A little more than a year ago, the building was full of artists, musicians, and other creative individuals, making their livings and homes within this million square-foot structure. That time ended when they had to vacate March 1, 2006 after a judge ruled in favor of building owner and real estate mogul Lloyd Goldman. Goldman, a major partner in the New York City investment group New Gold Equities, cited the building as being in danger of collapsing.
The city is still engaged in litigation with Goldman regarding his intended demolition of the main building at 111 First St., because it falls into the city's historic district. Goldman has said he would like to build new housing there.
The city's corporation counsel, Bill Matsikoudis, and the attorney for New Gold Equities, Dan Horgan, would not comment on the litigation, except for both to claim they were coming closer to a settlement.They stayed in Jersey City
It was not easy for the 111 First St. tenants to move on after a tumultuous time spent in courtrooms and in City Hall for more than a year. Of the 60-odd renters who remained at the building until March 1, it is estimated at least 20 remained in the city.
Some had already owned homes in the city or had apartments in Jersey City, and had only rented a space at 111 First St. to work.
Husband and wife artists Paul Sullivan and Barbara Landes moved into 111 First St. in June 1997. Sullivan, a furniture maker, and Landes, a printmaker, are now paying in the "$1,200 to $1,500" range for new work space on Newark Avenue, but said they are lucky.
"It's hard to find a space like this, but there were two artists who lived and worked here before we moved in last year," said Landes.
Sullivan also said that the experience of what the tenants faced at 111 First St. made him want to stay in Jersey City to help other artists working and living here. He was recently made president of the local arts organization, Pro Arts.
Mixed-media artist Maggie Ens moved to the building in 1999. It holds special memories as she met her current boyfriend, Marc Sloan, there.
She said she and Sloan found new space on Union Street through a former 111 First St. tenant. It has become home, and in some ways resembles her old home.
"The manager of the building was once a 111 tenant and several of the former tenants ended up here," said Ens. "It's almost like a community again."
She and Sloan also operate The Trees of Nerve Endings Gallery at their residence.
And there are former tenants who are ambivalent about their existence in Jersey City.
Rebecca Goyette lived at 111 First St. from late 2001 to the end. Goyette said he will always be grateful for her time at 111 First St., but the pain of living in the same city remains.
"My art was impacted by what I experienced there," she said. "And that place opened my eyes so much to other kinds of art and I became attuned to music. But I'm ready to move away if the opportunity arises." Moving on
March 1, 2005 conjures up all kinds of memories for the 111 First St. tenants. Bill Rodwell was one of the first tenants to settle in the building in 1989, a sculptor and photographer who spent over 20 years working in New York City.
Rodwell was the president of the 111 First St. Tenants Association and led the tenants in legal battle with New Gold Equities. After the building was vacated, he moved to New York City until September 2005, when he moved back to Jersey City, where is currently staying.
Rodwell remembers his last day as Feb. 28, the day before he showed New Gold representatives that the building was truly vacant.
"As a representative of the tenants association, I had to show them around the building to check to make sure there were no artists hiding," said Rodwell with his trademark wit. "And we didn't find any."
Rodwell added, "For a building that, according to them, was in danger of imminent collapse, they seemed happy as clams while they were taking the tour. That's why I kept pace behind them in case the building did collapse, so I would be the first one out."
For Maggie Ens, March 1 was bittersweet.
"Actually, I got sad. There was a lot trading of artwork and we were purchasing all the art of other artists," said Ens.
Ens is still reminded of her time at 111 First St. when she takes the NJ Transit Light Rail near her current Union Street residence in the Bergen Lafayette section of the city to Downtown Jersey City.
"Looking at it now, with the windows out and the building exposed, it's like the owner wants it to crumble soon," said Ens. Ricardo Kaulessar can be reached at rkaulessar@hudsonreporter.com
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