Proclaiming Jersey City the economic engine for North Jersey, its high-energy mayor declares, “We are punching above our weight”

by Laura D. C. Kolnoski • Photos By amessé photography

Perhaps the best evidence of the increasing importance of Jersey City is Mayor Steven M. Fulop’s observation on the current 6,000 residential units under construction with 18,000 more underway, 150 new businesses (including 50 restaurants) opening in 18 months, and the creation of almost 9,000 new jobs.

“Jersey City is attractive,” Fulop said. “We are filling buildings as quickly as we are putting them up.” That goes, he explained, for commercial as well as residential structures. The Chinese-American Chamber of Commerce’s U.S. headquarters, also located there, is testament to the city’s success in attracting Asian investment. In fact, a recent conference on encouraging international investment hosted by Goldman Sachs in its towering 30 Hudson Street high-rise headquarters drew the Chinese Ambassador, business leaders, mayors from China and America…and Henry Kissinger.

China Overseas America, Inc. is building a 95-story residential tower at 99 Hudson Street, with construction beginning this spring. Touted as the most significant condo project in New Jersey history, it will also be the tallest building in the state, at 950 feet. Part of the three-tower Journal Squared Project, the complex will include 760 condominium units, 18,000 square feet of commercial and retail space, and public spaces and plazas, including 7,365 square feet of passive park space.

“We are committed to developing this iconic project on Jersey City’s waterfront,” said Cindy Xiu, President of China Overseas America, Inc. “This is indicative of the administration’s vision to make this best mid-sized city in America.”

The metro area of 257,000 is already home to seven of the state’s ten tallest buildings, including the Merrill Lynch Building, Trump Plaza Residences, and the current highest at 781 feet, Goldman
Sachs. According to Mayor Fulop, Jersey City is currently experiencing the greatest construction boom in its history and is projected to become the state’s largest city by 2016.

“Our plan is to continue building a world class skyline and continue leading the region in job creation,” Fulop said.

The 2.3-million-square-foot Journal Squared Project, designed by Hollwich K u s h n e r ( H W K N ) a n d H a n d e l Architects, is helping to create a renaissance for the city’s iconic Journal Square hub area.

“The real estate market here continues to grow at an unprecedented rate,” said Linda Cantatore, President of the Liberty Board of Realtors. “This project demonstrates there is a demand for both rental and condominium properties and will be a catalyst for even more as we see increased demand.”

Jersey City’s nickname is “The Golden Door,” taken from the Emma Lazarus poem “The New Colossus” on the tablet held by the Statue of Liberty just off its shore at Ellis Island—apropos, given that Fulop is a Jewish- American who grew up in a Romanian immigrant family in Edison. (His father owned a delicatessen in Newark where Fulop worked as a teenager. His mother, the daughter of Holocaust survivors, worked in immigration services.) He graduated from Binghamton University in 1999, spending time abroad studying at Oxford University in England. Upon graduation, he joined Goldman Sachs in Chicago, later relocating to the firm’s Manhattan and Jersey City offices. Strongly impacted by the September 11th terror attacks near his office, he put his career on hold and joined the United States Marine Corps. In 2003, his reserve unit was activated and deployed to Iraq, where Fulop served as part of the 6th Engineer Support Battalion traveling into Baghdad. Both he and his unit received numerous commendations, including the Overseas Service Ribbon, Meritorious Masts, and the Presidential Unit Citation.

“As a first generation American, I viewed it as partial payment for citizenship,” Fulop explained. “In hindsight, I got more out of the military and the Marine Corps than they got out of me.” A f t e r Ir a q , Fu l o p re t u r n e d t o Goldman Sachs, leaving in 2006 for a position at investment firm Sanford C. Bernstein & Co., and completed his service in the Marine Corps Reserve with the rank of Corporal. That same year, he completed his Masters in Business Administration at the New
York Univers i ty Stern School of Business, and his Masters in Public Administration at Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs. A Democrat, Fulop served as a councilman for eight years before being elected Jersey City Mayor in 2013.

The mayor has launched numerous initiatives, including reducing taxes by 2.13%, establishing a comprehensive tax abatement policy, adding more than 8,500 jobs, enacting paid sick leave legislation, and launching a summer work program that placed nearly 1,000 young people in public and private sector jobs and internships. To address crime, 132 new police officers have been hired, with data systems employed to pinpoint high crime areas and deploy officers accordingly. Police headquarters is also moving to the Marion Gardens public-housing complex later this year to improve safety in the West Side area.

Quality of life is being addressed in myriad ways, most notably with the creation of Berry Lane Park, now under construction and expected to be completed this year. The ambitious $10 million project will convert 17 “brown” acres of former rail yards, junkyards, and industrial facilities into the city’s largest municipal park.

“Berry Lane Park is one of our most exciting projects because we are literally turning an industrial wasteland into a recreational jewel for residents,” Fulop said. The park will include two basketball courts, two tennis courts, baseball and soccer fields, a dog run, spray park, skate park, adult fitness course, and a playground. Passive recreation areas will be shaded by 700 new trees, along with sitting areas and a rain garden. The design incorporates historical features of the former Morris Canal, including the first portion of the Morris Canal Greenway built in the city. Fulop has made investing in parks a priority, with $6 million (primarily grant funding) allocated to improve 12 parks throughout the city.

Coming from an immigrant and small business family, Fulop is also focused on both of those aspects of civic life.

The mayor added that Jersey City’s unemployment rate has dropped from 10.6 percent to 6.5 percent since he took office, and The U.S. Bureau of Labor statistics show it continues to outpace the nation and the state in reducing unemployment.

“We had a plan when we took office, and have put a great deal of focus on job creation,” Fulop said. “We try to attract small business owners and expedite permitting processes. Small businesses are job creators. I want this to be a place small business can thrive.” A $1.2 million marketing campaign via a public/ private partnership is also helping attract attention. National and international companies are relocating to Jersey City or expanding their presence, including Nautica, Timberland, JPMorgan Chase, Forbes, and Goya.

“We are a city of immigrants,” Fulop pointed out. “The Irish, Polish, Italians, and others came through Ellis Island. Now it’s the Filipinos, Egyptians, South Americans, and many more. We’re in the biggest media market in the world. Eighty different languages are spoken in the public schools.” Matching citizens with jobs and apprenticeships is accomplished through the city’s Employment and Training Program, which also works to provide residents and minorities with opportunities to work on local construction projects.

In 2013, Jersey City was selected as one of 12 cities to receive a $2.25 million Bloomberg Philanthropies grant to create a data-driven innovation team to focus on economic development, public safety, and youth enrichment. The program helps mayors effectively address urban challenges through new approaches. In addition to the grants, cities receive implementation support and exchange lessons and best practices with other metro areas.

“This grant will allow us to make our services even stronger,” Fulop said. “It will help us enhance our approach and find better ways to serve all residents.” The program’s successes include filling retail vacancies and cutting licensing time for new restaurants while reducing homelessness and crime.

Mentioned as a potential candidate to be the next governor, Fulop declined to comment other than to say, “That’s a long way away.”

An avid runner, the mayor completed the New York City Marathon in 3:44, while raising money for the Hudson County Child Abuse Prevention Center. In August 2012, he competed in the Manhattan Ironman Championship to raise money for veterans and participated in an Ironman half-triathlon in 2014.

Jersey City Mayor Steven M. Fulop
Jerseycitynj.gov