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Council backs pursuing county open-space funds to restore 128 Glenwood community garden
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Summary
The Jersey City Municipal Council voted to pursue county open-space grant funding to acquire 128 Glenwood Ave and partner with the McGinley Square Community Board to restore the former migrant community garden. Administration clarified the city is not pursuing eminent domain and said the county grant could cover most costs; final purchase would return for council approval.
The Jersey City Municipal Council voted to pursue county open-space grant funding to acquire 128 Glenwood Ave and partner with the McGinley Square Community Board to restore the former St. Aidan's Migrant Center community garden.
Council approved the procedural resolution to move a grant application forward and signaled support for securing outside funding; the substantive funding and any property purchase would require later council approval. Business Administrator Peter (reading staff remarks) told the council the city is "not intending to use eminent domain" for the site and that county open-space funds could provide up to about $1.5 million depending on appraisal. He said the city has capital dollars available if additional funds are needed, but any purchase would come back to the council for a separate vote.
Supporters turned out in force during public comment. Sharon, a longtime neighborhood advocate, said the garden had been a "peaceful urban oasis" for 22 years that served students, migrants and families and urged council backing. McGinley Square organizing members stressed the site's scarcity of green space and the garden's value for food access, environmental education, and neighborhood connection.
"This is about equity," Danielle Walker, an organizer in Ward E, said, arguing that restoring the garden would protect vital open space in one of the city's highest-density neighborhoods.
Administration framing emphasized grant timing. The business administrator said the city is on a short timeframe to transmit the county application and that approval tonight simply authorizes pursuing the county open-space contribution. "This specific resolution does not contain any dollar amounts to purchasing it," he said; later, he described a working price of $1,150,000 for the property while noting additional grants could reduce city capital needs.
Council members repeatedly thanked community advocates for sustained organizing and asked that the administration pursue all available grant sources to minimize use of municipal capital. Several members also emphasized that any final purchase or capital commitment would follow the normal budgetary and legislative process.
What happens next: The administration will submit the county open-space grant materials and continue to pursue additional grant funding. Any purchase agreement or city capital allocation would return to the council for separate consideration.
