This coming Tuesday, March 1, is the date the tenants must vacate the building, in accordance with an agreement reached with the owner in January, which guaranteed that they would not have to pay back rent. After that date, the owners plan to seek demolition permits.
A 400,000-square-foot-structure, 111 First St. is comprised of eight adjoining four-, five- and six-story structures.
Building 1, built in 1870, fronts Washington Street, while the remaining structures were added in subsequent years.
The building was once the headquarters of the P. Lorillard Tobacco Company.
In the late 1980s, artists began moving in. The annual Jersey City Studio Tour started there in 1990.
But over the last few years, the owners began raising rents and wanted to build luxury units in the area. After numerous court battles between the landlord and tenants, the March 1 eviction date was chosen.
According to the terms of a Jan. 3 agreement, several months of back rent owed by tenants to the owners will be waived, and the owners will pay $35,000 to the attorneys who represented the tenants.The last of 111 First
Dan Horgan, the attorney for New Gold Equities, the private investor group (of which New York real estate tycoon Lloyd Goldman is the president) that owns 110 and 111 First St., said last week that once all the tenants have vacated the building, it will be secured.
"It will be anticlimactic as far as I can tell," said Paul Sullivan, a tenant who worked and lived in the building with his wife Barbara Landes. "But I have said to tenants moving out that if you haven't taken your belongings out by March 1, you're not seeing them again because management will have this place padlocked on March 2."
Sullivan said that past and present tenants have arranged a final dinner Feb. 27, or what is being called a "Last Supper."
That will be the final sendoff for many of the former occupants, a number of whom have found spaces in various sections of Jersey City such as Journal Square and Bergen-Lafayette. However, the 111 First St. tenants had an even larger gathering on Feb. 19 that was reminiscent of times past. Going out in style
The community gallery on the fourth floor of 111 First St. was abuzz Saturday night, a reminder of kinds of celebrations that were commonplace for the many artists who lived and worked there.
The party was organized by tenant Kurt Von Ellers to make a rather boring task more interesting - the signing of mutual release forms by the tenants. Paul Sullivan, who was in attendance at the party and standing near the table where tenants were signing the forms, explained what was taking place.
"On January 3, part of the settlement was that we would release [Lloyd Goldman] from any claims for property damage or damage to reputation or damage to our businesses, and he would forgive us our back rent and he wouldn't chose to sue us for disruption of his business," said Sullivan.
A notary public checking over the forms was one of the guests at the occasion. In the backdrop were live and recorded music, an artist painting a picture, and much dancing and conversing.
Sullivan was asked if the tenants might join together to put their resources to purchase a building that would become a new arts center.
"Yeah, I think people have talked about it," Sullivan said. "We have looked at some buildings in Jersey City.
Some people have looked in Brooklyn and in upstate [New York]. But it would be great to find a building in Jersey City that is reasonably priced that can house a good critical mass of artists, 35 to 40 artists. You'll never find another building like 111 First St.."
Kathe Frantz and her husband Charles Farless, both painters who were former tenants, described the environment that has existed in the building in the past month a half.
"It's becoming more and more tomblike," Frantz said. "It's been very cold, emotionally cold. Lost a lot here."
Elaine Hansen, who ran a yoga studio for a number of years, said that since the off-duty police officers and private security officers stopped patrolling the building, there have been vagrants just walking into the building.
"I found one guy sleeping in the loft that I have on the third floor. The answer he gave me when he woke up was that 'he was looking for work,' " said Hansen.
Jeff Baker, who spent over 15 years in the building where he resided with his wife, Julie, and daughter Gabrielle, looked back at the years spent in the building fondly.
"The incredible times spent at the building, you can't help but miss it," he said. "I learned a lot here developing my craft as a drummer and as a furniture maker. I thank God for this place. I hope it stays, but I don't know if it will ever be like this." Demolition on the horizon
Michele Berliner, a spokeswoman for New Gold, doesn't believe the building will stand for much longer.
"New Gold plans to secure the building and seek demolition permits for 111 First St. due to its structural instability and the imminent danger of collapse," she said last week. "With regard to a construction timetable, that is dependent upon our discussions with city officials and our ability to reach a redevelopment agreement. New Gold's plans remain the same - to redevelop 110 and 111 First St. into luxury residential housing. We are hopeful that we can balance Jersey City's need for ratables and income, the need for artists' live/work space, and our need to realize the value of our investment."
However, New Gold may be somewhat limited in what they can build there due to the area's recent designation as a Warehouse Historic District. Bittersweet
Bill Rodwell, one of the early tenants in the building who was considered the leader in the fight against the ownership in the year and a half before the party, said it was a scene of mixed emotions.
"I don't think people really knew how to act," he said. "There was this bittersweet, sad, fun occasion, and they weren't quite sure in what direction they should go. And I am glad that they opted for the fun part. That's how we want to go out, having some fun."
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