Beyer, Blinder, and Belle (BBB), architects noted for historic restorations, including the Hoboken terminal waiting room and the Hoboken ferry terminal, were called in to evaluate the smokestacks. One problem was that nobody had ever gotten close enough to analyze their condition. Enter Vertical Access, a company that specializes in “industrial rope access.” They brought in a 200-foot boom, one of only three in the world, according to Antonicello. BBB then issued a report, which found that the smokestacks were a
“threat to safety and sustainability of the building,” recommending removal of three extant stacks and the remnants of the fourth. Next steps included “replacement of the iconic elements” and stabilizing the building.
And the rest is history John Gomez, Jersey City’s go-to guy for all things historic, was audibly devastated. “It’s obviously a troubling situation and should never have gotten to this point,” he said, “but there is no alternative but to take them down because of the structural issues.” It was more than 100 years of rain that ruined the stacks. Gomez said the stacks were made in pieces with a brick interior surrounded by steel, so you can’t dismantle them in one piece. There are a number of options: Never replace them, or create new smokestacks that look like the originals. The decorative cornices on top of the stacks could be displayed as museum pieces or kept in front of the