Red Cross has new home near old Med Center

Originally appeared in the Jersey Journal on Thursday, June 15, 2006

By JENNIFER MARKOWITZ

The Bergen-Hudson Chapter of the American Red Cross is moving its Jersey City offices from Greenville to a site near the old Jersey City Medical Center.

The move entails selling the agency's current building, at 26 Greenville Ave., and moving into rented space at 51-53 Mill Road, said Mary Davey, assistant chapter executive.

"We're trying to be efficient with our funding and don't need the degree of space that we had in the previous building," Davey said.

The Bergen-Hudson Chapter's main headquarters will remain in Ridgewood, she said.

The Mill Road building, off Montgomery Street between Cornelison and Baldwin avenues, is zoned for residential, and the organization is going before the city's Board of Adjustment tonight at 6 in Council Chambers, Jersey City City Hall, 280 Grove St., to ask for several variances related to the change of use. The public will have an opportunity to address the board at tonight's meeting.

"We are not changing the character of the building at all," Davey said. "It will conform with the other buildings on the block."

She said the only exterior change would likely be a sign on the building. The adjacent lot at 51 Mill Road will continue to be used as a small parking lot, she said.

If the agency wins board approval, it would like to begin the move "as soon as possible," Davey said, possibly within several months.

"It will be an ideal location to provide service to the clients we serve," she said.

"We remain committed to Jersey City because so much of our service needs to be delivered here," she said. "The new location should enable the organization to reach out to the community and also allow the community to easily access us. We want to be good neighbors."

Davey said the 26 Greenville Ave. building was sold to "a small corporation" but declined to identify it or reveal the selling price. County and city records still list the building's owner as the American Red Cross.

Assistant Managing Editor Craig Garretson contributed to this report.