Harsimus Stem Embankment facts for kids
The Harsimus Stem Embankment, also known as the Sixth Street Embankment, is a historic, half-mile-long raised pathway in Jersey City, New Jersey. It's like a very long, tall stone wall that once carried trains. Today, it's abandoned and covered in plants, sitting right in the middle of Downtown Jersey City.
This old structure is about 27 feet (8.2 meters) high. It runs along the south side of Sixth Street, stretching from Marin Boulevard to Brunswick Street. It also forms a natural border between the Harsimus and Hamilton Park neighborhoods. While the train tracks that once ran on top are gone, the strong stone supports are still there.
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What is the Harsimus Embankment?
An embankment is a raised mound or wall, often made of earth or stone. It's built to carry roads or railways over low ground. The Harsimus Stem Embankment is a special kind because it's made of stone. It was built to lift train tracks high above the city streets.
A Path for Trains
This tall stone structure was once very busy. It carried seven train tracks for the Pennsylvania Railroad. These tracks were part of the Passaic and Harsimus Line. They led to important places like freight yards and special docks. At these docks, train cars could be loaded onto boats called carfloats. These boats would then carry the cars across the Hudson River.
The embankment also connected to a large warehouse and distribution center. This center is now known as the Harborside Financial Center. The railway line was a big part of the Pennsylvania Railroad's operations along the waterfront. This included the Exchange Place passenger station and the Greenville Yard.
A Protected Landmark
The Harsimus Stem Embankment is important because of its history. It is listed on the New Jersey Register of Historic Places. This means it's recognized as a special historical site in New Jersey. It is also considered a landmark by Jersey City itself. This helps protect it for future generations.
Plans for a New Park
Since 2010, many local citizens have been working hard to save the embankment. They want to turn this old railway path into a public park. Imagine walking or biking on a green pathway high above the city streets!
Efforts to Create a Park
Local groups have asked the city of Jersey City and Hudson County to buy the land. Their goal is to transform the abandoned railway into a beautiful green space. However, the company that owns the land has different plans. They want to develop the area for other uses.
There have been many discussions and legal challenges over the years.
- In 2010, a court said the land sale to the developer was legal. It also noted that the city had a chance to buy the land earlier but didn't.
- This meant the city could try to buy the land using eminent domain. This is when the government can buy private land for public use, even if the owner doesn't want to sell.
- A request for a $1 million grant to help buy the land was not approved.
- In 2011, the developer offered to sell parts of the land to the city, but these offers were turned down.
- The case went to an appeals court, which allowed the city to continue its legal fight.
- In January 2012, it seemed a deal was made for the city to buy the property for $7 million.
- But in September 2012, a court ruled that the previous owner, Conrail, hadn't followed all the rules to "abandon" the property. This meant they might not have been able to sell it legally.
- Another deal was announced in 2020, showing that efforts to create the park are still ongoing.
The community continues to push for the Harsimus Stem Embankment to become a green park. This would allow everyone to enjoy its unique history and natural beauty.
