MAKEOVER MONEY
State's $1.7M to revamp landmark armory

Monday, August 04, 2008
By KEN THORBOURNE
JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

A second phase of renovations at the Jersey City Armory kicked off last week courtesy of a $1.7 million state grant, city officials said.

This money, from the New Jersey Department of Military and Veteran Affairs, will be used to install new restrooms on the ground floor and upper tier, two new locker rooms, and mechanical windows on the Montgomery Street side of the Armory, officials said.

Work should be finished by April 2009, they said.

The Armory reopened to sporting events two years ago after a $3 million state grant made it possible to install a state-of-the-art running surface, a new basketball court, new lighting and a four-sided scoreboard.

"We are pleased to see that the second phase of renovations to the Jersey City Armory are about to get underway," said Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy. "Anyone who has been to the Armory knows what an improvement has been made there and what a gem we have in the heart of our city."

The New Jersey Department of Military and Veteran Affairs oversees the Armory, which is leased to the city. It is also a headquarters for the New Jersey National Guard.

The facility, at Montgomery Street and Jordan Avenue, was built in 1937 as a federal WPA project.

Several memorable sporting events have taken place at the Armory, including a June 29, 1970 boxing match between Chuck Wepner, known as the "Bayonne Bleeder," and former heavyweight boxing champion Sonny Liston. Wepner lost on a technical knockout in the 10th round.