Andrew Wyrich

Staff Writer @AndrewWyrich

JERSEY CITY – The City Council is expected to vote this week on a plan to give 16 acres of city-owned land to the Liberty Science Center, where it hopes to build a multimillion-dollar science center, school and residential development.

The development, called SciTech Scity, would be built on the now-vacant land and include a biotech lab, a coding lab, a technology business incubator, a K-12 STEM-focused school and residences for visiting scientists. It is expected to cost $280 million.

The Liberty Science K-12 School would focus on science and technology education, according to the SciTech Scity website, and the scholar’s village would provide short-term and long-term residences for those working at the site and STEM graduate students in the area. The project would also have a conference center.

"This is partnership between the city and Liberty Science Center that will make Liberty Science Center not only a destination for visitors, but also one that develops future leaders in science and technology," Mayor Steven Fulop said in a statement. "We view this as a long-term investment into Jersey City.”

The 16 acres are located on Phillip Street, which is adjacent to the Liberty Science Center and Liberty State Park.

A spokesperson for Liberty Science Center said the new project was a "mini city" that would create 853 permanent jobs in Jersey City and will be a “community of people and companies coming together to invent the future and solve societal issues.”

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“SciTech Scity aims to make Jersey City a hub for innovative STEM education and job creation in the high-tech and science sectors,” said Mary Meluso, a spokeswoman for Liberty Science Center.

The City Council is expected to vote on an ordinance that would transfer the city-owned land to the Jersey City Redevelopment Agency at its meeting on Wednesday. The JCRA would then sell the property to SciTech Scity for a nominal fee. A first reading of the ordinance passed 7-2 on March 8.

Two city councilmen voted against the ordinance, citing the need for an appraisal of the 16 acres.

Sam Pesin, the president of Friends of Liberty State Park – a non-profit organization dedicated to conservation at the large state park – said that he supported the project and that SciTech Scity would advance the “prestige” of Jersey City and the region.

“Our primary reason for support is that the science education and research hub would be a very compatible and non-threatening neighbor to the great park behind Lady Liberty,C he said. “SciTech Scity on the 16 acres bordering the park would be a lot better than thousands of high-rise condos, or a convention center and hotel.”

Staff Writer Scott Fallon contributed to this report.

Email: wyrich@northjersey.com Twitter: @AndrewWyrich