State-of-the-Art Public Safety HQ becomes the Latest Investment in Jackson Square, furthering Efforts to Combat Crime

Centralized Public Safety Location to Improve Emergency Services and 9-1-1 Response Time

Jersey City – Mayor Steven M. Fulop and the City Council have approved construction for the Public Safety building at Jackson Square; centralizing public safety services and resources in Jersey City.  For the first time, the headquarters will exist to include all public safety offices, including the police and fire departments, parking enforcement, and 9-1-1 dispatch operations.

“Since day one, this administration has been committed to enhancing public safety from every angle, and having these resources and personnel under one roof will further improve and streamline operations, including increased emergency response times, ultimately contributing to our ongoing efforts towards decreasing crime,” said Mayor Fulop. “Additionally, Jackson Square continues to revitalize the Bergen-Lafayette neighborhood.  Once construction is complete, the City Hall Annex Campus will house various City offices within the four new buildings, a parking complex, and overall increased accessibility to vital resources.”

With the presence of public safety leadership, the new site will boast police presence 24/7.  The relocation of the 9-1-1 dispatch operations will rework the City’s call system to eliminate steps in dispatching emergency personnel to urgent calls – streamlining the entire process, and ultimately improving emergency services and response times where every second counts.

“Just as we put more police officers on the ground, additional CCTV cameras above, and continue to make real-time investments into the tools we rely on to combat crime, the new headquarters will centralize our efforts, making communication for all involved throughout public safety easier than ever before,” said Public Safety Director James Shea said. “We’ve seen crime decrease citywide, and it is our hope that these efforts to improve public safety continue at this rate.”

The new Public Safety Headquarters will also utilize LEED certified architects to incorporate green elements in the building’s design including a green roof, solar panels, and bioswales throughout the new Civic Center.

The $120 million project, when added to Annex ($24 million) and Holloway Building and Housing Office ($44 million), brings total City investment in the campus to $188 million. Construction will begin in approximately six months and is scheduled to be completed in three years.

The City will save $350,000 per year on rent for the current Police Department Headquarters in Journal Square. The City will be able to sell Fire Headquarters, South Street Fire Union Offices, and the Gong Club for a total possible revenue of $30 million. At the same time, these properties will go back on the tax rolls every year, not only for the City budget, but also contributing to the school budget.

Phase 1 of the Jackson Square Hub opened in the Fall of 2018, with 2 new buildings already home to the Department of Housing, Economic, Development and Commerce offices as well as Health and Human Services.   With two additional buildings planned – including the Public Safety building and the offices for the City’s new Division of Affordable Housing – the new complex is the area’s largest investment in decades.