By: Louie Chiang
Union City, a New Jersey village across the Hudson River from New York City, has long been a haven for immigrants and artists, with stunning views of the sea and skyline from its high spot on the Palisades. Mountain Road and Manhattan Avenue, two beautiful roadways near a cliff’s edge, have attracted sculptors and painters seeking inspiration and peace.
This creative area has been home to famous artists such as Raffaele Menconi, Olive Kooken, and Charles X. Harris. However, due to a long construction deadlock, the community’s beauty and character have progressively succumbed to neglect and uncertainty.
Plans for regrowth and new construction have fallen since a series of investors purchased multiple properties on Mountain Road and Manhattan Avenue between 2005 and 2009. Instead, the once-vibrant area is now plagued by fires, trespassers, vandalism, and overgrowth, casting a pall over its previous liveliness.
According to city planner David Spatz, local officials desire intentional development that respects the area’s current character.
“We want any development to be sensitive to the existing neighborhood and the natural beauty of the Palisades,” he said.
Residents’ perspectives on the fate of these aging properties also differ. Kate Sparrow, a long-time resident of Mountain Road, advocates for demolition due to concern over fire hazards and declining property values.
“These buildings are a fire hazard, an eyesore, reduce our property values, and give Union City a disgusting presentation,” she said.
In contrast, Joe Sivo, a homeowner on Manhattan Avenue, supports the investors’ development plans and highlights the potential benefits.
“They were going to give us a park. That would have been a great addition to the community,” he said.
Meanwhile, other cliff-side condo complexes confront their own obstacles, including topographical and budgetary constraints.
Whatever happens, the legacy of a once-thriving artistic community and its distinctive hillside houses, where creativity blossomed in a beautiful environment, remains.