About This Episode
Some buildings hold a whole city’s story inside them — and some people dedicate years to making sure those buildings don’t disappear. Chris Perez, president of the Jersey City Landmarks Conservancy and founder of the Bayside Park Neighborhood Association, has been doing exactly that. This conversation moves between the personal and the civic: how an outsider earns his place in a community, why history belongs to the people who bother to learn it, and what it actually takes to save a building — and a neighborhood — from being erased.
Meet Chris Perez
Chris Perez grew up in Queens, moved to Jersey City’s South Side in 2007, and spent years quietly learning the history of a neighborhood that wasn’t originally his. He founded the Bayside Park Neighborhood Association and now serves as president of the Jersey City Landmarks Conservancy, leading the Save the Powerhouse campaign to adaptively reuse the 1908 landmark before it’s lost. His community work spans historic preservation, zoning advocacy, youth programming, and building connection between new and longtime residents.
Connect with Chris:
Jersey City Landmarks Conservancy
Walking Tours- Jersey City Landmarks Conservancy on Eventbrite
Key Insights
Earning your place in a community takes patience, curiosity, and listening before you ever try to lead.
History on the South Side isn’t lost — it’s sitting in archives, old maps, and the memories of neighbors who are slowly disappearing.
The Save the Powerhouse campaign has been running since 1999. Preservation takes longer than anyone wants it to.
Once a historic site goes into fully private hands, the community loses its ability to shape what it becomes.
New arrivals don’t always know what already exists — giving them access to neighborhood history changes how they show up.
The goal for the Powerhouse isn’t just preservation — it’s public access, community use, and Jersey City maintaining some ownership stake.
Visual Documentation
Powerhouse at a recent walking tour with John Gomez - photo Nat Kalbach
At Novado Gallery- talking to the JCLC walking tour participants about the powerhouse painting at Novado Gallery - Photo Chris Perez
Related Resources
Jersey City Landmarks Conservancy: jclandmarks.org
John Gomez, founder of the JCLC — one of the best walking tour guides in Jersey City
Save the Powerhouse campaign — follow updates at jclandmarks.org
Bergen Arches and the Embankment
Coming Up Next
Next up: Ivy Huang, founder and director of IMUR Gallery — artist, educator, and connector of creative communities across Jersey City and beyond.
Connect with Nat
Website: natkalbach.com
Substack:
Music: Our theme music is “How You Amaze Me,” composed by Jim Kalbach and performed by Jim Kalbach, Bryan Beninghove, Charlie Siegler, and Pat Van Dyke.
Support the Show: Subscribe to the podcast and sign up for my Substack to receive additional stories and visuals that complement each conversation.
Share Your Story: What sidewalk stories have you discovered in your neighborhood? Share them with me through email or social media.
Nat’s Sidewalk Stories explores the intersection of place, community, and storytelling through conversations with practitioners, community leaders, and local changemakers.
