I
n 2017 the Jersey City Council and the Jersey City Redevelopment Agency (JCRA) approved a 16‑acre transfer of public land from Liberty State Park to the Liberty Science Center. The deal was billed as a visionary public‑private partnership that would deliver a K‑12 school, a $2 million annual subsidy for a county high school, long‑term economic benefits, the Edge Works innovation hub, a Scholars Village residential community, a public plaza, and new jobs. Council members who voted for the transfer were Joyce Watterman, Daniel Rivera, Rolondo Lavarro, Frank Gajewski, Candace Osborne, and Jermaine Robinson.

    Eight years later, none of those promises have materialized. No school is under construction, the innovation hub remains closed, and the public plaza has not been activated. The only visible outcome is a 500‑unit luxury Scholars Village tower, complete with high‑end amenities and sweeping Manhattan views, built on former public land. The project’s original educational and community‑focused goals appear to have been sidelined.

    In June 2025 I attended a Hudson County Commissioner meeting to inquire about the school. I was told the plans were too costly and that no progress had been made; no updated designs or revised timelines were provided. I filed an OPRA request for written progress reports from the redeveloper, but the JCRA informed me that none existed. When I raised the issue at the JCRA’s July meeting, the chair promised a follow‑up email that never arrived. Daniel Rivera, who chairs the JCRA, sits on the city council and voted for the land transfer.

    This lack of communication and accountability erodes public trust. The city’s most valuable public parcel was handed over on the basis of grand promises, yet residents are left wondering how the developer’s progress translates into public benefit. Key questions remain unanswered:

    * What is the current status of the proposed school?

    * When will the Edge Works innovation hub be built?

    * Will the Scholars Village tower generate any tax revenue for the city?

    * Why have no written progress reports been produced or requested?

    * What accountability mechanisms are in place, and are they being enforced?

    * Is the project on schedule, and what is the timetable?

    * Does Jersey City have a legal recourse to reclaim the property if the agreement’s terms are unmet?

    I am calling for a public meeting that includes the Jersey City Council, the JCRA, the Mayor’s Office, and the Liberty Science Center. Residents deserve a transparent update on the project’s status and a clear explanation of how the promised public benefits are being realized. Community organizations should also hold forums to question current and former council members about the lack of follow‑up.

    This is not an opposition to growth, science, or development. It is a demand that public resources serve the public good, not private profit. The city promised a thriving hub of education, innovation, and opportunity, but so far it has delivered only a luxury development. If the project is to honor its original commitments, it must demonstrate tangible public benefits within the next few years. The eight‑year delay is unacceptable.