| Hudson County Administration Building | |
|---|---|
.jpg) View looking northwest at rear of building | |
 Interactive map of Hudson County Administration Building | |
| General information | |
| Type | Courthouse Hall of Records Government offices |
| Location | 595Newark Avenue Jersey City, NJ 07306 |
| Construction started | 1955 |
| Completed | 1956 expanded 1964–66 |
| Opening | 1957 |
| Cost | $6.5million |
| Owner | Hudson County |
| Height | |
| Roof | 142 ft (43 m) |
| Technical details | |
| Floor count | 10 |
| Lifts/elevators | 6 |
| References | |
| [1][2][3] | |
TheHudson County Administration Building is home to theseat of government ofHudson County, New Jersey, US.It is located at 595Newark Avenue in theJournal Square section ofJersey City in the abuttingFive Corners andHilltop neighborhoods The building houses government administrative offices, the hall of records, and courts for the county and state. Opened in 1957 and expanded in 1966, theInternational Style structure is considered obsolete and will be replaced upon completion of theFrank J. Guarini Justice Complex.[4][5]
Hudson County was part of a much largerBergen County until the latter was divided in 1840.[6][7][8] By 1845, the site of a newcounty seat was made for the construction of a new courthouse and jail inBergen Township, which at the time comprised much of the new county.[9][10] The original courthouse was replaced by theHudson County Courthouse in 1910.[3] The jail was replaced in 1926 and eventually demolished in 1995.[11] Until 1945 a major depot of an elevated streetcar line, originally operated by theNorth Hudson County Railway and laterPublic Service namedCourthouse was in the immediate vicinity.[9][10][12]
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.[2] In 1964 theinternational Style building was expanded to include 10 stories,[1][3] When the modern new glass-and-steel tower was opened[13] the adjacentHudson County Courthouse was vacated and abandoned, but has subsequently been restored.[14]
Numerous studies since the 1980s have concluded that the administration building has long been inadequate and overburdened.[15][16] In 2012, theHudson County Board of Chosen Freeholders estimated that its replacement could cost between $291 million to $366 million.[17] 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.[18] 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 theBoard of Chosen Freeholders to begin acquisition was tabled.[19][20] 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 neighborhood association have expressed concern of the removal of the lots from city tax rolls.[21]
The extension ofCentral 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 avenuebetween Hoboken Avenue and Newark Avenue near the potential building site.[22] and are considering acquiring property to do so.[23]
In December 2014 the board freeholders approved the sale of $50 million in bonds for anew courthouse.[24] 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.[25] Completion is expected in 2025.
In November 2019, it was announced that the administration building will be demolished and replaced with a 3.4-acre[5] Courthouse Park, a joint project by the city of Jersey City, which will develop it, and the county, who will maintain it after the completion of thenew courthouse.[26]
In August 2025, the Jersey City Planning Board approved a subdivision application for the property, allowing the new Courthouse Park to be built. This new park will consist of various amenities including anoutdoor gym, a children'splayground, adog run, and a picnic forest. Initially, plans for the park included the transformation of the existing powerhouse building into a cafe, but those plans were not included in the approved subdivision, rather it includes it in the Courthouse's parcel.[27]
40°43′54″N74°03′26″W / 40.731722°N 74.05725°W /40.731722; -74.05725