The Heights neighborhood is located in the northern-most part of Jersey City, on top of the southern edge of the Palisades that run from Jersey City to the New York State border. On its western border (commonly referred to as “The Slope”), State Highways 1/9 are the boundary. Its southern border is Route 139, one of two major approach roads to the Holland Tunnel.
Route 139 was built adjacent to, and part of, the old Bergen Arches, a narrow canyon of train tunnels and open-air railbeds constructed through the Palisades in the early part of the 20th century and abandoned after World War II. Currently, the Arches are being considered as an alternate route for traffic heading toward Jersey City’s waterfront, separating the Holland Tunnel and New York City bound traffic to ease congestion.
Central Avenue, the primary retail corridor in the Heights, runs from Rt.139 to Paterson Plank Road and is one of the longest contiguous Special Improvement Districts (SIDs) in New Jersey. The Heights has several other retail pockets running north to south along Kennedy Boulevard, Summit Avenue, and Palisade Avenue.
There are a number of large parks in the Heights, including Pershing Field. Just to the south of Pershing Field is the old reservoir system that has been slated for redevelopment by the City as open park space. The City’s water department complex and its new fire department complex are also located in the Heights, west of Pershing Field. On the eastern edge of the Heights is Christ Hospital that has expanded to encompass most of the southern portion of Palisades Avenue.
Most of the Heights area is comprised of two-family detached housing, with some low to mid-rise apartment buildings, primarily along Palisade Avenue. Close to 67% of all housing units in the neighborhood are rental units.
