Exclusive Jersey City Desk video of the Warehouse demolition

Yes, the old warehouse at Warren and Morgan St. started to come down this morning, history be damned. There are neighborhood rumors Johnny was told this morning by onlookers that this very building is where former Deputy Mayor Leona Beldini did her burlesque dancing way back when the place was known as "The Jersey Room" but of course this is mere speculation. So Jersey City another piece of history goes bye-bye for rental units and transient residents.

The times they have changed Mr. Dylan...

Confirmed: Warehouse demo starts tomorrow

Now, it may just be the boxy portion AT Morgan and Warren (Avoid this area tomorrow drivers) and not the taller well-graffitied warehouse but Johnny confirmed in talking with three guys tasked with taking it down that tomorrow it is. Johnny also hipped them to the fact the small building has no structural integrity as portions of the roof have caved in (looking back in the pictures Johnny took from a friend's place when about 15 "interesting characters" got inside those warehouses and half the Jersey City PD turned out to arrest them, you can see the open roof areas).

This particular building would have most likely had to go but losing a city's history and old warehouses that could have been saved (Like Mill Creek is doing) if the city planning commission had even tried to get the paperwork designating the Powerhouse Arts District a historical district in on time. Inept? Paid off? You tell us, the fact is we lose a lot while the Jersey City planning commission is asleep at the switch.

Calling all photographers and lovers of old warehouses

No Parking signs next to the old warehouse at Warren and Bay St. warning of 'concrete removal' beginning Monday and lasting til the end of the year have been posted. Johnny has a pretty good idea Toll Brothers is going to tear that warehouse down as part of their downtown clusterfuck where they create parking issues and tons of litter (not to mention their workers urinating in public) for local residents to deal with.

So if you're a photographer who loves old buildings you have 36 hours to shoot that particular warehouse.

You can forgive those who trespass against you but for these guys it'll take a court appearance first

The JCPD was on scene at the corner of Bay St. and Warren where a group of about 10-15 trespassers had made their way into an abandoned warehouse owned by Toll Brothers. Johnny chanced across the scene while going to visit a friend who lived nearby. Police seemed more highly agitated about this call. Maybe it was because they sent 20 of them. Maybe it was because they had to call the guy with the K-9 unit (that guy was an ass) but either way the police rounded them all up and took them away in a paddy wagon.

Of note, one younger officer told Johnny to put his camera away. Johnny declined politely. Again the officer from across the street told him to put it away. Johnny was more firm this time in saying "No." He explained in a public place where he is in no way interfering with operations police MUST, that's MUST allow people to take pictures or video. After a few minutes this young officer came up to Johnny and apologized (Cool, right, doing the right thing?) and admitted yes he can take pics which all Johnny was trying to do.

The fellers in these pictures are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Spelunking we will go!

Back into the forgotten warehouses of Jersey City with a Saturday afternoon picture show:

Spelunking with Johnny!

Inspired by the guys who climbed to the inside top of the Chrysler Building and reader Sean's link in that same post to the guys who go where they are not invited, deep under the streets of NYC as well as some fine bridge views, Johnny recently did some Jersey City spelunking of his own. There are a lot of unused warehouses about. Many of them long abandoned. Some have taken on a new vibe after Superstorm Sandy. Now for legal purposes Johnny can't tell you where this warehouse walkabout took place, some may frown on this kind of thing, but it took place in Jersey City.

Had to be a cell phone camera sorry, people hanging out around buildings with Nikons looking to get in get noticed.