JERSEY CITY, NJ —
September 09, 2026 |
By DailyHudson Staff
A former lot on Glenwood Avenue could become a community garden, but some council members question the cost and the use of federal funds.
On Tuesday night, Jersey City’s council members sat around the caucus table, hashing out a decision that could turn a vacant lot on Glenwood Avenue into a green space with a community garden. But the $1.2 million price tag and the funding source have sparked a debate that goes beyond this single patch of land.
The lot sits near McGinley Square, right in Ward C, where Councilman Tom Zuppa says residents have been asking for more open space for years. The proposal calls for spending $1 million from Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds and $200,000 from the city’s own coffers to buy 128 Glenwood Ave. at a time when the seller already has permits to build on the property.
“The seller here already has permits to proceed with a construction project,” said Deputy Mayor Keshav Poddar, explaining why the timeline is tight. “Otherwise, we’ll lose the opportunity to purchase the asset.”
A Funding Puzzle
CDBG funds come from the federal government and are meant to help low- and moderate-income neighborhoods. That’s why this project qualifies, Poddar said — the area around McGinley Square is exactly the kind of community these dollars are designed to serve.
But here’s the catch: these particular CDBG funds have been sitting unused for years. Acting Director of Community Development Saulo Diaz told the council that the money has to be spent by the end of 2026, or it goes back to Washington.
That deadline has put the city in a tough spot. “We’re under the gun with the CDBG funding because the previous administration was very slow to spend it down,” Poddar said.
A Debate Over Priorities
Councilman Frank Gilmore, who represents Ward F, was the first to raise concerns. He said when he hears “CDBG,” his mind goes straight to affordable housing, not parks. “I prefer housing over parks,” he said plainly. “I’m a little concerned at the price point.”
He asked how the city arrived at the $1.2 million figure. Poddar explained that an independent appraisal came in at $1 million, and after negotiation with the seller, the final price was set at $1.2 million. The last time the property changed hands was in 2022, before the current owner got approvals to build.
Councilman-at-Large Michael Griffin went further, pointing out that residents have been calling for a recreation center for years. “To forgo county open space dollars that we could use for this Glenwood property and not use the CDBG fund for what has been a public outcry for years, it’s concerning to me,” he said.
Poddar clarified that the CDBG money for this park is a separate “pot” from the funds used for affordable housing. “These are not the funds we allocate to new affordable housing,” he said. And while Hudson County’s Open Space Trust Fund could be used for other projects, it can’t be applied here in time.
What’s at Stake for Residents
For the people who live near McGinley Square, this debate isn’t just about budgets — it’s about whether they’ll have a place to sit, garden, and gather without having to travel across town. The McGinley Square Community Board and the Jersey City Parks Coalition have both voiced support for the project.
“There was a significant outpouring of community support for the acquisition of this parcel as a pocket park,” Poddar said.
A pocket park is exactly what it sounds like — a small green space tucked into a neighborhood, often with benches, trees, and maybe a community garden. It won’t replace a full-size park, but for residents who don’t have backyards, it can be a quiet escape just steps from their front door.
Concerns Echo Across the Aisle
Councilman Griffin didn’t hold back. “This feels like the easy way out,” he said, noting that county open space money might have been used for a larger project like the long-promised recreation center in his ward. Andy Kaplan, the infrastructure director, pushed back, saying the county funds aren’t lost — they’re going to other parks.
But Griffin pressed on. He asked whether this would be a park or just a community garden. Kaplan said it would be both — a pocket park with a community garden as its main feature.
Councilman-at-Large Rolando Lavarro chimed in, noting that these CDBG funds have been idle for too long. “We’ve had this money since 2022,” Griffin said, frustrated. “To not use it for something residents have been begging for — that’s concerning.”
Councilman Ward B’s Joel Brooks asked if this was the last of the unspent CDBG money. Diaz said no — there’s more. Brooks acknowledged the project has real community support, but he also heard the balancing act the council is trying to do.
What Happens Next
The council will take a formal vote on the purchase at an upcoming meeting. If it passes, the city will move quickly to close on the property and start planning the park with input from the neighborhood. If it fails, the lot could be developed into housing or commercial space — and the CDBG money would still need to be spent by 2026.
Either way, the clock is ticking. The seller isn’t waiting, and the federal deadline isn’t moving.
Residents who want to weigh in can speak at the next city council meeting or reach out to their council representative. In a city where every square foot of open space is precious, this decision is about more than one lot — it’s about what kind of Jersey City we want to build.
For now, the conversation continues. And for the families who’ve been eyeing that empty corner, hoping for a place to plant a tomato or just sit in the shade, the wait is almost over — one way or another.
Source: Hudson County View
