

Category:1956 establishments in New Jersey

Category:County government buildings in New Jersey