City Hall

[MCA™]

Today's JJ:


HISTORY MEETS FUTURE IN RESTORED CHAMBERS
Ventilation, computers and beauty
Thursday, November 13, 2008
By CHARLES HACK
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

After months of being nomads during the renovation of the Anna Cucci Memorial Council Chambers at City Hall, the Jersey City City Council returned home this week to a brighter and more comfortable meeting room.

The 11-month $1.9 million project drew compliments like "beautiful" and "magnificent" from council members and other city officials yesterday morning.

Perhaps the most celebrated improvement of the new chambers is a heating and air conditioning system - eliminating the need for the noisy, ineffective fans city officials would break out in the summer and the popping radiators that seemed to always lose the battle against cold in the winter.

Heights Councilman Bill Gaughan, a fixture on the council since 1993, recalled when "water was coming through the light fixtures" and said the heat at times was stifling.

"I can tell you we roasted up there on the podium," added Councilwoman Viola Richardson.

A new sound system and projector equipment, including a roll-up screen that drops from the ceiling, and new monitors have been installed at each of the council members' seats on the podium so they can watch presentations without craning their necks.

Eric Holtermann, the architect for the project, said the chamber's oak benches and wood paneling, dark from layers of lacquer, were stripped to their original light color and ornamental plaster work was restored to its original glory. Stained-glass windows and the chamber's dome have also been repaired.

Construction workers removed the old drab wall covering, and peeled back layers of paint dating to 1897, when the facility was built, officials said.

Pictures of the city's 42 mayors dating to 1838 have been placed in new gold frames and hang along the back wall.

City Clerk Robert Byrne said the restoration was talked about for 20 years, but always dropped off the radar until the current administration picked it up.

Most of the money for the renovations came out of the city's capital budget, but $300,000 came from Hudson County Open Space Trust Fund, which Hudson County Executive Tom DeGise, a former Jersey City council president, said could be used for historical preservation.

See pictures of the makeover here.

[Pinky]

Makeover unmasks chamber's wonders
Back to 1896 elegance, plus air conditioning
Friday, May 23, 2008
By MEGAN DeMARCO
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

When the renovation of the Jersey City City Council chamber is complete in the fall, council members and the public will get to experience the room just as it was in 1896 - with a few high-tech amenities.

The renovation is intended to "make (the room) look and feel like the original room" but still "accommodate it for modern use," said architect Eric Holtermann, of Holt Morgan Russell Architects.

"This is a long overdue project," Mayor Jerramiah Healy said. "It's going to be a resplendent, beautiful old reception room."

The walls of the new room will be painted light red, the original color, and the original stained glass panels in the domed ceiling will be cleaned and restored.

Four chandeliers are undergoing restoration in Philadelphia and will hang from the ceiling, Holtermann said.

Aesthetics aside, members of the council and the public alike will appreciate a feature that wasn't available in 1896 - air conditioning.

The $1.9 million renovation began in January and some surprises have been uncovered, literally. Holtermann said beautiful recessed arches were discovered on the original side walls that had been obscured under layers of later renovations.

In a back corner of the chamber, a decorative stencil was revealed on the wall as well, Holtermann said. The original stencil will be replicated on the walls in the finished room. He said the chamber had accumulated several layers of wall coverings from different renovations since the turn of the last century - including a carpet layer that was installed in the 1960s.

The chamber had become a "hodgepodge of different styles," Holtermann said.

The council chamber's new features will include a projector over the door pointed at a large screen in the front of the chamber. Each council member will also have a computer monitor with a touchpad. Modern lighting will be added.

The project is on schedule and on budget, Holtermann said.

Glenn Wrigley, chief architect for the city, said the project is funded by $1.6 million from the city's capital improvement funds and a $300,000 grant from the Hudson County Open Space, Recreation and Historic Preservation Trust Fund.

Some pics to go with the article:

http://www.nj.com/news/jjournal/photos/gallery.ssf?cgi-bin/view_gallery.cgi/njo/view_gallery.ata?g_id=9858

[MCA™]

Makeover unmasks chamber's wonders
Back to 1896 elegance, plus air conditioning
Friday, May 23, 2008
By MEGAN DeMARCO
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

When the renovation of the Jersey City City Council chamber is complete in the fall, council members and the public will get to experience the room just as it was in 1896 - with a few high-tech amenities.

The renovation is intended to "make (the room) look and feel like the original room" but still "accommodate it for modern use," said architect Eric Holtermann, of Holt Morgan Russell Architects.

"This is a long overdue project," Mayor Jerramiah Healy said. "It's going to be a resplendent, beautiful old reception room."

The walls of the new room will be painted light red, the original color, and the original stained glass panels in the domed ceiling will be cleaned and restored.

Four chandeliers are undergoing restoration in Philadelphia and will hang from the ceiling, Holtermann said.

Aesthetics aside, members of the council and the public alike will appreciate a feature that wasn't available in 1896 - air conditioning.

The $1.9 million renovation began in January and some surprises have been uncovered, literally. Holtermann said beautiful recessed arches were discovered on the original side walls that had been obscured under layers of later renovations.

In a back corner of the chamber, a decorative stencil was revealed on the wall as well, Holtermann said. The original stencil will be replicated on the walls in the finished room. He said the chamber had accumulated several layers of wall coverings from different renovations since the turn of the last century - including a carpet layer that was installed in the 1960s.

The chamber had become a "hodgepodge of different styles," Holtermann said.

The council chamber's new features will include a projector over the door pointed at a large screen in the front of the chamber. Each council member will also have a computer monitor with a touchpad. Modern lighting will be added.

The project is on schedule and on budget, Holtermann said.

Glenn Wrigley, chief architect for the city, said the project is funded by $1.6 million from the city's capital improvement funds and a $300,000 grant from the Hudson County Open Space, Recreation and Historic Preservation Trust Fund.

[Hurtle]

Go there and say you want to see this:

http://www.nj.com/hudsoncountynow/index.ssf/2008/01/art_exhibits_open_tonight_at_c.html

If nothing's going on in the council chambers, you may be able to look around in there.

[T07302]

T, there are some rooms that still have the original details. I love the council chambers even thou it needs some work. It's a pretty building, and is open to the public. Many events go on at night and the weekends.

wow cool, i'll have to check it out!

[Pinky]

T, there are some rooms that still have the original details. I love the council chambers even thou it needs some work. It's a pretty building, and is open to the public. Many events go on at night and the weekends.

[Hurtle]

The next time someone posts a link to an art display there go and check it out.  That'll at least get you in the door.

[Pinky]

lived here since 2005!

Been here since 1996 have yet to step foot inside, looks pretty from the outside! 

[T07302]

 lived here since 2005!

[T07302]

despite having lived in this fair township since, dec. 31, 2007, i have yet to visit city hall, is it nice?

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