see http://www.njcu.edu/programs/wsdev/

omg. omg. a pedestrian mall?! NO!
can anyone think of a pedestrian mall that works?! especially in a climate that has such extremes? other than in europe?
if there isn't already an insane amount of foot traffic businesses located on pedestrian malls suffer, (rush hour foot traffic i don't think would be enough) and doesn't this area already look pretty dead after dark? with no cars whatsoever occasionally passing at night pedestians in this area would be even more terrified to be there.
i love the idea of strolling freely from shop to shop or bar to bar in an ideal world, but i'm not convinced it would work here.

Just a small anecdote...

During a recent visit to the city planners office, with a group of graduate students at the NJSoA, as the group was leaving, they noticed a huge aerial photograph of all of Jersey City. We were there to study the west side of the city, but where did the groups immediate attention go?
The Embankment. What's this - pointing to the wide green strip that cuts right across downtown. Its truly a remarkable thing. As a neighbor to the Embankment, I filled them all in with the details and the drama, as did the city planner. They were horrified to hear that anyone would want to remove something that seemed so extraordinary.

How is it that outsiders can see its potential and the people who stand to benefit most from it remaining green cannot?

Someone had made an inquiry as to how the High Line would deal with safety - I believe the High Line is lined with much taller buildings, providing "eyes" at all times. As well, even just the proposed development of the raised greenspace has spurred the development and desirability of the surrounding areas.